Marantz 2230B with NAD CD Player Doesn't Sound right

[Pig's Vinyl]

Hey there,
Recently bought a NAD C538 CD player and hooked up to my Marantz 2230B that I've been using for last 10 years. Tried the Aux and both Tape Inputs. All of them sounded fine until the bass kicked in and is distorted and blown out on majority of CDs (it's not a speaker issue either because I tried with headphones too). My Technics cassette deck in the same inputs sounds fine. Phono has always sounded spot on too. I then tried the CD player on my new-ish Sony DH190 in living room TV setup and it sounded normal with the same CDs. Is this something that is common with connecting new gear and vintage Marantz? Is this an impedance issue that the NAD is coming in too hot? Any suggestions on possible getting a middle man piece of gear to use for CD player compatibility? Also, I tried my DVD player with the Marantz too with same CDs and sounded the same as NAD with distorted bass.

Here's a link to what the Bass is sounding like...

Let me know if anyone could help or needs more info!
Thanks again

 

[bill_p]

The specifications for the Marantz 2230b list preamp input sensitivity as 180mV for a 30 Watt output into 8 Ohms. CD players have an output of 2200mV for a maximum (0dB) signal from a CD. The Marantz has too much gain for the CD player. A 20dB attenuator pad between CD player and the 2230b might clear up the distortion.

 

[Pig's Vinyl]

Perfect thanks. I just ordered an attenuator to see if that works. I’ll let you know. Thanks again

 

[Pig's Vinyl]

The specifications for the Marantz 2230b list preamp input sensitivity as 180mV for a 30 Watt output into 8 Ohms. CD players have an output of 2200mV for a maximum (0dB) signal from a CD. The Marantz has too much gain for the CD player. A 20dB attenuator pad between CD player and the 2230b might clear up the distortion.

Hooked up the Attenuator. Sounds like a champ now! Thanks again for the advice