Denon 4306 versus Marantz 8500

[lonsdale3]

Marantz SR8500 versus Denon AVR-4306

I have read many of the posts about these two receivers but have not seen them pitted against one another. I will be using the new receiver with the following PSB speakers:

1 pair of Image T65 Towers -- 6 ohms nominal/4 ohms minimal – 94 dB
1 Image C60 center speaker – 8 ohms nominal/6 ohms minimal – 92 dB
1 pair of CW 180R in-wall surrounds – 8 ohms nominal – 90dB
1 subseries 6i subwoofer

The system will be used about 50-50 for movies on DVD in 5.1 surround sound and music in two channel stereo.

Here are some data on the two receivers. My questions follow the data. The spec that troubles me the most is the 6 ohm rating for the Denon. It reports .7% THD only at 1 kHz rather than the full 20 Hz – 20 kHz range. Doesn’t this imply a problem at 6 ohms across the full range? What might this mean in the real listening world? Distortion and clipping in the PSB speakers?
_______________
Marantz SR 8500 $1300
125 watts RMS
8 ohms 125 watts/channel, .08% THD 20 Hz – 20 kHz
6 ohms 160 watts/channel, .08% THD 20 Hz- 20 kHz

2 DVI inputs
THX Select (The PSB speakers are not THX certified.)
Toroidal transformer
_______________
Denon AVR 4306 $2000
130 watts
8 ohms 130 watts, .05% THD 20 Hz – 20 kHz
6 ohms 170 watts, .7% THD 1 kHz

3 HDMI inputs
No THX certification (The PSB speakers are not THX certified.)
Video up/down conversion capable of output to HDMI port
HDMI digital video interface supporting high-quality video of 1080p

The Denon has many features I am unlikely to use: home network function limited to Windows (I have an Apple Mac network); XM ready (I already subscribe and can wire the SkyFi2 XM receiver into the Marantz); iPod connectivity (I don’t use an iPod); internet radio (I listen to XM instead of internet radio).
_______________
I haven’t chosen the plasma display yet, but it will be 50”. The DVD player will probably be the new Marantz DV 600.

The Marantz 8500 is older than the Denon 4306 and does not have the same connectivity. On the other hand, it is a known commodity. The Denon is very new with features that, according to some online forums, have not yet been completely ironed out.

Option One is to buy the Marantz at $1300 now and wait for two or three years for the connectivity bells and whistles to mature. Then I could sell the Marantz and buy a next generation receiver with the latest connectivity options.

Option Two is to buy the Denon at $2000 now and hope that this first generation internet connectivity receiver works well.

Is the Denon worth an extra $700? What are your opinions about these two receivers?

I welcome your thoughts on this choice. Thanks very much.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Marantz SR8500 versus Denon AVR-4306

I have read many of the posts about these two receivers but have not seen them pitted against one another. I will be using the new receiver with the following PSB speakers:

1 pair of Image T65 Towers -- 6 ohms nominal/4 ohms minimal – 94 dB
1 Image C60 center speaker – 8 ohms nominal/6 ohms minimal – 92 dB
1 pair of CW 180R in-wall surrounds – 8 ohms nominal – 90dB
1 subseries 6i subwoofer

The system will be used about 50-50 for movies on DVD in 5.1 surround sound and music in two channel stereo.

Here are some data on the two receivers. My questions follow the data. The spec that troubles me the most is the 6 ohm rating for the Denon. It reports .7% THD only at 1 kHz rather than the full 20 Hz – 20 kHz range. Doesn’t this imply a problem at 6 ohms across the full range? What might this mean in the real listening world? Distortion and clipping in the PSB speakers?
_______________
Marantz SR 8500 $1300
125 watts RMS
8 ohms 125 watts/channel, .08% THD 20 Hz – 20 kHz
6 ohms 160 watts/channel, .08% THD 20 Hz- 20 kHz

2 DVI inputs
THX Select (The PSB speakers are not THX certified.)
Toroidal transformer
_______________
Denon AVR 4306 $2000
130 watts
8 ohms 130 watts, .05% THD 20 Hz – 20 kHz
6 ohms 170 watts, .7% THD 1 kHz

3 HDMI inputs
No THX certification (The PSB speakers are not THX certified.)
Video up/down conversion capable of output to HDMI port
HDMI digital video interface supporting high-quality video of 1080p

The Denon has many features I am unlikely to use: home network function limited to Windows (I have an Apple Mac network); XM ready (I already subscribe and can wire the SkyFi2 XM receiver into the Marantz); iPod connectivity (I don’t use an iPod); internet radio (I listen to XM instead of internet radio).
_______________
I haven’t chosen the plasma display yet, but it will be 50”. The DVD player will probably be the new Marantz DV 600.

The Marantz 8500 is older than the Denon 4306 and does not have the same connectivity. On the other hand, it is a known commodity. The Denon is very new with features that, according to some online forums, have not yet been completely ironed out.

Option One is to buy the Marantz at $1300 now and wait for two or three years for the connectivity bells and whistles to mature. Then I could sell the Marantz and buy a next generation receiver with the latest connectivity options.

Option Two is to buy the Denon at $2000 now and hope that this first generation internet connectivity receiver works well.

Is the Denon worth an extra $700? What are your opinions about these two receivers?

I welcome your thoughts on this choice. Thanks very much.

I don't see a frequency response spec. If both are flat enough, it looks like that the Marantz is a more capable component between the two.

The Denon spec for the 6 ohm is given in this case to show more power out, but at the cost of THD and at one frequency. If rated the same as Marantz, the power would have been much lower; that is what they wanted to avoid, I am sure.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I'd take the Marantz, they're simply the best looking AVR's on the market. The Denon has a leg up on weight (7lbs more), but for some reason, not power into 6 ohms. Why not consider the new Marantz ZR6001SP?

Now had you said the 4806...

 

[Khellandros66]

Marantz has a Toroidial power transformer so it will be more efficient at lower impedences.

I would take the marantz. HDMI is usless in its current state and DVI-HDCP works well with HDMI for video.

~Bob

 

[anamorphic96]

If im not mistaken don't toroidial units weight a bit less in general ?

 

[j_garcia]

Based on those prices, I'd definitely go with the 8500. I think the 4306 has the 8500 beat in terms of features, but I've generally preferred Marantz to Denon sound wise. I haven't heard the 4306, but I have heard the 4802 and 4801 and I felt they were very good receivers.

 

[3db]

Nice speakers BTW and congrats!!

Marantz SR8500 versus Denon AVR-4306

I have read many of the posts about these two receivers but have not seen them pitted against one another. I will be using the new receiver with the following PSB speakers:

1 pair of Image T65 Towers -- 6 ohms nominal/4 ohms minimal – 94 dB
1 Image C60 center speaker – 8 ohms nominal/6 ohms minimal – 92 dB
1 pair of CW 180R in-wall surrounds – 8 ohms nominal – 90dB
1 subseries 6i subwoofer

The system will be used about 50-50 for movies on DVD in 5.1 surround sound and music in two channel stereo.

Here are some data on the two receivers. My questions follow the data. The spec that troubles me the most is the 6 ohm rating for the Denon. It reports .7% THD only at 1 kHz rather than the full 20 Hz – 20 kHz range. Doesn’t this imply a problem at 6 ohms across the full range? What might this mean in the real listening world? Distortion and clipping in the PSB speakers?
_______________
Marantz SR 8500 $1300
125 watts RMS
8 ohms 125 watts/channel, .08% THD 20 Hz – 20 kHz
6 ohms 160 watts/channel, .08% THD 20 Hz- 20 kHz

2 DVI inputs
THX Select (The PSB speakers are not THX certified.)
Toroidal transformer
_______________
Denon AVR 4306 $2000
130 watts
8 ohms 130 watts, .05% THD 20 Hz – 20 kHz
6 ohms 170 watts, .7% THD 1 kHz

3 HDMI inputs
No THX certification (The PSB speakers are not THX certified.)
Video up/down conversion capable of output to HDMI port
HDMI digital video interface supporting high-quality video of 1080p

The Denon has many features I am unlikely to use: home network function limited to Windows (I have an Apple Mac network); XM ready (I already subscribe and can wire the SkyFi2 XM receiver into the Marantz); iPod connectivity (I don’t use an iPod); internet radio (I listen to XM instead of internet radio).
_______________
I haven’t chosen the plasma display yet, but it will be 50”. The DVD player will probably be the new Marantz DV 600.

The Marantz 8500 is older than the Denon 4306 and does not have the same connectivity. On the other hand, it is a known commodity. The Denon is very new with features that, according to some online forums, have not yet been completely ironed out.

Option One is to buy the Marantz at $1300 now and wait for two or three years for the connectivity bells and whistles to mature. Then I could sell the Marantz and buy a next generation receiver with the latest connectivity options.

Option Two is to buy the Denon at $2000 now and hope that this first generation internet connectivity receiver works well.

Is the Denon worth an extra $700? What are your opinions about these two receivers?

I welcome your thoughts on this choice. Thanks very much.

I have a cheap old technics Surround sound receiver driving a pair of Image T45s, an Image 8C and a pair of Image 1Bs along with a subsonic5. My receiver has got to go as I'm not pleased with it, ever since I heard th Image T45s thru a NAD. But I digress. The thing is that either the Denon or the Marantz has plenty of khuana's to drive them PSB's. My Technics drives my PSB into the high 90dbs (only did that once cause it hurt like hell and sounded like crap) in my HT room which is 12' x 16' at the listening postion, 7' feet away. And the amp section on my Technics is no where as good as the Denon or the Marantz. It will come down to what sound you like better and what features you really would like to have. But as far as possible power shortage from either one of those receivers driving those PSB's, its not a problem