life after lightning

[lindalaw]

Here in SW Florida last summer the surge protector saved everything but HDMI on the Sony STR-DA5300ES. So now HDMI goes from Bluray player, Directv receiver & FireTV to Sony 52XBR5, optical to receiver. Got new cables, and tweaked a bit, so things actually sound as good or better on my Aperion 533PT 5.0 system (SWs built in front speakers), except no dtsHD and DolbyHD on the optical.

To replace receiver, considering the Anthem 520 or 720, Marantz (several) and maybe wait for the Sony 1070 (can't beat Bravia IMHO, husband can not find guide and mute button on Harmony remote as it is). I will never need a second zone, and dubious about adding height, but on the Anthem, I like the PlayFi, not available on the 520. These guys have not reviewed the Anthems, why not?

I can also see getting the new Aperion Versus front speakers, and not opposed to a SW, tho do not feel I need it. Not ready to part with the Sony TV, it gets better with age like me don't care about 4K ((now)). Looking to up my sound quality mostly for music but can live with what I have, suggestions welcomed. Love these guys youtubes & info.

 

[KenM10759]

You'd be fine with any of the receivers, though the Marantz/Denon will offer better overall price/performance value. And I *really* like that new Anthem MRX720! Which of the Marantz or Denon are you looking at? How much "future resistant" would you wish to be with features? The MXR720 is pretty loaded, and a really capable receiver.

I would think that you can find ANYTHING related to the Harmony remote on the Logitec Harmony website. Worst case scenario, just connect to computer and reload it. The file created should be saved. You would have to do a little reprogramming with any new receiver anyhow.

It seems from your comments that you enjoy music. This is where a subwoofer could surprise you the most. We all know movies have tremendous low frequency sound tracks. A lot of music sounds great on a good pair of speakers as compared to listening from your phone with cheap earbuds. It's when you add a subwoofer to the mix even for 2 channel music that you suddenly find music you've listened to for years has so much more in it that you never heard before.

Those Aperion Versus speakers with an SVS, Rythmik, Hsu, or other sub (even a smaller sealed one) would wow you.

 

[lindalaw]

Ken,

Thanks for the reply. That's the big dilemma--how future proof do I want to $$$. I go between back & forth between don't care and want it all. I have looked at the Marantz 7008 and the 1506 both seem to me to be good buys. I am leaning toward sound quality and value over future proofing right now. I see there is some concern about the lack of Dolby Pro Logic II on the 7009, I have both that and THX now. I don't like Dolby surround for music.

On the Harmony remote, its all programmed, just the old guy has problems finding the buttons, drives me crazy.

On the new speakers and SW, I hear you,, pretty sure I will do that, even tho I am outvoted by two dogs and their master.

I am about to feed the tax beast, so I might be singing a different tune after that.

 

[KenM10759]

The subwoofer I have doesn't seem to bother our 3 cats, and most times my wife. I'm confident your dogs would adapt quickly. The husband may take a little more time.



As for receivers, the Marantz SR7009 would be the most recently updated one, to the SR7010, rather than the 7008. I wouldn't be concerned about Dolby Pro Logic II, there are equal or better modes in the new ones that are backward compatible. That shouldn't be a deal-breaker. You can get very nearly (or indistinguishable to most anyone) the same sound quality out of a Marantz/Denon product as you would an Anthem. The main difference in sound may come down to the Anthem's "ARC" or Marantz/Denon "Audyssey" room correction software and execution.

 

[DigitalDawn]

Hi Linda,

Hello from the SE coast of FL.

If you are most interested in audio quality I think the Anthem will definitely have an edge over the Marantz AVRs.

 

[lindalaw]

Yep, if the 520 had PlayFi, I probably would have already hit the buy button.

Hi Linda,

Hello from the SE coast of FL.

If you are most interested in audio quality I think the Anthem will definitely have an edge over the Marantz AVRs.

 

[KenM10759]

What does PlayFi do for you and how do you use it?

LOL...I just hit the Anthem website and found this. Now YOU can hit the buy button!!

http://www.anthemav.com/specials/wireless-2016.php

Oh well, that's for the MRX720 and MRX1120 only. My mistake. Wouldn't there be an inexpensive Play-Fi compatible wireless module available from a third party vendor to plug into the analog or digital inputs of the MRX520?

 

[lindalaw]

Wouldn't there be an inexpensive Play-Fi compatible wireless module available from a third party vendor to plug into the analog or digital inputs of the MRX520?

That's a good thought, I don't know enough about PlayFi, it just seems like a very good feature

 

[KenM10759]

I use a Bluesound Vault for streaming music, Tidal Hi-Fi service. There are the Bluesound Node and Node 2 which do the same, without the cost of the 1TB or 2TB drive and CD ripping capability of the Vault. They can be operated like Play-Fi with your phone or a tablet, but are pricey for the quality you get. There are other streaming devices for far less money. My son uses some Rocketfish or other product to stream music on his 1990's vintage Harmon Kardon receiver, I think it cost him about $60. By comparison, the Bluesound (original) Node runs about $300-350 now, while a half-the-size Node 2 is $500.

 

[KenM10759]

My my....I just poked around a little looking at ways to stream to a receiver. I figured since Tidal is one of the high quality/high bandwidth music streaming services, I'd look for something to handle that. I don't know if you use Apple or Android format phone, but either way there's a LOT of simple and cheap (under $100, some under $50) ways of doing it without PlayFi.

My point is that this one thing shouldn't be stopping you from getting a really high quality receiver that seems to me appropriately sized for your choice of speakers. Of course room size matters in how much power you might need, but even the MRX520 is pretty powerful.