I keep having complete video and audio signal dropouts/black screen and then reconnects after a few seconds randomly. Sony TV is a 55” 2020 A8H and a Marantz Cinema 60.

I run a Sony blu-ray, Fire stick 4K max and a PS4 into the Marantz AVR into the eARC on the Sony TV.

I tried new HDMI cables and different HDMI and HDCP settings but still have these weird dropouts randomly… When I plug the HDMI sources straight into the TV there are no dropouts or issues. What could it be?

Backstory:

I have been running for some time now a pair of Dali Rubikore 2 paired with SVS 1000 Pro which were also used in a HT with Marantz Cinema 40 and Dali surrounds.

I was quite happy with Cinema 40 running the show, especially with Auddissey room correction as my room and placement required some addressing in low frequencies. I started my journey with a Marantz Cinema 70s, and wondered on adding a power amp to that for stereo music, but most showrooms recommended upgrading to Cinema 40 as a better overall improvement. Marantz did however recommend adding a Model 50. At that time I got the C40, it was a good deal.

However in the back of my mind I was always wondering if I was getting the most out of the speakers. I was not fully convinced on the soundstage, imaging and positioning of instruments in space. It felt more like clouds / blobs of sound being undefined in space L or R but that was generally it, minimal depth, good cohesion. In terms of bass I felt a bit that bass was undefined / full - I needed to boost bass or use Loudness DEQ to have some bass feel.

The test:

Last week I got the opportunity to test in showroom the following setup:

- Cambridge EXN100 streamer -> Cinema 40 in pure direct - B&W 603 s3 floorstanders

- Cambridge EXN100 streamer -> EXA100 amplifier - B&W 603 s3

Nothing else changed, same speaker setup, same noise level using a phone app around 70dB.

I was generally expecting the Cinema 40 to be good enough at low-mid volumes and EXA100 to be a refinement that would be more in terms of small differences. C40 has good reviews everywhere and good measurements and SiNAD values, so there should be no surprises… Also test used external EXN dac so this was also helping C40 perform, as we were comparing only the amp part.

But to my surprise the changes were not refinement, but a palpable difference.

- the dynamics, the bass control (neat and tidy, controlled) were on another level entirely

- the soundstage imaging, positioning of instruments were clearly improved, there was a depth in sound almost like going from a recessed 2D stage into like 2,5D or even holographic at times.

I was scratching my head… bass / dynamics improvement I was expecting, but not the change in soundstage and not that much at low-mid volumes.

At home:

Long story short, yesterday night had EXA100 at home for a test. Connected directly to Dali Rubikore 2 and streaming from BT just to get it starting … wow… the change is palpable - there is bass like I have a subwoofer on, tight and controlled, positioning of instruments is clear, we have some depth to the sound, sound is detached from the speakers, there is a real feel of the instruments of a realistic size/dimension. It’s like the Marantz AVR was painting a picture in watercolors, slightly muted and more recessed whilst Cambridge paints it in vivid colors and exact / detailed. The soundstage width / size was very good with Marantz nonetheless..

I’m happy with C40 and still feel that it’s a good unit, exceptional with TV, soundtracks and movies, and appropriate for music, especially for night time listening, feel it’s better doing that.

But for exceptional music listening, this goes to the stereo amp. I’m quite surprised that even at Cinema 40 level there is still a gap … perhaps I am mistaken and the differences are not only from stereo amp, but a different house sound entirely … Marantz warm fluid approach, rolled off high frequencies and Cambridge’s typical British sound, vivid, neutral and dynamic.

Plan is to use EXA100 as a power amp from Cinema 40 preamp… but I am wondering if the C40 preamp will keep the same level. The benefit is clearly room correction and integration of sub.

Will test some more….