Anthem MRX 740 vs Marantz Cinema 50?

[kmidst]

Yeah I can't really agree that an AVR could sound good for movies but not music or vice versa. They're audio signals either way. To really compare two amps, you need to keep all the speakers the same, level match as closely as possible, and remove all forms of equalization. Then to add another layer to it, you can run room correction on both units and compare again. Also then if the amp has a special or proprietary feature that helps the audio, try that too and weigh it in.
But all extra features aside, with every other factor kept constant, if they sound different then it should be the case for any audio source.

 

[PENG]

I did have denon 3800 and 4800 in the theater room for around a month. I was just using that one experience of switching rooms as an example. All I can really give is a subjective experience as it was my experience. Really that’s all any of us can do after hearing a setup and even analyzing rew. I’m not doing blind testing any longer with groups of friends. Most of my local audiophiles that I’ve shared get togethers and demos have moved on from the hobby or just don’t care anymore. I’d like to see an article on that explaining why so many people abandon this hobby after 5-10 years. Maybe money? Maybe time? Maybe frustration with always trying to get to next level? Maybe the constant beat down of people telling you how it should sound? In the end I believe your display can be fully calibrated but you need to enjoy the way it looks. Same goes for audio, it can be ruler flat, in well treated room and you hate the way it sounds.

I like to take the approach, it’s all about having fun. Trying multiple avrs, speakers and subs. It’s the best way you’ll know what you liked. If the denon doesn’t do it for you try a marantz. If they don’t excite you try another product. In the end the end user needs to be excited and happy to use his setup or they too will fade away from this hobby.

Well said..

 

[Stereoguy]

Hi: Bought the MRX-740 about 2 weeks ago.....very pleased with it so far!!Only bug is the switiching between inputs is not the greatest especially with the Roger's cable box(live in Canada) otherwise a great product imo.Thanks to all who posted here & helped me decide!!

 

[Nondemo01]

Hi all, sorta new here. I am retiring and downsizing from a Marantz 8805 and Monolith 8250x to a receiver for my modest GoldenEar SuperCinema SoundBar and SuperSat 3s. (Don't laugh, it's that or TV speakers.) Because sound is so subjective and I'm already familiar with the Marantz sound, what I'm more interested in is HDMI switching and bugginess. I want it to work reliably. I love the idea of adding amps later should I get "real" speakers when I get a "real" home so the Anthem is ahead. But if you all tell me that certain items just aren't "cooked" on the Anthem, then maybe Marantz. Also, the Anthem AVRs are on sale now so they are about equal in price. ($2500 Marantz; $2634 Anthem.)

 

[Golfx]

Hi all, sorta new here. I am retiring and downsizing from a Marantz 8805 and Monolith 8250x to a receiver for my modest GoldenEar SuperCinema SoundBar and SuperSat 3s. (Don't laugh, it's that or TV speakers.) Because sound is so subjective and I'm already familiar with the Marantz sound, what I'm more interested in is HDMI switching and bugginess. I want it to work reliably. I love the idea of adding amps later should I get "real" speakers when I get a "real" home so the Anthem is ahead. But if you all tell me that certain items just aren't "cooked" on the Anthem, then maybe Marantz. Also, the Anthem AVRs are on sale now so they are about equal in price. ($2500 Marantz; $2634 Anthem.)

The new cinema series of Marantz will let you “disconnect” internals amps “by channel” from their respective pre-outs. This would allow you better SINAD on those channels should you ever choose to use external amps for your main speakers (LCR) and then use internal amps for your surrounds and atmos. That is the biggest difference to me in features for future proofing your purchase.

 

[PENG]

Hi all, sorta new here. I am retiring and downsizing from a Marantz 8805 and Monolith 8250x to a receiver for my modest GoldenEar SuperCinema SoundBar and SuperSat 3s. (Don't laugh, it's that or TV speakers.) Because sound is so subjective and I'm already familiar with the Marantz sound, what I'm more interested in is HDMI switching and bugginess. I want it to work reliably. I love the idea of adding amps later should I get "real" speakers when I get a "real" home so the Anthem is ahead. But if you all tell me that certain items just aren't "cooked" on the Anthem, then maybe Marantz. Also, the Anthem AVRs are on sale now so they are about equal in price. ($2500 Marantz; $2634 Anthem.)

If you have one sub, the Anthem is okay, it has two parallel subputs vs 4 independent subouts for the Marantz. So if you have a difficut room, Marantz, with Audyssey and the editor app, will do much better.

There is no such thing as Marantz sound that is audible regardless of what the hearsay/Marantz marketing claims. If in the EU, Marantz (for $300 more) may be a good choice but in the US, Denon is $1000 cheaper (4800 vs C40), the do nothing HDAMs are not worth such a premium.