@PENG BTW, I just sold another X8500HA. Clients are actually preferring the Denon X8500HA over the Marantz AV8805A because of Amir’s measurements; everyone seems to want the best measurements.
We both know probably >99% of the age group who can likely afford a $2,000 to $15,000 AVR/AVP/AVC would not have the ability to hear the difference between measured SINAD in the range 75 to 110 dB.
It is however, understandable that most who have read the reviews of the AV8805A and AVR-X8500HA would prefer the much cheaper AVR-X8500HA, unless they need XLRs or the different look/style is important to them.
They probably know that objective measurements don't lie but subjective measurements may.
Case in point:
- Amir just measured another sample of the AV7705, and the results were almost the same as the first sample.
- He also just measured the AV8805A, that has an ESS Sabre (ES9010K2M0 DA) DAC IC that has a slightly lower SINAD than the original AKM's AK4490 (due to factory fire resulted shortage apparently), and the results were again, almost the same as the original AV8805.
- If you compared Gene's measurements, as well as Denon/Marantz internal bench tests on the same or comparable models, they all look similar to Amir's.
So going with objective bench measurements would seem like a safer bet than going with subjective measurements that are basically hearsay.
What your customers are seeing:
Marantz AV8805A Review (AV Processor) | Page 8 | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
How many would even pay attention to the fact that they are comparing distortions+noise:
0.0023% vs 0.00068%, 10 dB difference do seem like a lot, but..
