Marantz and B&W speakers

[jrobert59]

I'm considering purchasing B&W CM9's floorspeakers along with the best performing receiver I can get for around $1500.

At Best Buy, several seemingly knowledgeable sales people steer me to the Marantz receiver line to sound best with the B&W speakers. I've heard this many times now and they don't seem to have an agenda in saying this.

Best Buy carries Denon, Yamaha, Pioneer Elite and others but the Marantz 7005 receiver is the one I keep getting recommendations for. I'll be using this setup in a moderate sized room for both 2 channel music listening and for movies.

These salespeople audition speakers and receivers all the time and would seem to have great experience in knowing what sounds best.

Would the knowledgeable folks here have any opinions on the Marantz 7005 vs. other similarly priced receivers on the sound quality, particularly with B&W speakers?

 

[zumbo]

Nonsense.

Get the deal on this Yamaha Z7.
http://www.6ave.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=YAMRXZ7BL

 

[jamie2112]

Best Buy salespeople who are knowledgeable??????? NO sorry but they are full of a soft brown substance.You can use ANY receiver that has the power requirements for your selected speakers.Yamaha and Denon are my 2 choices.You don't need to spend $1500 for a good AVR either.............just sayin
for instance http://reviews.cnet.com/av-receivers/denon-avr-1911/4505-6466_7-34078971.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B003LVZYNI/htgears10-20

 

[zumbo]

You don't need to spend $1500 for a good AVR either.............just sayin

But, $1500 for a truly outstanding piece of equipment such as a Z7 with a retail price of $2699.95?
http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/av-receivers-amps/rx/rx-z7_black__u/?mode=model

just sayin

Full review:
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/rx-z7-7.1

Measurements:
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/rx-z7-7.1/rx-z7-measurements

 

[jamie2112]

But, $1500 for a truly outstanding piece of equipment such as a Z7 with a retail price of $2699.95?
http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/av-receivers-amps/rx/rx-z7_black__u/?mode=model

just sayin

Full review:
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/rx-z7-7.1

Measurements:
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/rx-z7-7.1/rx-z7-measurements

True true........I agree.I wasn't saying your suggestion was overpriced ...although I think you knew that already.

 

[PENG]

But, $1500 for a truly outstanding piece of equipment such as a Z7 with a retail price of $2699.95?
http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/av-receivers-amps/rx/rx-z7_black__u/?mode=model

just sayin

Full review:
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/rx-z7-7.1

Measurements:
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/rx-z7-7.1/rx-z7-measurements

Or this:

http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR4310CI-7-1-Channel-Multi-Zone-Connectivity/dp/B002AKKFQC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1294526062&sr=8-1

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/denon-avr-4310ci/avr-4310ci-measurements-and-analysis

A little less money than the Z7, more HDMI inputs, and if Audyssey MultiEq XT is preferred to Yamaha's proprietary YPAO, made in Japan.

 

[zumbo]

Or this:

http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR4310CI-7-1-Channel-Multi-Zone-Connectivity/dp/B002AKKFQC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1294526062&sr=8-1

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/denon-avr-4310ci/avr-4310ci-measurements-and-analysis

A little less money than the Z7, more HDMI inputs, and if Audyssey MultiEq XT is preferred to Yamaha's proprietary YPAO, made in Japan.

3lbs heavier than the Z7, and the remote looks killer. Z7 remote is one of the worst I have ever used. No big deal, but it is my only peeve.

If the Denon allows separate x-over points for all channels, which I am sure it does, pretty much sums-up the deal-of-the-day. Very good find.

 

[PENG]

3lbs heavier than the Z7, and the remote looks killer. Z7 remote is one of the worst I have ever used. No big deal, but it is my only peeve.

If the Denon allows separate x-over points for all channels, which I am sure it does, pretty much sums-up the deal-of-the-day. Very good find.

It is actually a few pounds lighter, you might have got mixed up with the shipping weight. Only the 4308 and above are heavier than the Z7.

The Z7 no doubt has better specs overall especially if the unit will only be used as a prepro. I suggested the Denon as an alternative due to its lower street price, and the fact that some people (me included) must have Audyssey. At <$1000 the 4310 is just hard to beat.

 

[zumbo]

It is actually a few pounds lighter, you might have got mixed up with the shipping weight. Only the 4308 and above are heavier than the Z7.

The Z7 no doubt has better specs overall especially if the unit will only be used as a prepro. I suggested the Denon as an alternative due to its lower street price, and the fact that some people (me included) must have Audyssey. At <$1000 the 4310 is just hard to beat.

The weight is funny. Amazon states one thing, One Call another, and Denon website yet another.

I thought the Audioholics review painted a better pre-pro picture for the Denon, but the score card as a whole leaned towards the Z7.

As far as Audyssey, I feel both of my Yamies auto calibration were far more thorough than my friends 3310. I see the need for the support for the Audyssey company technology, but I honestly don't see the need for it to be the deciding factor for a purchase.(certainly not for me)

I actually don't like his 3310 at all, not to mention the joke of a manual. And paired with his more efficient 8ohm B&W(683/685/HTM61) speakers in a much smaller room, it in no way compares to my system.

EDIT: Not meant to sound flaming.

 

[Seth=L]

Another possible option is Yamaha's AVANTAGE RX-A1000 or RX-A2000 receivers. Both are surprisingly robust and the build quality is excellent.

Just sayin.

 

[jrobert59]

I auditioned some of the receivers in question today. It wasn't a perfect comparison as some of the equipment didn't seem to be set up correctly but I was able to hear definite differences in sound quality.

This time, one of the sales people (at Best Buy) recommended the Pioneer Elite receivers. I compared the Pioneer Elite SC-35 to the Marantz 7005 and it was close but the Marantz had slightly better imaging in my opinion. I was using the B&W CM9 speakers for this audition of the receivers. The Denon 3311 didn't sound as good as the other two mentioned.

Anyway, to my ear the Marantz 7005 did sound the best though I'm sure it's very subjective.

 

[zumbo]

I compared the Pioneer Elite SC-35 to the Marantz 7005 and it was close but the Marantz had slightly better imaging in my opinion. I was using the B&W CM9 speakers for this audition of the receivers. The Denon 3311 didn't sound as good as the other two mentioned.

Anyway, to my ear the Marantz 7005 did sound the best though I'm sure it's very subjective.

Hey, go for it. Get the one you want. You will feel better about it in the end.

Plus, it's a receiver that images well. That says it all.

 

[PENG]

I think zumbo is right. It seems clear to me you won't be happy unless you end up with the SR7005. You probably also believe in it is what sounds good to you that counts and not specs and measurements. So go for the 7005 and you will be happy.

Heck I order the AV7005 myself knowing that the SR7005 had yielded inferior numbers (that are important to SQ) to my 4308 and other comparable Yamaha, Elite and Onkyo models. For me it is for totally different reasons though, that have nothing to do with sound quality; and I have no expectation of any different or better sound quality with the Marantz pair. As a matter of fact I am preparing myself psychologically to deal with potential hum and buzz.

By the way the 3311 is a mid lower range model in the Denon line up. The 4310 to the SC-35 and 4311 to the SC-37 would have been a better comparison. Regardless, it is my opinion (just mine) that typically speaking, one cannot do any such comparison in any meaningfully way in a best buy show room. Now if you did your audition somewhere else then good for you.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Definitely go with the AVR with the best price & features you WANT.

All these similarly priced AVRs will sound pretty much the same in Direct mode.

However, they will sound differently if you use Room EQs and DSPs.

If you are into Room EQs like Audyssey, then get the AVR with the Room EQs that sound the best to you. But the only problem is, you can only find this out in your own room.

 

[jrobert59]

Thanks guys for the feedback. I'll probably go with the Marantz as I like the sound the best. I'll probably consider the Pioneer Elite SC series as well. I did listen to all the receivers in direct mode with the B&W CM9 speakers only.

One last question. Where does one go for the best reviews and measurements of sound quality?

 

[zumbo]

One last question. Where does one go for the best reviews and measurements of sound quality?

http://www.audioholics.com/

AVR review link. Search feature top right.
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/