Marantz AV8801 vs Denon 4311 CI, what are you gaining?

[JonnyFive23517]

The Marantz AV8801 is over twice the price of the Denon 4311 CI. Both have Audyssey XT32, both have dual sub management. The Denon also has a pretty beefy power section. So my question is, what are you gaining in the Marantz vs the Denon? The Marantz does have 24 bit DAC, but is that going to make much more of a difference over the Denon? What about overall sound quality, is the Marantz more "natural" sounding?

Thanks for any input!

 

[avliner]

IIRC, the 8801 is a processor, which needs a power amp, whereas the 4311 is an AVR. The Marantz is way too expensive, so 4311 all the way, IMO

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

What are you gaining? IMO prestige.

I would take the Denon 4311. I seriously doubt there is an audible difference between Marantz DAC vs Denon or any kind of audible difference. No, the Marantz is NOT more natural sounding.

The difference is that the Marantz AV8801 is a pre-pro w/ XLR outputs and the Denon is an AVR. Both have 3D video, but the Marantz also has 4K video upscale, and the Denon does not.

They are both great products.

Since I use Pure Direct 5.2 & Pure Direct 2.2, I have absolutely no need for Audyssey, EQ, or DSP, so I would just get a Denon 3312/3313 and save some money. Electronics expo has sold the 3312 for $600 & 3313 for $800 in the past on the PHONE.

 

[RichB]

I cannot speak to sound quality of the 4311, but I have the Marantz AV8801 and it is excellent.
I think the main reason for getting the Preamp is if you are not going to use the amps anyway you probably get a quieter unit (although I do not know if that matters).

The AV8801 can be had for substationally less than list.
You should be able to find it in the a bit less than the mid two's

Contact Audioholics directly and AVScience for pricing.

- Rich

 

[JonnyFive23517]

Thanks for the input. I would only be using the preamp section of the Denon 4311 anyway. To revise my question: In a side by side test, could one tell an audible difference between the preamp sections of the two?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Thanks for the input. I would only be using the preamp section of the Denon 4311 anyway. To revise my question: In a side by side test, could one tell an audible difference between the preamp sections of the two?

My answer is, "Hell no!"

One time I ordered the 4311 from Amazon and compared it to my AVP-A1HDCI. Not one lick of difference in Pure Direct 2.0 (didn't try PD 2.1 since I didn't know it was possible back then). Not one lick of difference. Since there's no way a Marantz pre-pro sounds better than the AVP-A1HDCI, I conclude that the 4311 is unequivocally the same sound quality as the Marantz pre-pro.

Okay, the Marantz is great.... If you are willing to pay the price or if you must have "separates". If you are not willing to pay the price for the same SQ (IMO), then get the 4311 or 4520.

Electronics Expo was selling the 4311 for $1225 delivered, but they are probably sold out. They might give you a great price on the 4520. Check with Onecall or Vanns or others.

 

[RichB]

Maybe, but probably not.

- Rich

 

[RichB]

My answer is, "Hell no!"

One time I ordered the 4311 from Amazon and compared it to my AVP-A1HDCI. Not one lick of difference in Pure Direct 2.0 (didn't try PD 2.1 since I didn't know it was possible back then). Not one lick of difference. Since there's no way a Marantz pre-pro sounds better than the AVP-A1HDCI, I conclude that the 4311 is unequivocally the same sound quality as the Marantz pre-pro.

Okay, the Marantz is great.... If you are willing to pay the price or if you must have "separates". If you are not willing to pay the price for the same SQ (IMO), then get the 4311 or 4520.

But what about XLR connecting to your Pure Balanced Amp

- Rich

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

But what about XLR connecting to your Pure Balanced Amp

- Rich

XLR is always nice, but if you can get the 4311 for $1225, then forget about it.

I don't know about PD2.1, though.

I'm feeling all economical today. So no way. Ain't happening.

Maybe different on another day when I'm feeling more lavish and reckless.

 

[RichB]

Maybe different on another day when I'm feeling more lavish and reckless.

[Annie]
Tomorrow, Tomorrow...
[/Annie]

Seriously, I am using an Onkyo 705 in a vacation home in a cabinet with only an open back.
It gets very hot, so for that, I put in a smart power strip to power some fans.
I wish I could rip the amps out.

Heat and XLR are probably the only reasons then.

You can always set the AVR on your own copper plate.
That is right up there as one of the lamest features I have seen.
They have a ethernet hub above that plate that is designed to shield the preamp from other sources

- Rich

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

[Annie]
Tomorrow, Tomorrow...
[/Annie]

Heat and XLR are probably the only reasons then.

The sun will come out.....

Well, okay, I can't argue with heat & XLR... and 4K Video Upscale.

But if the 4311 is well ventilated and you are only using it as a preamp w/ ext amp, it probably won't heat up that much.

 

[JonnyFive23517]

But if the 4311 is well ventilated and you are only using it as a preamp w/ ext amp, it probably won't heat up that much.

My Marantz SR6006 doesn't get very hot as a pre-amp, so I would imagine it would be similar. Ventilation isn't a problem on my rack.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My Marantz SR6006 doesn't get very hot as a pre-amp, so I would imagine it would be similar. Ventilation isn't a problem on my rack.

My 5308 does not get hot either as a preamp - about the same amount of heat as my AVP-A1. My 3312 gets hot, but I'm using it as an amp.

 

[KEW]

The Marantz AV8801 is over twice the price of the Denon 4311 CI. Both have Audyssey XT32, both have dual sub management. The Denon also has a pretty beefy power section. So my question is, what are you gaining in the Marantz vs the Denon?

A cool looking circular window for the display!

 

[KEW]

IMHO, unless you already have more amplifiers than you know what to do with or speakers that pose feaky heavy loads, I would suggest that you at least use the 4311 for the surround speakers!
The Denon has a decent amp and running the surrounds and rears will not push its limits under any normal conditions!
So save some money and only buy 3 channels of amplification instead of 5 or 7 (or 9).

 

[PENG]

But what about XLR connecting to your Pure Balanced Amp

- Rich

Balanced connection never seem to measure better, in fact for what is commonly available on the web they tend to measure worse, so unless you have long wires why bother? The Marantz balanced connection is not totally balanced either in a pure sense though they won't better. Have said all that I am still planning on getting one soon, for non SQ related reasons though.

 

[PENG]

IMHO, unless you already have more amplifiers than you know what to do with or speakers that pose feaky heavy loads, I would suggest that you at least use the 4311 for the surround speakers!
The Denon has a decent amp and running the surrounds and rears will not push its limits under any normal conditions!
So save some money and only buy 3 channels of amplification instead of 5 or 7 (or 9).

I fully agree, but some people do have more amps than they know..

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I am still planning on getting one soon, for non SQ related reasons though.

For aesthetic reason?

No!

 

[JonnyFive23517]

IMHO, unless you already have more amplifiers than you know what to do with or speakers that pose feaky heavy loads, I would suggest that you at least use the 4311 for the surround speakers!

I agree the Denon has a decent amp. I'm all stocked on amplification though, so that's not a problem.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'm all stocked on amplification though, so that's not a problem.

Are you planning on just listening with Direct or Pure Direct 5.1/2.1 or Stereo w/ Audyssey ?

If the former, and since you have ext amps already, why not just get the 3312/3313?