Anthem MRX 520 vs Marantz SR7010 VS Onkyo TX-RZ900

[PTsurfer]

Any help will be appreciated.

I need to choose a new receiver to replace my old Marantz SR4200, and the options are:
- Anthem MRX 520
- Marantz SR7010
- Onkyo TX-RZ900.

I already listen the Anthem MRX 520, and loved the sound quality, but the Marantz and the Onkyo TX-RZ900, have more features, for example DTS:X and Wifi, and more channels...

Will I really miss in the future the lack of DTS:X?

What will be the best choice in your opinion?

My speakers are B&W 684 S2 + 686 S2 + HTM62 + KEF PSW 2100 (5.1 system).

 

[everettT]

If it were me , without question the Marantz. Feature packed and stout amp section. The anthem isn't in the same league overall (not that it is bad) and the onkyo could be a crap shoot. As for sound, without eq I'd expect them to sound almost identical

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I don't think any of them will sound very differently in Direct (Bypass) Mode or Discrete modes (DTS-HD MA, Dolby TrueHD, etc.).

Do you think they sound differently in Direct Mode?

As far as ATMOS and DTS:X, I personally don't care for them. But it's doesn't hurt to have them either.

 

[little wing]

I would think the Marantz 7010 ($2199)would be better compared with the Anthem MRX 720. ($2499) The power specs are also comparable. The Marantz will have more features for sure. If you need them. I don't think you could really go wrong with either choice.

 

[PENG]

The Onkyo and Marantz will likely have stronger power supply. The Marantz seems to offer more features. In pure direct I expect they will all sound good with those B&W speakers but I do believe the Marantz is the best overall. B&W speakers tend to have low impedance dips and the Marantz should handle them a little better than the Anthem can.

 

[Cos]

Any help will be appreciated.

I need to choose a new receiver to replace my old Marantz SR4200, and the options are:
- Anthem MRX 520
- Marantz SR7010
- Onkyo TX-RZ900.

I already listen the Anthem MRX 520, and loved the sound quality, but the Marantz and the Onkyo TX-RZ900, have more features, for example DTS:X and Wifi, and more channels...

Will I really miss in the future the lack of DTS:X?

What will be the best choice in your opinion?

My speakers are B&W 684 S2 + 686 S2 + HTM62 + KEF PSW 2100 (5.1 system).

As a previous owner of Anthem products, I think they are excellent, that being said, you get a lot more features for the $$ and I really don't think you will have much, if any, perceivable sound difference between each.

 

[PTsurfer]

I would think the Marantz 7010 ($2199)would be better compared with the Anthem MRX 720. ($2499) The power specs are also comparable. The Marantz will have more features for sure. If you need them. I don't think you could really go wrong with either choice.

I live in Europe, so I have to compare the price range where:
- Anthem MRX 720 costs +/- 3.000€ (Over budget)
- Anthem MRX 520 costs +/- 1.400€
- Marantz SR7010 costs +/- 1.300€

 

[PENG]

I live in Europe, so I have to compare the price range where:
- Anthem MRX 720 costs +/- 3.000€ (Over budget)
- Anthem MRX 520 costs +/- 1.400€
- Marantz SR7010 costs +/- 1.300€

In that case, the SR 7010 is the much better deal. I have no experience with the 7010 but have recently setup a SR7009. It has plenty of power reserve for the Monitor Silver 8 speakers in that 5.1 system, and the fronts are 4 ohms nominal 3-way speakers. So the SR 7010 should be able to handle your B&Ws quite well. In North America, the after discount price of the MRX 720 costs about the same +/- $200 as the SR 7010. For more than double the price in your area, the MRX will not only get you over budget but you would actually get less value in terms of features and power.

Some people believe Anthem's room EQ system is superior to Audyssey's but there isn't a lot of hard prove to support such claims. I believe the SR 7010's is superior for dual subwoofer setups because of Audyssey XT32's SubEQ HT feature.

 

[PTsurfer]

In that case, the SR 7010 is the much better deal. I have no experience with the 7010 but have recently setup a SR7009. It has plenty of power reserve for the Monitor Silver 8 speakers in that 5.1 system, and the fronts are 4 ohms nominal 3-way speakers. So the SR 7010 should be able to handle your B&Ws quite well. In North America, the after discount price of the MRX 720 costs about the same +/- $200 as the SR 7010. For more than double the price in your area, the MRX will not only get you over budget but you would actually get less value in terms of features and power.

Some people believe Anthem's room EQ system is superior to Audyssey's but there isn't a lot of hard prove to support such claims. I believe the SR 7010's is superior for dual subwoofer setups because of Audyssey XT32's SubEQ HT feature.

I agree, probably the Marantz SR7010 will be the right choice.

 

[Bruce washy washy]

If it were me , without question the Marantz. Feature packed and stout amp section. The anthem isn't in the same league overall (not that it is bad) and the onkyo could be a crap shoot. As for sound, without eq I'd expect them to sound almost identical[/QUOTE

Have u listen to the Anthem before? What makes u think the marantz is a better choice for the b&w speakers. I am using a Onkyo txrz900 with the b&w 682 s2 speakers. What sort of craps are u talking about? Who is shooting the crabs or are u paid to shoot crabs about Onkyo? And as for anthem, u guys listen up there is no way u can compare marantz, denon,onkyo and even Yamaha with Anthem. It's totally heaven and hell different.

 

[Bruce washy washy]

Any help will be appreciated.

I need to choose a new receiver to replace my old Marantz SR4200, and the options are:
- Anthem MRX 520
- Marantz SR7010
- Onkyo TX-RZ900.

I already listen the Anthem MRX 520, and loved the sound quality, but the Marantz and the Onkyo TX-RZ900, have more features, for example DTS:X and Wifi, and more channels...

Will I really miss in the future the lack of DTS:X?

What will be the best choice in your opinion?

My speakers are B&W 684 S2 + 686 S2 + HTM62 + KEF PSW 2100 (5.1 system).

Believe in your ears. Ask urself what is important to you? Have u heard marantz and Onkyo especially if you are going to use the speaker combination that you have. Don't listen to those guys who know nothing about sound quality and yet kept telling you marantz is good. They might be paid to give good opinion and comments on marantz. They are using you as well guinea pig and trick you into buy crap hifi. Choose to believe yourself and not those rubbish outside telling you to buy junk back home

 

[killdozzer]

Believe in your ears. Ask urself what is important to you? Have u heard marantz and Onkyo especially if you are going to use the speaker combination that you have. Don't listen to those guys who know nothing about sound quality and yet kept telling you marantz is good. They might be paid to give good opinion and comments on marantz. They are using you as well guinea pig and trick you into buy crap hifi. Choose to believe yourself and not those rubbish outside telling you to buy junk back home

Bruce, you couldn't be further from the truth.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Have u listen to the Anthem before?

And as for anthem, u guys listen up there is no way u can compare marantz, denon,onkyo and even Yamaha with Anthem. It's totally heaven and hell different.

Oh, I've listened to the high-end Anthem pre-pro and AVR before alright.

Add Arcam, McIntosh, Bryston, Mark Levinson, Krell, and other pre-pros to the list.

The Anthem can sound as good as the Denon, Marantz, and other AVR I've listened to.

But in terms of dollar-for-dollar, the Denon has more power output and has enough Dynamic Power into 1 ohms for those "power-hungry" speakers.

Denon 3805:
Dynamic Power Output into 1 ohms: 170W (1%THD)
http://www.milleraudioresearch.com/download/reports/aug04/denonavr3805.html

 

[everettT]

Have u listen to the Anthem before? What makes u think the marantz is a better choice for the b&w speakers. I am using a Onkyo txrz900 with the b&w 682 s2 speakers. What sort of craps are u talking about? Who is shooting the crabs or are u paid to shoot crabs about Onkyo? And as for anthem, u guys listen up there is no way u can compare marantz, denon,onkyo and even Yamaha with Anthem. It's totally heaven and hell different.

Glad to hear that you think the 6Series BWs are the bomb, or at least the midrange is . Onkyo is meh, hit or miss and their new RC is pathetic. I've probably listened to every major brand and available in the US, including Anthem, so I'm just speaking from experience that's all.

 

[KEW]

$3500 Anthem MRX 1120:

$2200 Marantz SR-7011:

No, you will not hear the distortion at these low levels, but it seems fair to associate lower distortion with better circuit design and higher quality components/build quality.

The Anthem never gets below 0.003% distortion and climbs to ~0.0045 by 50Watts output.
The Marantz gets down around 0.002% and does not exceed 0.003% as it climbs to 50Watts output.
At 100Watts, the Anthem is at 0.008% distortion and the Marantz is at 0.0045%.
So through the main operational range, the Anthem has 50% (or greater) more distortion than the Marantz.

From the other posts, it seems that the Marantz has more features.

So, saving $1300 gets you better design & build quality and more features!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

So the Denon AVR has more power (or at least equal), has great 1 ohms dynamic power, and has less distortion (or least as good) than the Anthem AVR, but somehow some people still insist that the Anthem (and Arcam, NAD, etc.) sounds better. It boggles the mind.

Rationale? It's just because.

 

[mtrycrafts]

...

Rationale? It's just because.

You mean you wanted a rational, factual reason?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

You mean you wanted a rational, factual reason?

That's too much to ask, isn't it? What was I thinking?

 

[everettT]

$3500 Anthem MRX 1120:

$2200 Marantz SR-7011:

No, you will not hear the distortion at these low levels, but it seems fair to associate lower distortion with better circuit design and higher quality components/build quality.

The Anthem never gets below 0.003% distortion and climbs to ~0.0045 by 50Watts output.
The Marantz gets down around 0.002% and does not exceed 0.003% as it climbs to 50Watts output.
At 100Watts, the Anthem is at 0.008% distortion and the Marantz is at 0.0045%.
So through the main operational range, the Anthem has 50% (or greater) more distortion than the Marantz.

From the other posts, it seems that the Marantz has more features.

So, saving $1300 gets you better design & build quality and more features!

Why throw upper avr specs in there when we a really talking about lost leader BW Speakers I never get the fanboy electronics crowd, as today it's feature driven. I've enjoyed my McIntosh gear over the years, but it never made any setup I've owned. Speakers, Speakers, source material.

 

[Bruce washy washy]

I live in Europe, so I have to compare the price range where:
- Anthem MRX 720 costs +/- 3.000€ (Over budget)
- Anthem MRX 520 costs +/- 1.400€
- Marantz SR7010 costs +/- 1.300€

I like to swear a lot...