Marantz SR7011 or Yamaha rx-a2070 was comparison off?

[PENG]

Between Denon and Marantz... you are going to hear same sound?? Marantz has the HDAM which is supsoose to make a difference? Agreed or disagree? From those reviews and audiophile forums you get that Marantz is just better for music. I can tell you... there is not an $800 difference in sound from 3070 to 7011. No way!

All else being equal, in pure direct, D and M AVRs in the same price range (say within $100 list price) would sound virtually the same when both are used well within their power limits.

Subjective reviews, audiophile forums and magzines included are subjective, often influenced by the old hearsay. In the old days, some Marantz (obvious they were not the only ones) models might have been intentionally designed to tune the frequency response to make them sound warm, or a few well known reviewers might have felt that way because of the way they did their comparison listening.

I am only speculating, but quite often that's how hearsay got started. Nowadays, test labs such as the one run by Audiohlics.com use advanced and precise instruments to do their test and it has been shown time and again that Denon, Marantz, and Yamaha AVRs should not have their own sound characteristics when used well below their power limits because bench test results were consistent with their virtually flat frequency response in the audible range and distortions were too low to result in audible differences.

ADTG has already shared his comparison listening experience. I have also compared my Denon AVRs with my several separate components, including Marantz prepro, preamp and power amps and can assure you while subtle difference could be heard in a sighted test, even such subtle differences disappeared (not detectable) when compared without seeing them.

So I agree the better way to choose an AVR is to go by the power you need, cost, feature, reliability. As for reviews, focus on the bench test results, not the adjectives used by reviewers to describe their perceived sound quality.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

As for reviews, focus on the bench test results, not the adjectives used by reviewers to describe their perceived sound quality.

When I was a newbie, I sure was influenced by all these fancy adjectives people used.

Now they just sound risible.

But newbies will no doubt be influenced by them.

 

[20Glove]

Thank you everyone.

So adding Onkyo to the mix, are they still breaking down left and right? Reason I ask, took the power, reliability, and features plunge... (suggestions from many) and Onkyo seems to have it all. But I had a TX-SR805 in the past, which sounded good, but less than 2 years in, LED went out followed by intermittent independent power offs.

Have they upped their quality control with the new RZ series?

I am now comparing SR7011, RX-A3060, AVR-X4300 and AVR-X6300. I may also look at the 6011 which I found some great prices one. The hifi retailer near me, said if I could find 6011 for good price, think about that if I am planning on Emotiva or Outlaw. He recommended that I look for one like that which is feature rich and then I may be able to add Emotiva or Outlaw right away or quicker.

I will never go with NAD again, due to the receiver price and problems, but Onkyo 805 was a great price I could at least consider if they have fixed their problems.

 

[20Glove]

BTW... the best home theater receiver I have ever had... Denon 3805... I gave that to my parents and it is still ticking and sounds good with any speakers... they have sapphire satellite speakers and little dynamo sub. I had my old Infinity Speakers hooked up to that at one point. Great looking (squared off) and built like a tank. Since then, gone through NAD and Onkyo. But receivers now are RIP, but not the Denon 3805, still alive and kicking!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

BTW... the best home theater receiver I have ever had... Denon 3805... I gave that to my parents and it is still ticking and sounds good with any speakers... they have sapphire satellite speakers and little dynamo sub. I had my old Infinity Speakers hooked up to that at one point. Great looking (squared off) and built like a tank. Since then, gone through NAD and Onkyo. But receivers now are RIP, but not the Denon 3805, still alive and kicking!

Those old Denon 3000-series were awesome alright. One lab gave it a torture test down to 1-ohm load, and the 3805 produced a dynamic output of about 175W into 1 ohm!

But I would make an educated guess and say that these AVRs and Separate Pre-pros from any brands are just not built as well as they used to. I bet the old AVRs back then were probably better built than many separate Pre-pros these days.

I think back in the old days, spending a lot of money on components that seem to last "forever" seems like a good idea.

But I don't think it's like that anymore.

So these days I would be 100% happy with a Denon 3000-series because they are usually on sale for only $599 brand new on Amazon. Sometimes even less if you have an online coupon from Newegg or Fry's.

So the good news is that the new Denon 3000-series sounds at least as good as the old 3000-series. Back then the old Denon 3000-series didn't have Audyssey XT32. Today they do.

So a lot lower price and even better sound (Audyssey XT32 DEQ) than the old 3000-series. In Direct mode, the sound quality is the same.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Oh, and I would never buy Onkyo personally.

I would stick to Denon for Audyssey DEQ or Yamaha and Sony if Audyssey DEQ is not your thing.

I wish SONY would also give in and adopt Audyssey DEQ. Their ES-series still offer the best AVR warranty in the business - 5 YR.

 

[PENG]

BTW... the best home theater receiver I have ever had... Denon 3805... I gave that to my parents and it is still ticking and sounds good with any speakers... they have sapphire satellite speakers and little dynamo sub. I had my old Infinity Speakers hooked up to that at one point. Great looking (squared off) and built like a tank. Since then, gone through NAD and Onkyo. But receivers now are RIP, but not the Denon 3805, still alive and kicking!

Now you are talking!! My 13/14 years old AVR-3805 is still in perfect condition and I have compared it with my separates including NAD, Marantz, Parasound Halo and Bryston. The 3805 sounds just as good by ears and back up by measurements. I also have a AVR-4308 that measured even better and is more powerful, probably more powerful than the Emotiva that you have in mind (depending on which model you have in mind).

If you can get the AVR-X4300H for the same of less than the SR6011 or SR6012, go for it. The SR7011/7012 will be marginally more powerful, practically no difference but it has multi-channel analog inputs that will be a waste if you don't need them.

 

[M Code]

The Denon 3805 was an awesome AVR in its day, well built in Japan. Later Denon(D&M) had its financial issues with Bain Capitol, and later their zealous over-distribution debacle. Since then, Inkel their subcontractor has moved production from China to Vietnam with mixed results...
Yet Denon has recovered some market share and does very well for having the latest features. Only downside of Denon products assembled in Vietnam is they have a slightly higher than average field failure rate...

Just my $0.02...

 

[3db]

But since denon and marantz are same company, it’s gotta be pretty close.

Realibility... Yamaha, denon, or marantz?

Customer service... which one of the 2?

Reliability with Yamaha top tier models are above average and I would never hestitate to buy a used one. In fact, I purchased two, an RX-V1500 and an RX-V1900 which get used daily. My experience with customer service was relegated to asking clarification questions on something written in the manual, not because of a defects.

As far as settling goes, Yamaha offers their own version of digital EQ and there has been no official tests that clearly demonstrates one is better than the other. Choosing Yamaha is as far from settling as picking up a Denon or Marantz.

 

[20Glove]

So I have narrowed it down... Marantz SR7011 $1034, Denon AVR-X6300 $1500, and Yamaha RX-3060 $1000.

I will keep you posted. Trying to work out deal on AVR-X6300 and try and get it for $1350.

I will keep you posted.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

So I have narrowed it down... Marantz SR7011 $1034, Denon AVR-X6300 $1500, and Yamaha RX-3060 $1000.

I will keep you posted. Trying to work out deal on AVR-X6300 and try and get it for $1350.

Then I would get the Marantz for $1034.

 

[PENG]

6300 if within $100, otherwise 7011. If you don't believe Audyssey works and won't use few, then the 3060 is the best deal.

 

[snakeeyes]

It seems like all are good deals but Marantz and Yamaha are near the price you meantioned several times when cornered by posters so you are trying to be near $900 it seems. Maybe make that the goal. Maybe $999.99 feels right?

 

[20Glove]

Then I would get the Marantz for $1034.

I went with the Yamaha RX-A3060, because I got it down to $900. I have been working with it all night and it is amazing. I am still tweaking it but my god does it separate the sound. Musically it is awesome! Watching the nfl draft and the crowd was in the back and side of me and announcers were right smack damn in the middle. I will write a review on 7011, which is a great receiver as well along with 3060 and 3070. None of the 3 are wrong they are all right. The 3060 almost sounds better than 3070. More lively and not so mechanical.

 

[PENG]

Congrats! $900 is a fantastic deal assuming it is brand new or even factory refurbished with full warranty. It is the right choice among the 3 based on price. If it sounds so good in your room, you probably don't have much room related bass issues.

 

[3db]

Congrats. $900 is freakin awesome for this unit. If its any thing like the older top tier models, it will last you indefinately barring any drastic future format changes.

 

[snakeeyes]

Congrats on the 3060! Most of what you need to know as far as setup is covered in Gene’s Yamaha 5100 video he did recently.