Integra 80.1 vs Marantz AV8003

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Pretty off topic.. but have you guys seen the specs on that McIntosh 2kw amp? Pretty intense.

Is that 2,000 watts per channel into 8 ohms?

Isn't there a LIMIT on the house current as to how much an amp and output?

Laws of diminishing returns?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The SR7005 looks exactly the same, only instead of XLR preouts, it's got speaker outputs. It will also cost about half as much as the separate preamp that has the same fit/finish and features. The SR7005 is rated 125 watts per channel. Given that Marantz has a reputation of delivering their specified power I'd say it's worthwhile for consideration.

I agree that the SR7005 will be just as good as the equivalent pre-pro.

I also think most people, including myself, do not need separate amps.

But Amps are like the Godfather; just when you think you are out, they suck you back in.

Most people, including myself, just go crazy over amps. I don't need amps; but I just want them.

 

[Seth=L]

I agree that the SR7005 will be just as good as the equivalent pre-pro.

I also think most people, including myself, do not need separate amps.

But Amps are like the Godfather; just when you think you are out, they suck you back in.

Most people, including myself, just go crazy over amps. I don't need amps; but I just want them.

You are missing my point. Since the SR7005 costs less, regardless of whether it has built in amps or not, it would be a more cost effective preamp for anyone. XLR connections are highly overrated on home audio equipment of this grade, the standard RCA preouts on the SR7005 would be just fine for anyone. To the benefit of the owner of an SR7005 they wouldn't necessarily need to have amps for all channels, or need to buy them all at once. For most of us this is a step by step process. I for one don't have the credit line to drop $9,000 on a preamp and a bunch of amplifiers!

 

[bhodge]

Docks. If you really want something that's going to have a top end feel, then I'd get the SR7005. If you just want it to handle HDMI audio and video and have no care for 3D or return audio (HDMI 1.4 capable TVs can send a return audio signal over HDMI to the preamp/receiver) then I would suggest looking at the SR6004 or the SR5004 to use as a preamp. The SR6004 was measured by Gene and he said it gives tremendous performance when used as a preamp for the dollar.

Given the cost of a separate preamp I can rarely think of an occasion where I would recommend one, they simply aren't viable. Considering that the SR7005 and soon to come AV7005 are virtually the same beside the lack of internal amplifiers on the AV7005 I couldn't recommend the AV7005 to anyone. The SR7005, per marantz's website, states the MSRP of the SR7005 is $1599. The MSRP of the AV7005 per the link above states 1699 British pounds, which is roughly $2600 US. While the MSRP may be slightly different when the AV7005 is sold in the US you can still count on it being significantly more than the SR7005. But why? So we can have XLR preouts that aren't true balanced outputs? You'd have to spend even more money to make them balanced, and more money again to balance the inputs on the amplifier in use. Using the XLR for the sake of using it is virtually pointless. It's a more sturdy connection, but that's why they use it in pro audio equipment. It's also less likely for noise to become a problem in excessively long cable runs when using XLR, but in reality your amp and preamp will be right next to each other.

This has got me excited again. I have an older onkyo receiver and my maggies needed a bit more power and I want to upgrade my receiver to have HDMI. So I bought an XPA-5 and planned on getting the UMC-1 once it came out (XPA-5 and my maggies love each other). But with all the firmware issues of the UMC-1 I am waiting to see if it finally gets to the point where I would buy it.

However I do like the look of the Marantz receivers so I was searching on this new AV7005 and came across Wild West Electronics which is taking preorders. The price for the SR7005 is $1,599 and the AV7005 is $1,499. So either I am missing something, this is an introductory price, its a typo/scam, or its really is cheaper. Now $100 is much of a difference but its a start. Here are the links:
SR: http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/marantz-sr7005-home-theater-receiver.html
AV: http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/marantz-av7005-preamplifier-processor-home-theater.html

And Marantz does have wild west electronics as an authorized online dealer:
http://us.marantz.com/1614.asp

On a related note, does anyone know if you can turn off the amps in the receiver if using an external amp? Or is the power loss negligible when no speakers are connected (I would imagine even though the electricity isn't moving, its still working to create the voltage correct)?

 

[Seth=L]

However I do like the look of the Marantz receivers so I was searching on this new AV7005 and came across Wild West Electronics which is taking preorders. The price for the SR7005 is $1,599 and the AV7005 is $1,499. So either I am missing something, this is an introductory price, its a typo/scam, or its really is cheaper. Now $100 is much of a difference but its a start.

I guess the article linked in this thread earlier was off base on the MSRP (it was 1699 british pounds I think). The conversion rate to US came to about $2300 US. Maybe they charge the British more, although that's quite unfair.

If you knew you wouldn't need the internal amplifiers, at these prices I'd see no reason to bypass the AV7005, saving $100 on something if you know exactly what you plan to do with it makes perfect sense.

Also, the weight published for the SR7005 is astounding. In the description it says "current feedback" which I've always associated with switching amplifiers. This would be the first time I've seen Marantz go Class D. It's made in Japan as well, like the Pioneer receivers based on switching topologies. The Marantz is significantly lighter than the Pioneer SC-27 though, 40 pounds vs. 28 pounds.

 

[TLS Guy]

I guess the article linked in this thread earlier was off base on the MSRP (it was 1699 british pounds I think). The conversion rate to US came to about $2300 US. Maybe they charge the British more, although that's quite unfair.

If you knew you wouldn't need the internal amplifiers, at these prices I'd see no reason to bypass the AV7005, saving $100 on something if you know exactly what you plan to do with it makes perfect sense.

They do because of VAT which has to be included in the price.

 

[Seth=L]

They do because of VAT which has to be included in the price.

That's a lot of tax.

 

[TLS Guy]

That's a lot of tax.

Yes it is. It is 17% added every time there is an exchange. So the importer adds 17%, the retailer adds 17% on the sum. Every exchange has 17% collected on the previous sum. They are going to raise it to 20% because of the recent austerity budget, so they don't end up like Greece.

The scheme is being talked about for the US.

 

[Seth=L]

The scheme is being talked about for the US.

There's a scheme alright.

 

[Warpdrv]

So I know its a little early, but is the AV7005 going to have the same issues as the 8003 with lack of processing power ?
(ie. crippling audyssey with 7 channel codecs or however it was stated)

Its not that big a deal to me as It'll be going towards a 5.1 system anyways but I was curious.... That was one reason I went with the D2v in my main system. Otherwise I may have gone with a 8003.

 

[Docks]

Speaking of taxes... i was pretty PO'd to hear the amount of taxes I had to pay for my speakers at the Canadian/US border.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Looks like the Marantz AV7005 pre-pro is coming late October 2010 @ $1,500 retail, which means lower street prices will sure to follow:

http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/marantz-av7005-preamplifier-processor-home-theater.html

http://www.lmelectronics.com/shop/product/?key=6434

 

[Docks]

Wow that sounds like a great deal.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'm still waiting for Denon to come out with a Pre-pro version of their AVR-4310/4810.