Choose: Yamaha 2500 vs Marantz-5600

[farscaper]

Seems that there has been a few of these threads lately. Here is my version.

I have to make the decision between the Yamaha 2500 (last one) and Marantz 5600. The Marantz is actually $85US cheaper. Both new. Both with full factory warranties. I like both for different reasons.

50/50 Music and movies. Room is 12x20x7.5.

Convice me, one or the other. No sitting on the fence.

Cheers

 

[JMO_PWR]

It is a bit of an un-even comparasion. As the Yamaha is mid-high range and the Marantz is low-mid. You would probebly get better sound (expessially musical) out of the Marantz but the Yamaha would have more power and more features. Personally id save a bit more and get a Marantz SR-7500. Or possibly just go for a factory repacked one. To me I take sound quality over features (to a degree). You should take a look at Harman Kardon too, they have nice products to offer.

 

[mouettus]

Let alone Harman Kardon. He's choosing between Marantz and Yamaha. So be it.

In my opinion, go with the Marantz. But JMO_PWR had a great point on saving your big bugs and go for the 7500. With the 5500, you're gonna run out of power in no time. 7500's headroom is huge and I feel you'll never have to amp it later. I looked at this unit yesterday and I could have it for 1400 CAD. Pretty impressed.

And if you want to widen your views a bit, go and have just a quick look at NAD (T753). Music's awesome with that one. A little better than Marantz in sound reproduction. About the same price as well (7500-T753 --> 1400 CAD)

Hint: Test your system on 2-channel music. If it sounds good, it'll go along with movies.

What speakers are your driving?

 

[rolyasm]

Mouettus,
You are funny. You tell JMO_PWR not to bring up other brands like Harmon Kardon and then in your next paragraph you bring in a new brand yourself by telling farscraper to check out NAD. So IMO, you shouldn't tell people to buy a specific brand they aren't interested in.

Hey Farscraper, I would check out Sherwood newcastle.
Ha
roly

 

[mouettus]

Mouettus,
You are funny. You tell JMO_PWR not to bring up other brands like Harmon Kardon and then in your next paragraph you bring in a new brand yourself by telling farscraper to check out NAD. So IMO, you shouldn't tell people to buy a specific brand they aren't interested in.

Hey Farscraper, I would check out Sherwood newcastle.
Ha
roly

True
HAHA
but I told him "if you wanna widen your views,"

Whatever... same result

 

[NGL_BrSH]

I sell both at my store and i'd take the 2500 all day every day between those two. yamaha comes with a better remote, more tweaking features, better gui, and much more power. And for music you would be hard pressed to tell the difference between the two if you put the yamaha in Pure direct mode.
yamaha 100%

 

[mouettus]

And for music you would be hard pressed to tell the difference between the two if you put the yamaha in Pure direct mode.
yamaha 100%

You seem to be the only one who can't make the audible difference between those two. The Marantz is way more musical to my ears. I did a blind test with a vendor at a store and I could tell the difference right away by the image that they're giving to the speakers.

 

[steelhrd]

I have the 2500 and with the peq imposed i get great music from it. This is a huge asset to me as it makes up for some of the deficiencies in my room.

 

[farscaper]

Thanks for the replys.

I went with the Yamaha 2500. I was able to get it at almost the same price as the Marantz 5600. I called two stores to see if there was any movement in the price. I was given an aggressive "No" twice. When I called a the third store, the Manager picks up and said, "Yes, we can figure something out, come on in". He got an extra warranty for $60, I got a receiver and taxes under the advertised price. We're all happy now.

I couldn't justify raising my limit on this purchase because its basically the second system for the house. Office plus 2nd zone.

As for speakers, I've decided on a set of Axioms M3ti. Probably 5 of them. Its a small room and I want to play with muli-channel music. Sub is likely to be the small HSU STF-1. This whole thing should hit right on my budget of $2k Cdn.

Thanks again.