Marantz 8400 vs Denon 3805.... Suggestions Please

[Spiffyfast]

I'm finally getting ready to upgrade from my crappy Sony HTIB set up to a decent home theater system. The speakers I am planning to use are Paradigm Monitor 7's for the main, Paradigm CC-370 for Center, and Paradigm ADP 370 for the rears, I was pretty dead set on getting the Marantz 8400 to power this set up b/c being last years model they are going for a good price $650 on ubid.com, well until I was checking today and saw the Denon 3805 for $770 at the same place. I have heard great things about both recievers and was wondering if people could give me some suggestions on choosing between the two.

Thanks for any help.

 

[kaseaman]

If you would like my personal opinion, I feel that you should get the Marantz. One of my friends owns one and has never had any problems with it. I have also heard really good things about their customer service. The Denon is also a good reciever as I am sure you have heard. I just have never really been a fan of Denons, please nobody kill me. . .

 

[av-man]

Never liked the sound of Marantz. The Denon is a great reciever. The $770 price is below distributor wholesale pricing. Be very careful the warranty is probably null and void.
just a quick story about a Marantz vs. Denon.
I had a customer who owned a Marantz(Don't remember the model, $800 retail)
and a set of Klpsch towers with bookshelfs for rears (5.1 set up) Lightning killed the Marantz so I replaced it with a Denon 2805. 2 days later the customer called me and said that for the first time sinse he got them he felt like he got his moneys' worth out of the speakers.

 

[Spiffyfast]

Yeah, the Denon is refurbished with a one year manufacturers warranty, which is fine by me, odds are something will go wrong before that, and after that it'll be time to upgrade anyway

 

[mwheelerk]

The Denon

I own the 3805 and run Paradigm Studio 60's with the CC450 center (my son has my original Monitor 7's). I couldn't be happier with performance and reliability with the Denon. I would recommend buying the microphone so you can use the Auto EQ feature. I think that works great. I also really love the ability to drive a second zone (speakeres on the back patio) with the two amp channels I don't use for surround (I have a 5.1 set up instead of 7.1).

 

[PENG]

Here’s my experience with the 3805, in listening to most 2 channel music, there is no noticeable difference between the sound quality whether I hooked up my 3805 to a 200WPC Adcom or a 300WPC Bryston or not. After trying it out either way for a few months, I ended up leaving the Adcom in the loop because it appears to sound better, however slightly, and almost certainly psychologically. With either amps it seemed (pychologically ?) to sound better at loud volume. The sound stage seems to open up with the Bryston, but it’s not a difference that I would be confident to notice in a double blind test. The only real reason to leave it in is to take some load off the 3805 so it will hopefully last longer.

Before I traded in my Sony STR-DA4ES, I was able to hear definite (I wouldn't say huge) improvement when I did the same to it (hooking up the amps). I used to think perhaps the prepro section is the bottleneck, but the 3805, like the RX-V2500 are supposed to have very decent prepro section. This, combine with having read many great reviews, including some from British AV magazines who even rank it highly relative to the NADT773 and Arcam AVR300, I have to believe that the 3805 simply has an excellent amp section. May be the 3805's low price relative to the more expensive Arcam and NAD is due to the high sales volume. As we all know, the higher the production volume, the lower the manufacturing costs.

As for the Marantz, no doubt they are good and neutral sounding units but I still think you get better bang for the money with the Denon.

 

[RMK!]

I'm finally getting ready to upgrade from my crappy Sony HTIB set up to a decent home theater system. The speakers I am planning to use are Paradigm Monitor 7's for the main, Paradigm CC-370 for Center, and Paradigm ADP 370 for the rears, I was pretty dead set on getting the Marantz 8400 to power this set up b/c being last years model they are going for a good price $650 on ubid.com, well until I was checking today and saw the Denon 3805 for $770 at the same place. I have heard great things about both recievers and was wondering if people could give me some suggestions on choosing between the two.

Thanks for any help.

Spiffy,
I bought the 3805 from ubid for about the same price two months ago. Could not be happier. I have Monitor Audio Silver speakers and the combination is great. I also biamped (see 3805 review) the 3805 to my MA fronts and have been pleased with that. Ubid is a Denon factory authorized e-tailer so you get a warranty. Mine came as new.
Not to throw a monkee wrench into this, but have you heard about the 4806? Expensive but very nice HT receiver.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Here's a list of authorized Denon re/e-tailers if you have warranty issues, or just want to check prices online. I also purchased my 3805 from Ubid. There was nothing wrong with my remote, but I called Denon service, and exchanged my black foil remote with the blue one. The batteries last longer, and it's easier to see in a bright room (in case anyone is using it). Ubid is an awesome site. Call their 800#. Someone actually answers the phone! The Marantz was probably the "better bang for the buck" when is was going for under $500. Now that it's up to almost $700 with shipping at ubid(check ebay for better prices-I think they can be had for just over $600), the Denon IMO is the route to go. The Marantz is absolutely stunning as far as reproducing accurate sound, but the Denon has quite a bit more flexibility, as well as a parametric eq where there are endless ways to tailor your sound. The 3805 is a very demanding unit, so if "tweaking things" isn't in your bag, get the Marantz for simple ease of set up if you can get it around $600.

Authorized DENON Online E-Tailers:

ListenUp.com

Crutchfield.com

Abt Electronics.com

Tweeter.com:

6ave.com (Specialty Audio Only)

Vanns.com Limited Selection

Amazon.com Limited Selection

ecost.com (Refurbished Products, Factory Reconditioned or B-Stock Only)

PC Mall.com (Refurbished Products, Factory Reconditioned or B-Stock Only)

Onsale.com (Refurbished Products, Factory Reconditioned or B-Stock Only)

uBid.com (Refurbished Products, Factory Reconditioned or B-Stock Only)

Mac Mall.com (Refurbished Products, Factory Reconditioned or B-Stock Only)

Club Mac.com (Refurbished Products, Factory Reconditioned or B-Stock Only)

Dakmart.com (Refurbished Products, Factory Reconditioned or B-Stock Only - An e-bay Reseller)

Stampede.com (Refurbished Products, Factory Reconditioned or B-Stock Only)

Overstock.com (Refurbished Products, Factory Reconditioned or B-Stock Only)

 

[Spiffyfast]

wow,thanks for the list of e-tailers that'll def. be some help, ive never actually tweaked a system before so it might be neat to try something with some more options, i dunno, its a tough decision, i've heard such great things about both recievers

 

[8118]

Marantz, Denon and Mcintosh are brands under one company... dm holding.

http://www.dm-holdings.com

 

[Spiffyfast]

Well if they are all under one company, anyone know how much technology sharing is taking place. I'm guessing quite a bit because the three of those are all well known high end electronics.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Well if they are all under one company, anyone know how much technology sharing is taking place. I'm guessing quite a bit because the three of those are all well known high end electronics.

From what I know, none. MacIntosh and Denon are completely different in their design, and Marantz was only recently purchased by D&M Holdings. Marantz was an American company, like MacIntosh, while Denon has always been a Japanese brand. It would make sense that future models very well may share internal parts for economic reasons, but I trust they would only use the best for their flagship models, as current and past designs have done (based on reviews and owner experience).

 

[Spiffyfast]

Hmm..interesting thanks for the info Buckey, you definately seem to know your stuff. I appreciate it.

 

[vdefrancjr]

Hey Spiffy

I cannot comment on the Denon as i have never owned one (only researched it when i was looking), but i have a very similar setup. I am running Paradigm Monitor 9's, cc-350, and titans for the rears with a SVS sub. I ended up getting the Marantz Sr-7500 for $700 (ebay).

While the 8400 is a year old, it is the next step above the 7500.

I must say i am totally impressed with the 7500. Setup and use is a breeze, the remote that comes with it (rc1400) is a $200 remote that is the best one i have ever owned. The receiver has all the major toys minus all the add-ons that will never get used anyway.

I think you cannot go wrong with either receiver, but i LOVE the Marantz ......I actually have a QSC (RMX1450) AMP - 280W per channel @8 Ohms and while that amp kicks, the marantz seems to hold it's own against it.

In any event good luck and have fun

 

[Spiffyfast]

Hey Spiffy

I cannot comment on the Denon as i have never owned one (only researched it when i was looking), but i have a very similar setup. I am running Paradigm Monitor 9's, cc-350, and titans for the rears with a SVS sub. I ended up getting the Marantz Sr-7500 for $700 (ebay).

Wow your powering Monitor 9's with that huh, are they getting enough juice? Those dual 8's have got to suck some power. Good to here a Marantz, Paradigm, and svs combo works. Hopefully I'll have the money to get my system soon, I can't wait for a respectable setup

 

[toquemon]

Marantz was only recently purchased by D&M Holdings. Marantz was an American company, like MacIntosh

I always thought what Marantz was a German company and i could swear McIntosh was a British company. I definitively would have bet on that.
Thanks for your info.

 

[newfmp3]

wow, 725 bucks Us is still only ~900.00 CDN. That's a lot better then the prices I see up here. I wish the warranty was transferable though because I'd jump on it.

Only place I can get it up here wants 1500+ %15 taxes.

 

[chuck13]

Denon Great Equipment

 

[aarond]

I always thought what Marantz was a German company and i could swear McIntosh was a British company. I definitively would have bet on that.
Thanks for your info.

If Sun Valley California is in Germany, Marantz was a German company

 

[vdefrancjr]

newfmp3:

Indeed it was a steal of a deal. Of course the warranty is voided by the fact i got it from ebay through a non-auth seller, but new in box and gauranteed non DOA is good for me. If the unit works, then the chances of it NOT failing within a warranty period are fairly good. It is much like insurance. I pay extra to get it via dealer with warranty, but if i take my changes and can save $400 and have no problems with it - then it's gold. If i do have problems with it and have to take it in, chances are it won't be $400 to have it fixed so in the long run i still save money. Thats just me ... and knock-on-wood .... i have been fairly lucky doing this.

Spiffyfast

The Monitor 9's are rated (i believe) to 250watts. So the amp puts out 280watts. Over all it is a steller match-up. Note, i don't listen to them cranked all the way up - my ears would bleed! but when i am in another room, that amp makes it seem as if the sound is in that same room. Talk about loud and proud At very low levels there is some line hiss ... which is common with a Pro amp. I also use this same amp in the basement to drive a pair of Yamaha Club series (15in with/horn) DJ speakers. This type of amp can be pushed and runs cool under fire.