Marantz 7011, or.... Yamaha?

[gdgates]

So I've been eyeing the Marantz 70XX line since the 7010 came out. I was JUST about ready to pull the trigger on the 7011, because I've always thought the sweet spot on new receivers is last year's model - huge savings, and there are usually only incremental improvements on the new version. One thing I like about it is the ability to use 7.1 analog for my SACD player, but the lack thereof wouldn't be a deal breaker.
But then somebody whispered in my ear I should check out the Yamaha Aventage line, which has always been on my radar as well. The next-to-last models of those seem to end in 60. I'm just wondering if anybody has any hot sports opinion and/or hands-on experience with the two and can offer their two cents. I've read the specs, and I don't think I'll go wrong either way. The current best prices I've found are $1314 for the Marantz 7011, $1299 for the Yamaha 2060, and $1626 for a new floor model of the Yamaha 3060. Seems the two Yamahas differ mainly in watts/channel and processing power of the room correction, so my choices are probably the 2060 and 7011.

 

[j_garcia]

IMO, either one is a good choice.

 

[gdgates]

Well since you quote Jack White in your signature, I'm gonna trust your opinion....

 

[j_garcia]

Well since you quote Jack White in your signature, I'm gonna trust your opinion....

I am not so crazy about the new album (Boarding House Reach, expected to release this month) though lol. I may still pick up tix to see him on this tour though because he's great live.

I personally had been a Marantz and Denon guy for a long time, but I have no issues with Yamaha receivers. I'd likely pick Marantz just because they have Audessey though.

 

[PENG]

I always like Yamaha's AVRs but almost always ended up with Marantz or Denon because I prefer Audyssey XT32, otherwise I feel the RX-A3060 is a better deal for the price.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

It depends on whether you prefer something like Audyssey XT32 Dynamic EQ or not. Some of us can’t do without it, some of us don’t need it.

If it’s not a factor, then it’s a toss-up.

 

[gdgates]

I haven't heard all of the new album I'll admit. The couple of songs I've heard didn't do much for me, but repeated listenings often change my opinion. He was on the radio here in Dallas recently, talking up his stake in a local baseball bat company. He's a baseball fanatic as it turns out, and entertaining as hell.

Yeah, after doing a little more digging, I think the Audyssey might sway me toward the Marantz. Opinions differ wildly as to whether you even need room correction, but I always like to have it at least as a starting point, subject to my personal tweaking. Audessey seems to be highly preferred over the YPAO system that Yamaha is throwing out.

 

[MR.MAGOO]

I always like Yamaha's AVRs but almost always ended up with Marantz or Denon because I prefer Audyssey XT32, otherwise I feel the RX-A3060 is a better deal for the price.

The Yamaha website quotes a price for the discontinued RX-A3060 of $2199, while they've cut the price on the "newest" RX-A3070 to $1999.

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/av_receivers_amps/rx-a3070_u/index.html

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/av_receivers_amps/rx-a3060_u/index.html

newer cheaper than older?

 

[TechHDS]

Nice dilemma you have their picking between two flagships units. Yamaha has symmetrical amp design, Plus very high-end Sabre chips. Now Marantz isn't no slouch by any means, XT32 I believe that unit isn't farmed out to China, Malaysia, Japan? as much as I like Yamaha's flagships, give the Marantz a try. On Accessories4less site there are refurbs from every manufacturer so it's not like Yamaha's units are immune to failure. All of them have issues Yamaha, Denon and Marantz have a lot less issues.

 

[PENG]

The Yamaha website quotes a price for the discontinued RX-A3060 of $2199, while they've cut the price on the "newest" RX-A3070 to $1999.

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/av_receivers_amps/rx-a3070_u/index.html

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/av_receivers_amps/rx-a3060_u/index.html

newer cheaper than older?

That could be a misprint. If someone needs one, better grab it now.

 

[KEW]

The Yamaha website quotes a price for the discontinued RX-A3060 of $2199, while they've cut the price on the "newest" RX-A3070 to $1999.

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/av_receivers_amps/rx-a3070_u/index.html

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/av_receivers_amps/rx-a3060_u/index.html

newer cheaper than older?

IIRC, @TheWarrior paid a few hundred less before it was discontinued! Seems like he had to wait a little longer or something, but hopefully he can provide more info.

Personally, I've had such good luck buying refurbished units from A4L that I don't think I can call it luck anymore!
I'd be considering the 3050 for $1000, the 7011 for $1100, the 3060 for $1200, and the 3070 for $1400, and the 7012 for $1550!
Marantz provides a 12 month warranty and Yamaha a 18 month warranty.

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/category/avreceiver/home-audio/receivers-amps/home-theater-receivers/2.html?brand_f[]=MARANTZ&brand_f[]=YAMAHA&store_price[]=842-2400

 

[PENG]

IIRC, @TheWarrior paid a few hundred less before it was discontinued! Seems like he had to wait a little longer or something, but hopefully he can provide more info.

Personally, I've had such good luck buying refurbished units from A4L that I don't think I can call it luck anymore!
I'd be considering the 3050 for $1000, the 7011 for $1100, the 3060 for $1200, and the 3070 for $1400, and the 7012 for $1550!
Marantz provides a 12 month warranty and Yamaha a 18 month warranty.

I always though D&M gives a 3 year warranty for their upper models. Did you mean the AC4L's warranty?

 

[TheWarrior]

I bought from Joe's AV which is an internet dealer. They don't offer the best customer service, it took a few weeks to receive, but I think I only paid $1500 for a brand new unit and this was when the 3060 was the top of the line, before the 3070 was announced.

I went Yamaha simply because I felt I was getting some better quality DACs on the front L+R channels, and didn't want to give a nickel to Audyssey. I do not use automated 'Room Correction' of any kind, only manual setup. If you like Audyssey, then you will want to stick with D+M, but I am quite pleased with making the switch to Yamaha!

 

[KEW]

I always though D&M gives a 3 year warranty for their upper models. Did you mean the AC4L's warranty?

These are manufacturer reconditioned units!
One of the reason I am quick to recommend them is because they get refurbished by Marantz and Yamaha (instead of some third party reseller trying to maximize their profit from buying returned units like you might see on reconditioned computers/cell phones being sold on ebay).
This guarantees a well thought-out/engineered inspection and repair procedure at a competent facility.

The warranty is provided by Marantz or Yamaha after the unit meets their requirements for resale.

A4L does sell extended warranties at a reasonable price, for those that want the extra security.

Edit:
AC4L is a different company entirely from Accessories4Less (which is often unofficially abbreviated as A4L)

 

[PENG]

These are manufacturer reconditioned units!
One of the reason I am quick to recommend them is because they get refurbished by Marantz and Yamaha (instead of some third party reseller trying to maximize their profit from buying returned units like you might see on reconditioned computers/cell phones being sold on ebay).
This guarantees a well thought-out/engineered inspection and repair procedure at a competent facility.

The warranty is provided by Marantz or Yamaha after the unit meets their requirements for resale.

A4L does sell extended warranties at a reasonable price, for those that want the extra security.

Edit:
AC4L is a different company entirely from Accessories4Less (which is often unofficially abbreviated as A4L)

Thank you, I should find out if they ship to Canada, and if the warranty would still apply.

 

[KEW]

Thank you, I should find out if they ship to Canada, and if the warranty would still apply.

I forgot to add link.
This is Marantz and Yamaha AVR's at $850 and above sorted by price "low to high":
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/category/avreceiver/home-audio/receivers-amps/home-theater-receivers/2.html?brand_f[]=MARANTZ&brand_f[]=YAMAHA&store_price[]=842-2400

I often use their site for reference when checking info on gear. It is an easy way to get a pic of the rear of a unit (which is always provided at a legible scale) and their feature/specification info is presumably provided by the manufacturer

 

[STRONGBADF1]

It depends on whether you prefer something like Audyssey XT32 Dynamic EQ or not. Some of us can’t do without it, some of us don’t need it.

If it’s not a factor, then it’s a toss-up.

Yamaha uses YPAO Volume in their models RX-A870 and up.

"YPAO Volume
Still hear everything. Human ears have less sensitivity to high and low frequencies, especially at lower volumes. YPAO Volume applies loudness EQ correction to automatically adjust high and low frequency levels as volume changes. Using the YPAO measurement results, EQ correction is optimized to your system settings and listening environment"

 

[PENG]

Yamaha uses YPAO Volume in their models RX-A870 and up.

"YPAO Volume
Still hear everything. Human ears have less sensitivity to high and low frequencies, especially at lower volumes. YPAO Volume applies loudness EQ correction to automatically adjust high and low frequency levels as volume changes. Using the YPAO measurement results, EQ correction is optimized to your system settings and listening environment"

Does it have different offset adjustment like Audyssey's DEQ?

 

[PENG]

I forgot to add link.
This is Marantz and Yamaha AVR's at $850 and above sorted by price "low to high":
https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/category/avreceiver/home-audio/receivers-amps/home-theater-receivers/2.html?brand_f[]=MARANTZ&brand_f[]=YAMAHA&store_price[]=842-2400

I often use their site for reference when checking info on gear. It is an easy way to get a pic of the rear of a unit (which is always provided at a legible scale) and their feature/specification info is presumably provided by the manufacturer

Looks like they do ship to Canada!! I'll wait for the C$ to go back a little before even thinking about it though.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yamaha uses YPAO Volume in their models RX-A870 and up.

"YPAO Volume
Still hear everything. Human ears have less sensitivity to high and low frequencies, especially at lower volumes. YPAO Volume applies loudness EQ correction to automatically adjust high and low frequency levels as volume changes. Using the YPAO measurement results, EQ correction is optimized to your system settings and listening environment"

Yes. And Anthem has the DOLBY Volume. My point is, each one has a different implementation.

Each company names it differently like “Dolby Volume”.

Audyssey call theirs Dynamic EQ (DEQ).

As PENG mentioned, it has the “Offset” which quickly adjusts the magnitude of the Dynamic EQ.

In addition, you can also adjust the magnitude of the Dynamic EQ with every Speaker Channel Level adjustment- increasing the Speaker Channel Level (like from 0.0 to +0.5 or +1.0, etc.) will increase the magnitude of DEQ.

So it depends on which one people like since these EQs are all different.