Marantz SR7010 + Integrated Amp

[darisg]

Dear All, hello from Greece,

I would apreciate some advise,

My setup, includes a marantz sr7010, a 5.1.2 speaker system: Dali Opticon 6 FL/FR - Opticon Vokal - Zensor 1 SR - Zensor Pico TM(atmos) - SVS SB2000 sub. The marantz is driving the system very well as the listening position is 10feet, so no need for extra power (i think). I enjoy the system very much both for movies and music.

But i want an upgrade for the music (2 channel) part. I was thinking for the addition of an integrated amp with HT passthrough + Network streamer ( my main source of music is a NAS witch streams my music library flac - dsd). Do you think that a pm8005 will be a good upgrade? or the sr7010 is already good enough and i might need a higher step up (maybe pm14s1) to get an audible diference ?

thanks in advance

 

[everettT]

I can't see a reason to add an integrated amp to your current system , it complicates and adds no audible benefit.

 

[darisg]

maybe i wasn't clear enough, i don't want to use the integrated amp as a power amp only.

I want to feed the PM8005 with a network streamer NA6005 and a UD7007 analog connected to pm8005 for cd playing and hdmi connected to sr7010 for blu rays. So music directly to pm8005 as an integrated amp, and TV - blu ray - media player directly to 7010 using 8005 only as poweramp for FL/FR.

The question is if the 8005 is a good sonic upgrade for 2 channel music over the 7010, or i have to step up to get audible diference.....

all the above, if we agree that an integrated amp is superior for music than an AVR .... (i thought that was not under question...)

 

[highfigh]

maybe i wasn't clear enough, i don't want to use the integrated amp as a power amp only.

I want to feed the PM8005 with a network streamer NA6005 and a UD7007 analog connected to pm8005 for cd playing and hdmi connected to sr7010 for blu rays. So music directly to pm8005 as an integrated amp, and TV - blu ray - media player directly to 7010 using 8005 only as poweramp for FL/FR.

The question is if the 8005 is a good sonic upgrade for 2 channel music over the 7010, or i have to step up to get audible diference.....

all the above, if we agree that an integrated amp is superior for music than an AVR .... (i thought that was not under question...)

What is the room size (all dimensions, not just floor area)? How is it treated, acoustically? What volume level is used for most listening? What kinds of furnishings are in the room?

Compare the preamps and if one has advantages, maybe you could use it for two channel audio, but if there's little/no difference, there's no good reason to add an integrated amp. Most power amps sound very similar, but I think more of the more obvious differences come from the preamp. If anything, the usual reason was that it had its own power supply and using a separate tuner somehow taxed the supply, which is really not an issue. In years past, receivers didn't get the attention to details that an integrated or separates did, they were designed to hit price points. That really hasn't changed, but the number of channels in a receiver has- the AVR you have has 9 channels of amplification and the specs show the output power with one and two channels driven. While the specs from most manufacturers leave a lot to be desired, the AVR should be able to do what you expect the integrated amp to do, as long as you run it in two channel mode. The only way to know if the integrated amp will be better is by doing a direct comparison, in your room, with your equipment.

 

[darisg]

its about 60 cubic meters (2100 cubic feet), it is not treated acoustically, and i usually listen to -20db ....

indeed the preamp section of the two is what it interests me,
the problem is that it is not possible (where i live) to make a direct comparison, thats why i ask for your opinion based on your experience ....

 

[PENG]

But i want an upgrade for the music (2 channel) part. I was thinking for the addition of an integrated amp with HT passthrough + Network streamer ( my main source of music is a NAS witch streams my music library flac - dsd). Do you think that a pm8005 will be a good upgrade? or the sr7010 is already good enough and i might need a higher step up (maybe pm14s1) to get an audible diference ?

thanks in advance

I think the 7010 is already good enough. If more power is needed, the PM14S1 is not going help at all. My comments are based on my experience with the SR7009 and several 2 channel separates that I have. You'll gain much more by going with high quality source media and speakers.

 

[darisg]

You'll gain much more by going with high quality source media and speakers.

so you think that if i add an external streamer, like NA6005 to sr7010 and bypass its build in streaming capabilities, i will get better results ?

 

[lovinthehd]

I think you should be chasing either changes to your room's acoustics or your speakers rather than fiddle around with minute differences in electronics.

 

[PENG]

so you think that if i add an external streamer, like NA6005 to sr7010 and bypass its build in streaming capabilities, i will get better results ?

Not really, I meant high quality recordings in loss less formats, not media players. The 7010 can do very well streaming without the NA6005.

 

[PENG]

If you are interested in some high quality recordings:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/high-quality-sound-albums.78328/page-14

The list was lasted updated last Nov, in post#280.

By the way, you cannot use the SR7010 as an external DAC, the NA6005 has that feature.