Marantz 7001 and Onkyo 706

[ErnieM]

Almost ready to buy - my wife says do it or the money will go for something else! Both of these are $500 at accessories4less. Pros for 7001: 10 w/ch more power, 6 lb heavier. Pros for 706: newer, 1.3 HDMI instead of 1.2 version.

I looked at the remote for the 7001 and saw it has a mini-screen. It might intimidate my dear spouse who is adverse to complex remotes. Or am I wrong?

I have not yet purchased speakers (I know, this is doing it backwards ) but plan to spend $1500 to 1800, probably anchored with a HSU VTF-3 MK 3 sub. The room is 12 by 20 and I like to crank up my music occasionally (classic hard rock).

I will upgrade to a HD TV and BR player eventually, maybe in a year. For now an old Sanyo with S video and a cheap Sanyo DVD player will suffice. I'm more interested in good sound than in the very latest video technology.

Finally, if someone can suggest to me an alternative for the same price - I'm all ears.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Almost ready to buy - my wife says do it or the money will go for something else! Both of these are $500 at accessories4less. Pros for 7001: 10 w/ch more power, 6 lb heavier. Pros for 706: newer, 1.3 HDMI instead of 1.2 version.

I looked at the remote for the 7001 and saw it has a mini-screen. It might intimidate my dear spouse who is adverse to complex remotes. Or am I wrong?

I have not yet purchased speakers (I know, this is doing it backwards ) but plan to spend $1500 to 1800, probably anchored with a HSU VTF-3 MK 3 sub. The room is 12 by 20 and I like to crank up my music occasionally (classic hard rock).

I will upgrade to a HD TV and BR player eventually, maybe in a year. For now an old Sanyo with S video and a cheap Sanyo DVD player will suffice. I'm more interested in good sound than in the very latest video technology.

Finally, if someone can suggest to me an alternative for the same price - I'm all ears.

Marantz SR7001 is HDMI version 1.1 by the way.

Get the Marantz SR7001, it is a super good deal and excellent sounding receiver. That's the one you want. And your wife will love it too.

LOTR

Note: By the way you might want to give a look also at the Marantz SR6003, it is $700 at the same place, but it is more future proof (HDMI 3in/1out, version 1.3) with the latest decoders and a gorgeous look. But the 7001 is a fantastic receiver and will do perfectly too with LPCM full resolution from the new audio codecs when you get a blu-ray player. And at that price, it is very sweet indeed.

 

[lsiberian]

Almost ready to buy - my wife says do it or the money will go for something else! Both of these are $500 at accessories4less. Pros for 7001: 10 w/ch more power, 6 lb heavier. Pros for 706: newer, 1.3 HDMI instead of 1.2 version.

I looked at the remote for the 7001 and saw it has a mini-screen. It might intimidate my dear spouse who is adverse to complex remotes. Or am I wrong?

I have not yet purchased speakers (I know, this is doing it backwards ) but plan to spend $1500 to 1800, probably anchored with a HSU VTF-3 MK 3 sub. The room is 12 by 20 and I like to crank up my music occasionally (classic hard rock).

I will upgrade to a HD TV and BR player eventually, maybe in a year. For now an old Sanyo with S video and a cheap Sanyo DVD player will suffice. I'm more interested in good sound than in the very latest video technology.

Finally, if someone can suggest to me an alternative for the same price - I'm all ears.

Pick the one that fits you.

 

[ErnieM]

iPod connection

The Onkyo 706 says it is "iPod ready," which means I can buy their $96 remote dock and hook it into the receiver. I know there are cheaper remote docks out there, but I wonder if there as good audio-wise. The Marantz says nothing about iPod connectivity. Is there a way for me to connect my iPod to the Marantz and get good quality audio? I rip at lossless bitrates. If I can do that then it's the Marantz, hands down.

 

[Lordoftherings]

The Onkyo 706 says it is "iPod ready," which means I can buy their $96 remote dock and hook it into the receiver. I know there are cheaper remote docks out there, but I wonder if there as good audio-wise. The Marantz says nothing about iPod connectivity. Is there a way for me to connect my iPod to the Marantz and get good quality audio? I rip at lossless bitrates. If I can do that then it's the Marantz, hands down.

OK, check here and click on "Accessories": http://us.marantz.com/Products/1881.asp

The SR7001 does not have the direct connection for the iPod, but you can get the iPod accessory for it.

And the Onkyo TX-SR706 has the direct connection for the iPod, but you still have to get the iPod dock.

But the Marantz will get you connected for a bit more money, but with a great sound though.
And nothing wrong with the sound of the Onkyo TX-SR706.

Bob

 

[Davemcc]

If you plan to use a BD player, do not get a receiver with HDMI 1.1 spec. You will need HDMI 1.3a in order to fully use the HD audio formats available on BD. You will only be able to access HD formats via LPCM if you choose HDMI 1.1. It may be a minor distinction to some but you won't be able to display TrueHD or DTS-HD MA on your front panel unless you have v1.3.

 

[Lordoftherings]

ErnieM, you were right, the Marantz SR7001 is HDMI version 1.2.

Still, the Onkyo TX-SR706 is HDMI version 1.3a and contains all internal decoders, if it's your priority and desire, plus iPod ready, plus THX Select2 Plus, plus Audyssey MultEQ, plus Aydyssey Dynamic EQ.

The Marantz SR7001 is cute looking (more than the 706) and it gets the name Marantz attach to it, plus it has a good weight of copper, plus (Audyssey, I'm not sure, have to look for that one). But Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA have to be output from LPCM (no loss of resolution, you just loose the logos in the front panel display, that's all).

Bob

 

[ErnieM]

LOTR, if I understand rightly, you are saying that with anything less than HDMI ver. 1.3 I will lose the capability of displaying certain formats on the front panel, but that the actual data will not be compromised. Am I right?

Also, (forgive the newbie q): is there a big difference in audio quality and video quality between ver 1.2 (which the Marantz has) and ver 1.3? I can live with some dilution of video if the sound is not diminished in quality.

I looked up LPCM in a couple of reference sites and I still don't understand this whole discussion.

Finally, in reply to your question, the Marantz 7001 has their in-house version of Audussy called MRAC. While I will probably begin with whatever settings that gives me, eventually I will want to buy a decent sound meter and do my own tweaking.

 

[ErnieM]

Lotr

BTW, a major celebration once I get my whole system in place will be to watch all three LOTR extended version films!!!

 

[Davemcc]

LOTR, if I understand rightly, you are saying that with anything less than HDMI ver. 1.3 I will lose the capability of displaying certain formats on the front panel, but that the actual data will not be compromised. Am I right?

Also, (forgive the newbie q): is there a big difference in audio quality and video quality between ver 1.2 (which the Marantz has) and ver 1.3? I can live with some dilution of video if the sound is not diminished in quality.

I looked up LPCM in a couple of reference sites and I still don't understand this whole discussion.

Finally, in reply to your question, the Marantz 7001 has their in-house version of Audussy called MRAC. While I will probably begin with whatever settings that gives me, eventually I will want to buy a decent sound meter and do my own tweaking.

HDMI 1.2 and 1.3a will be identical for the majority of users. The newer spec includes additional bandwidth for HD audio formats and some video features. The benefit of 1.3a is that you have the ability to bitstream HD formats instead of having to rely on LPCM. The difference between the two is that the bitstream signal is sent to the receiver in it's original form and the receiver will decode the signal. For LPCM, the player must have the ability to decode the audio formats and send the decoded signal to the receiver.

If you bitstream the signal using 1.3a, the receiver will display the audio format being used, i.e. TrueHD or DTS-HD MA. If you send LPCM, the receiver will not know or care which format is in use and will simply display something like "multi-channel" or some other generic display like that. It "should" sound the same, although I've heard some people say that bitstream sounds better. I'm neither agreeing nor disagreeing, just saying that I've heard that come up in discussion, YMMV.

On a side note, HDMI 1.2 will pass SACD over HDMI if you have a player capable of that. So will HDMI 1.3a.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Few explanations.

LOTR, if I understand rightly, you are saying that with anything less than HDMI ver. 1.3 I will lose the capability of displaying certain formats on the front panel, but that the actual data will not be compromised. Am I right?

Also, (forgive the newbie q): is there a big difference in audio quality and video quality between ver 1.2 (which the Marantz has) and ver 1.3? I can live with some dilution of video if the sound is not diminished in quality.

I looked up LPCM in a couple of reference sites and I still don't understand this whole discussion.

Finally, in reply to your question, the Marantz 7001 has their in-house version of Audussy called MRAC. While I will probably begin with whatever settings that gives me, eventually I will want to buy a decent sound meter and do my own tweaking.

Hi Ernie,

#1. Right, you still have the new high resolution codecs even with HDMI 1.2 or 1.1 (It is only converted through LPCM format with the same high resolution audio, so you ain't loosing anything.) Your Blu-Ray player just need internal decoders for these high res. audio formats, which most of them do have now.
But a receiver with HDMI version 1.3 will have a better mass management than a blu-ray player, for it's internal decoders and Dacs and DSP processors. Comprende?
Also, like you do understand, it will not show up in the front panel display the Dolby TrueHD & DTS-HD MA logos (from the Marantz SR7001), but who really cares about such minor unimportant feature? Not me, however some people do.


#2. Video wise, you won't see a difference between version 1.2 and version 1.3.
Audio wise, same, as explained on #1.

#3. LPCM (Linear Pulse Code Modulation) is also a high resolution format without any compression whatsoever. I personally prefer it to Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA, because these last two do use some compression, but is intact to the master audio from the studios.
For more on this, Google "Dolby Digital TrueHD" and "DTS-HD Master Audio".
Dolby Digital Plus(+) uses even more compression, so as DTS-HD High Resolution.
The main thing to remember here Ernie, is that LPCM is also a high resolution audio format without any compression, period!

#4. The Marantz SR7001 has Audyssey MultEQ Automatic Room EQ. It does not have Marantz own proprietary Automatic Room Calibration EQ, which is called M.R.A.C. (Marantz Room Acoustic Calibration), and which is also inferior to Audyssey own proprieatary Room EQ. Better that way.
You can get a Radio Shack level meter and do your own, to help you set the subwoofer in the right ball park, but Audyssey will do all the rest very nicely for you, let me assure you of that. Won't be perfect (what is?), but it will be dam close.

* [But my own preference is Audyssey MultEQ XT PRO with the professional kit and up to 32 microphone positions!] But for that, I will have to upgrade my receiver to the Integra DTR-9.9 or the DTR-8.9.

Hope this helps,

Bob

 

[Lordoftherings]

LOTR *Trilogy* Extended Edition on Blu-Ray.

BTW, a major celebration once I get my whole system in place will be to watch all three LOTR extended version films!!!

This is my favorite Trilogy, hence my name.
*(I also like Sergio Leone Trilogy.)

But the Blu-Ray version is the Theatrical versions of the films.
I am personally waiting for the Blu-Ray Extended Editions to purchase.
But for now, I will indeed rent the theatrical blu-ray versions.

Of course, I do own the DVD Extended Editions (4-disc set for each film), but I want the same and more on Blu-Ray discs. I will eventually, when Peter is not so busy.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[ErnieM]

Pulled the trigger

I just placed the order with accessories4less for the Marantz 7001 !!!

Thanks to everyone who responded to my queries. Now you'll see me in the loudspeaker or subwoofer sections!

 

[Lordoftherings]

I just placed the order with accessories4less for the Marantz 7001 !!!

Thanks to everyone who responded to my queries. Now you'll see me in the loudspeaker or subwoofer sections!

Congratulations! Ernie. You will love it, I'm sure.

Next, an SVS sub. Perhaps the SVS PB12-NSD? Only $569.
That's the one that I recommend.

Bob

 

[ErnieM]

sub

Thanks for your sub recc: I notice it's on sale now. I wonder if it were not, what would you think of the Hsu VTF-3 MK 3 for $700? It has 25 more watts of power and a seven year warranty vs the 3 yrs for the SVS.

 

[Davemcc]

If this sub is for the music system, I would go for the Hsu VTF-3 MK3. I've got a PB12-Plus and a Hsu STF-3. If I were going to choose one strictly for music, I would use the Hsu. Plus, the VTF-3 is a much better sub than my STF-3, which I've found to be a real performer for it's size and price.

 

[gorman]

It "should" sound the same, although I've heard some people say that bitstream sounds better. I'm neither agreeing nor disagreeing, just saying that I've heard that come up in discussion, YMMV.

There's been no real evidence of it not sounding the same. I've read many comments which sounded kind of "snake oily" if you know what I mean. In any case, if there are differences, due to jitter or whatever else, I strongly doubt they could be heard on this level of equipment.

 

[mperfct]

I just placed the order with accessories4less for the Marantz 7001 !!!

Thanks to everyone who responded to my queries. Now you'll see me in the loudspeaker or subwoofer sections!

great choice. I bought a Marantz 8001 with them a couple of years ago. They are a good company and that's a great receiver.

 

[captiankirk28]

Great choice on the Marantz, my parents just bought the 6003 and they love it, they are built very well! Congrats.

Kirk