Marantz SR7002?

[Cygnus]

Hey guys,

I'm thinking of getting a new TV (some sort of Samsung, not quite sure on the size yet.) and a receiver to finish off my project I've started. I bought a PS3, new speakers, and now the rest of it's getting to me!

I'm looking at the Marantz SR7002 from Accessories4less, but have some questions about it.

1. Would HDMI 1.3a be fine for me? I could care less about 3D stuff, and wont ever adopt that anyways. All I want is 1080P and the new surround sound formats.
2. It doesn't have HDMI passthrough, I don't think. From what I've read nothaving HDMI passthrough is preferable, because - from what I've read - you can't get Dolby TrueHD etc through a passthrough setup?

 

[jostenmeat]

Yeah, pass-through can be misleading for me too. Don't worry about that.

Since the PS3 can internally decode all of the advanced HT codecs, you don't even need 1.3 for that matter. ANY version will do, including the very first ever at 1.0. Now, if you ever want to bitstream, and see that little logo light up on the receiver, yes you'll need 1.3.

 

[Cygnus]

Yeah, pass-through can be misleading for me too. Don't worry about that.

Since the PS3 can internally decode all of the advanced HT codecs, you don't even need 1.3 for that matter. ANY version will do, including the very first ever at 1.0. Now, if you ever want to bitstream, and see that little logo light up on the receiver, yes you'll need 1.3.

Okay, I won't worry about pass-through.

How does the PS3 decode the formats? How does that work? What does the receiver do then when it gets them? How does it output them?

 

[tcarcio]

You can save a few bucks if you don't mind the refurb 7002. I bought a 5004 refurb about a month and a half ago from A4less and I love it. Nice that the 7002 has 2 hdmi outs also. From what I have read on the 7002 it is a solid choice. Good luck.

 

[jostenmeat]

All of these codecs are "compressed", with the lossless compression algorithms being, well, lossless.

All is needed is an unzipping (like a file on your computer). Now, those who are much more brainiac than me like MDS, would say it's still technically decoding, but unzipping as a basic concept still works.

Any of these codecs, whether lossy or lossless, need to be unzipped to get the mch PCM. Why aren't codecs just recorded as mch PCM to begin with? Because of the greater amount of disc space it takes.

Once the receiver has mch PCM, it outputs that to your speakers. It has to turn into PCM somewhere, player, receiver, etc. But as long as it happens, you've got it. Of course there are many BDs that are just recorded in PCM to begin with.

So your PS3, if a relatively new one, can output bitstream (not yet unzipped, to be done by receiver), or as pre-unzipped/decoded.

It was just a lil lesson. TBH, it would actually be hard to find an older version than 1.3 anyways, perhaps even on the used market?

Have fun.

 

[Cygnus]

I know this is a stupid question before I ask it, but does the SR7002 support 1080P in and out resolution?

 

[swspiers]

I know this is a stupid question before I ask it, but does the SR7002 support 1080P in and out resolution?

Not a stupid question. And yes, yes it does

I've had one for 3 weeks, and LOVE it!

 

[jostenmeat]

I know this is a stupid question before I ask it, but does the SR7002 support 1080P in and out resolution?

Well, you already got your answer, but I've never once heard of a unit that didn't pass 1080p via HDMI to HDMI.

However, there have been other funky issues with other brands, if unimportant to many users. For example, early gen Onkyos would downconvert component connection to 720p or something when transcoded/converted to HDMI. Or early gen Yamahas clipped BTB/WTW even HDMI to HDMI, even if the full 1080p is passed.

The limitations with Marantz are usually audio-processor based (only so many things it can do simultaneously, regarding Audyssey, matrixing, unzipping codecs). Therefore, without knowing the very specifics of the 7002, I have read enough, and predict that you will have more audio tools at your disposal if you have the PS3 decode the advanced formats, ie TrueHD and DTS-MA.

 

[Cygnus]

Well, you already got your answer, but I've never once heard of a unit that didn't pass 1080p via HDMI to HDMI.

However, there have been other funky issues with other brands, if unimportant to many users. For example, early gen Onkyos would downconvert component connection to 720p or something when transcoded/converted to HDMI. Or early gen Yamahas clipped BTB/WTW even HDMI to HDMI, even if the full 1080p is passed.

The limitations with Marantz are usually audio-processor based (only so many things it can do simultaneously, regarding Audyssey, matrixing, unzipping codecs). Therefore, without knowing the very specifics of the 7002, I have read enough, and predict that you will have more audio tools at your disposal if you have the PS3 decode the advanced formats, ie TrueHD and DTS-MA.

Hmm. This is good to know.

 

[JerryLove]

I love my 7002

 

[Cygnus]

A lot of people seem to love the 7002 generally, so I think for my needs it'd be okay.

I do feel a little uncomfortable with it as I've never used the brand before, and I know my Denons and Yamahas very well. This thing seems like a technical beast compared to what I've used before. I think if I did get it, it'd take me a good while to get it running as I'd like, based on the manual, in comparison to my Denon, which was basically just "plug in and go". That was six years ago, though..

 

[Cygnus]

I also may be being a little irrational because it's an older model (nearly 3 years now) and I feel like I should get something newer. However, I'd easily pay double for something similar to that, brand new, I would think. Right?

EDIT: Also, this thread scares me. This guy was saying that he has trouble getting his SR7002 to decode Dolby Digital through his PS3, and someone else said that it could decode the format if the PS3 was set to Bitstream, but then it won't decode Dolby TrueHD etc. correctly.

Is this issue resolved with the new PS3's such as mine, which I bought the weekend before last? (Slim model. Can't remember the hard drive size at the moment, though 120GB's rings a bell)

 

[enrique]

I'll give it a try.With the ps3 slim u can just set it to bitstream and youll be good to go for all the co-decs.The older ps3 had to be set to pcm to do the same(ps3 doing the decoding).I have the Marantz sr8002 use to use the older PS3 now i have the Ps3 slim set to bitstream and get every thing(hd audio).

 

[GranteedEV]

I also may be being a little irrational because it's an older model (nearly 3 years now) and I feel like I should get something newer. However, I'd easily pay double for something similar to that, brand new, I would think. Right?

EDIT: Also, this thread scares me. This guy was saying that he has trouble getting his SR7002 to decode Dolby Digital through his PS3, and someone else said that it could decode the format if the PS3 was set to Bitstream, but then it won't decode Dolby TrueHD etc. correctly.

Is this issue resolved with the new PS3's such as mine, which I bought the weekend before last? (Slim model. Can't remember the hard drive size at the moment, though 120GB's rings a bell)

Nothing to be afraid of, although I'd still want the PS3 to be set to output 7.1 LPCM (by decoding lossless codecs) and not bitstream TrueHD or DTS Master (the older marantz' can't apply Audessey to this; it basically becomes like source direct)

The 7002 can do anything you want it to with 7.1 LPCM, except give you a little indication light on your digital display that it's TrueHD or DTS Master

 

[wheeble]

SR8002 almost all gone

Been watching Amazon, the prices have gone down each day for the past week on this model Marantz. started at $899, and today had dropped to $729. I pulled the trigger before they are gone for good.