Marantz av8802a, Denon AVR-X4500H, Yamaha RX-a2080 needs quick decision, within one hour

[muse6638]

Hello,

Marantz av8802a, Denon AVR-X4500H, Yamaha RX-a2080

Out of those three, what would you recommend? I currently have Marantz av7701 and love the sound. Just need a good av processor for dts x dtx virtual dolby atmos.
I can get a used Marantz av8002a for $800 today, but have to make a decision within a hour.

I have Axiom M80, VP 160, QS4 surround and EP500. Will upgrade my EP500 to either dual svs sb2000 or hsu soon and will add 2 or 4 more atmos speakers.
I have Marantz AV7701, Emotiva XPR-5, Sony xbr75-900e tv and sony bdp x700.

I am 90% movie/10% music.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Leemix]

The av8002a is old and it probably doesnt do virtual atmos.


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[AcuDefTechGuy]

Is there a salient factor in your decision?

Or are there many factors?

People will recommend the brands they currently own. So I would take the Yamaha 100% of the time - at least for now. But if you asked me 2 years ago, I would have said Marantz or Denon 100%.

I think if the absolute most important factor is reliability, I would choose Yamaha, especially if it's a refurbished or used unit.

I have a client who is building a new custom house and HT. I recommended the Yamaha RX-A2080. But because the Yamaha is on backordered, we went with the Denon X4500. But our first choice was the RX-A2080.

 

[muse6638]

Is there a salient factor in your decision?

Or are there many factors?

People will recommend the brands they currently own. So I would take the Yamaha 100% of the time - at least for now. But if you asked me 2 years ago, I would have said Marantz or Denon 100%.

I think if the absolute most important factor is reliability, I would choose Yamaha, especially if it's a refurbished or used unit.

I have a client who is building a new custom house and HT. I recommended the Yamaha RX-A2080. But because the Yamaha is on backordered, we had to go with the Denon X4500.

Thank you for your feedback!
I like the balanced connection on Marantz. I never tried unbalanced connection before and I do not know how much noise/sound degradation will be entered into the entire system.

 

[Leemix]

I like the balanced connection on Marantz. I never tried unbalanced connection before and I do not know how much noise/sound degradation will be entered to the entire system.

I used to have the av7005 with unbalanced and had to carefully manage the cable mess to avoid noise, its better and easier now with balanced on the av8805. That doesnt mean you will get noise though with unbalanced.


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[mazersteven]

I don't think any Noise is created by the Denon or Yamaha

 

[muse6638]

The av8002a is old and it probably doesnt do virtual atmos.


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You are right. Virtual atmos is not available. I guess I should pass this $800 marantz deal.

 

[Leemix]

You are right. Virtual atmos is not available. I guess I should pass this $800 marantz deal.

Not sure virtual atmos is much point anyway though and i think it does support atmos.
If its a good option for you i just dont know.


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[Leemix]

I don't think any Noise is created by the Denon or Yamaha

The noise i sometimes had wasnt from the marantz, it was from cables interfering with each other, signal and power cables. Just moving them some fixed it until some moved back down again.


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[AcuDefTechGuy]

I can get a used Marantz av8002a for $800 today, but have to make a decision within a hour.

Did you mean Marantz "AV8802a", which has Atmos and DTS:X?

If you've had great experience with Marantz and prefer Pre-pro over AVR, then get the AV8802a.

 

[DJ7675]

Hello,

Marantz av8802a, Denon AVR-X4500H, Yamaha RX-a2080

Out of those three, what would you recommend? I currently have Marantz av7701 and love the sound. Just need a good av processor for dts x dtx virtual dolby atmos.
I can get a used Marantz av8002a for $800 today, but have to make a decision within a hour.

I have Axiom M80, VP 160, QS4 surround and EP500. Will upgrade my EP500 to either dual svs sb2000 or hsu soon and will add 2 or 4 more atmos speakers.
I have Marantz AV7701, Emotiva XPR-5, Sony xbr75-900e tv and sony bdp x700.

I am 90% movie/10% music.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Is the AV8802a compatible with the Audyssey app? I wouldn't get an Audyssey bases receiver or processor without it. It really helps to make Audyssey work well. In particular if you want to limit room correction below a frequency of your choice, or adjust the room curve (add some bass etc).
Edit: I think I found that the 8802a does not work with the Audyssey app if that is important to you.

 

[KEW]

I would go for Denon because of Audyssey XT 32 (with app) and pricing.
If Room EQ and price are not factors (or if you are getting a good price on the Yammie) then that is a fine option!
The bottom line is you are not likely to regret either one.
Yamaha has a better reputation for reliability, but I have always had good reliability out of Denon and no one has ever been able to say how much more reliable Yamaha is. If it is the difference between Honda and Subaru it is not a big factor. Your AV7701 seems to be about 7 years old and you are looking for a replacement. IME, 7-8 years is safe territory.
What is your price on the Denon and the Yamaha?

 

[PENG]

Hello,

Marantz av8802a, Denon AVR-X4500H, Yamaha RX-a2080

Out of those three, what would you recommend? I currently have Marantz av7701 and love the sound. Just need a good av processor for dts x dtx virtual dolby atmos.
I can get a used Marantz av8002a for $800 today, but have to make a decision within a hour.

I have Axiom M80, VP 160, QS4 surround and EP500. Will upgrade my EP500 to either dual svs sb2000 or hsu soon and will add 2 or 4 more atmos speakers.
I have Marantz AV7701, Emotiva XPR-5, Sony xbr75-900e tv and sony bdp x700.

I am 90% movie/10% music.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

The Denon will likely have lowest distortions of any kind (THD, XOD..). The Marantz would be worse with the much higher distortions than the Denon though not likely audible, but its frequency response will not be flat to 20 kHz under some conditions, based measurements.

Not much measurements are available for the Yamaha, but it can only process 9 channels.

If your interconnect cable runs are short, like less than 4 meters, balanced or not would make little to no difference. I have used both and my interconnects are 3 meters at the most, never found any difference. If you go by S&V's measurements, unbalanced actually yielded better THD+N quite often, though the differences were always negligible.

So if you like the sound of Marantz (I believe its Placebo effects at work), then $800 for an old 8802A may be reasonable as long as it is in top shape and has all the features you want. I replaced my AV8801 with a Denon AVR two years ago. The 8801 was moderately used for about 4 years. I still have the original accessories and box and would be happy to sell it for C$350, but don't really want to ship it outside of Canada.

 

[DJ7675]

Hello,

Marantz av8802a, Denon AVR-X4500H, Yamaha RX-a2080

Out of those three, what would you recommend? I currently have Marantz av7701 and love the sound. Just need a good av processor for dts x dtx virtual dolby atmos.
I can get a used Marantz av8002a for $800 today, but have to make a decision within a hour.

I have Axiom M80, VP 160, QS4 surround and EP500. Will upgrade my EP500 to either dual svs sb2000 or hsu soon and will add 2 or 4 more atmos speakers.
I have Marantz AV7701, Emotiva XPR-5, Sony xbr75-900e tv and sony bdp x700.

I am 90% movie/10% music.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

My vote would be the Denon 4500 depending on the price (I think I have seen it for $999?). The internal amps make it a great value. Can use them for external zones or your atmos speakers. I don't have any experience with the Yamaha myself so will leave that to to others to comment on. Like PENG mentioned balanced connections are useful if you have long runs, or have issues with ground loops. If you need/want more power on your LCR you can choose to do that with the preouts on the Denon whenever you decide.

 

[RickyT]

The 8802a goes on ebay for $1500-1700. Since you love the 7701, you should get great deal for $800 and go from there.

Later, you can sell it for a profit if you want something newer.

 

[lovinthehd]

What a weird post. So much concern about so little....

 

[PENG]

What a weird post. So much concern about so little....

More often than not, it is hard to know how and why one perceives sound quality differences between gear with very comparable audio specs, Placebo effects, imaginary, some sort of bias or whatever causing such perception. Yet they still came and ask which brand to go with..and then many of us seem to simply respond by repeating the same blurbs and stuff over and over again. So yes, weird posts, and/or feel weird after reading and responding with the same sort of blurbs every week!

Those who expressed no such subjective preference, but ask what's best for their budget and needs are much easier to deal with especially if the products being considered have been bench tested.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Are all three units used, refurbished, or is one of them brand new?