On the difference between the PMD661 and the PMD661MKII

Ahh I didn't know about Marantz pro.

Those are some seriously weird updates that seem like they could be done in firmware if everything else is the same...
 
raphb said:
Ahh I didn't know about Marantz pro.

Those are some seriously weird updates that seem like they could be done in firmware if everything else is the same...
Click to expand...

I have the 671 and I like it a lot..., BUT Marantz doesn't allow user firmware updates (unless this has changed recently). So if they had some hot new feature for my machine I would have to send it back to the factory for the update.

With that policy new firmware virtually is a new product release.

This is part of why despite how well the 671 has worked, when it dies I will probably not get another box from Marantz (assuming that policy is still in effect).
 
Noiz2 said:
I have the 671 and I like it a lot..., BUT Marantz doesn't allow user firmware updates (unless this has changed recently). So if they had some hot new feature for my machine I would have to send it back to the factory for the update.

With that policy new firmware virtually is a new product release.

This is part of why despite how well the 671 has worked, when it dies I will probably not get another box from Marantz (assuming that policy is still in effect).
Click to expand...
i think they do
i updated my firmware on my 661 2x before
 
You are right, it seems they have changed the policy (a bit anyway).

IF you contact support they may send you a firmware update so you can do it with out sending the whole box back. But they don't make it easy and they don't post the firmware updates nor what has changed/ improved. I highly suspect my firmware is not current (since I bought one with current firmware 6 years ago) but I have no way of finding out other than talking to support. It's working so I'm not going to mess with it. But back when I first got it I called up to see if it was current. The first unit I got as a tester that had the first, flaky version of the firmware.

After I found out through reviews and user posts that there was a firmware issue I called Marantz. They confirmed the firmware was old and at least some of the issues were resolved now, but no specifics.

When I brought the unit back to the store ( a professional audio store that catered to studios and recording professionals (not a GC)) and explained the problem, they pulled the rest of their stock and checked and they were all the old firmware. So they called Marantz (a bit pissed) and had them all switched to the newer version.

About a year later I heard of a new firmware and called Marantz up again. I couldn't do the firmware update my self and they wouldn't even tell me what had changed so I could decide if it was worth shipping it back to them. All I got was "if it's working you don't need the update". It probably fixes a feature I'm not using but?

Anyway long rant, short point.

I like the box but the support is less than I would expect from the professional division of the company.

Tascam on the other hand treats their professional customers as professionals.
 
Noiz2 said:
You are right, it seems they have changed the policy (a bit anyway).

IF you contact support they may send you a firmware update so you can do it with out sending the whole box back. But they don't make it easy and they don't post the firmware updates nor what has changed/ improved. I highly suspect my firmware is not current (since I bought one with current firmware 6 years ago) but I have no way of finding out other than talking to support. It's working so I'm not going to mess with it. But back when I first got it I called up to see if it was current. The first unit I got as a tester that had the first, flaky version of the firmware.

After I found out through reviews and user posts that there was a firmware issue I called Marantz. They confirmed the firmware was old and at least some of the issues were resolved now, but no specifics.

When I brought the unit back to the store ( a professional audio store that catered to studios and recording professionals (not a GC)) and explained the problem, they pulled the rest of their stock and checked and they were all the old firmware. So they called Marantz (a bit pissed) and had them all switched to the newer version.

About a year later I heard of a new firmware and called Marantz up again. I couldn't do the firmware update my self and they wouldn't even tell me what had changed so I could decide if it was worth shipping it back to them. All I got was "if it's working you don't need the update". It probably fixes a feature I'm not using but?

Anyway long rant, short point.

I like the box but the support is less than I would expect from the professional division of the company.

Tascam on the other hand treats their professional customers as professionals.
Click to expand...
i found the firmware on their site but extremely difficult to find it (last i used it was last year)
 
THere was none for the PMD671. I didn't look through other products. Did they have a list of what changed with the firmware?

But my more general point was I wouldn't buy a Marantz box that hadn't been out long enough for it to be on a bug fixed firmware. I have little trust that they will let you know that things have been fixed or make it easy for you to get and install new firmware. This could all be changing but at the same time I was having problems and hitting the wall with support with Marantz Tascam was sending me emails about a potential problem with a piece of gear of theirs and offering a free added piece of hardware that would fix the problem if I was having it.

So My experience is one works to keep me from having down time and the other may have a fix for a problem if I go to them after I have had the problem.
 
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