Need advise: Onkyo 605 or Marantz 5001?

[Slayermoonlight]

Hello guys. I am planning to buy an Onkyo TX-SR605 when i suddenly saw from another store a Marantz SR5001. Those two receivers are on the same price range. Which is better?

Your opinions are highly appreciated!

 

[rnatalli]

Better is a subjective term. Both Onkyo and Marantz make quality products. The Onkyo's have been getting some good press around here recently and Marantz has always made a quality product. If they're the same price, it really comes down to which one has the features you want.

 

[j_garcia]

Marantz guy here, but I like Onkyo also. I agree, it will come down to features.

 

[Seth=L]

The Onkyo has the most up to date surround processing (Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Plus, DTS-HD master audio) but you can't utilize them yet. It also has the most up to date auto calibration program from Audyssey. It also has the benifit of HDMI 1.3 which supports Deep Color, currently no software and hardware to support this feature. Onkyo also has a mediocre scaler, but most upscaling DVD players and HD machines will walk all over it. Onkyo has a powered zone 2 feature.

The Marantz has HDMI 1.1 repeating, so it can still do 7.1 surround sound just as well as the Onkyo assuming the HD player at the other end can process Dolby Plus and Dolby TrueHD, which most do, and more that can decode DTS-HD will be available off the shelf as well as firmware updates to decode DTS-HD will likely become available. The Marantz has preouts for all channels, where as the Onkyo TX-SR605 does not. The Marantz has A/B terminals and cabability to be controled in a different room, but I don't think it is a multizone receiver like the Onkyo. The Marantz has 3 component inputs with 2 component outputs as aposed to the Onkyo's 3 in/1 out. It also appears the Marantz has more overall connections.

Each unit weighs about the same and have similar power specifications. Both suppord XM radio if that has any weight. Both have 2 HDMI inputs and 1 output.

My vote goes to the Marantz for having basically everything someone with an HD player would need, along with ample power and preouts for power expansion if necessary.

 

[j_garcia]

If you are interested in Marantz, I would wait a few months as this is about the time of year when the new models start coming out and I am certain they will all have HDMI 1.3 (that's what I've been waiting for).

 

[Slayermoonlight]

Thanks a lot seth. i find your reply informative for someone like me who can't find much time to research and scrutinize their detailed specs. I guess I have to consider a receiver's preout capability because I may also add a pre-amplifier in the future.

 

[Seth=L]

Thanks a lot seth. i find your reply informative for someone like me who can't find much time to research and scrutinize their detailed specs. I guess I have to consider a receiver's preout capability because I may also add a pre-amplifier in the future.

No problem,

One small correction however.

The Marantz SR5001 has 7.1 analog variable outputs (front left, right, center, surround left, surround right, surround back left, surround back right, and a subwoofer [LFE], 8 total outputs). This output array is called a preamplifier output or preout. There are two channel preamplifiers that have just two outputs and there are 5.1 preamplifiers that have 6 channels of output. The purpose of a preamplifier is to switch components, make surround adjustments (assuming it is a surround sound preamplifier, and control levels of output.

Look at it this way, the receiver is 4 principle parts all rolled into one conveniant box. The processor is the first part in a digital interface home theater, it takes a bitstream of data from a source (represented by 0's and 1's like a computer processes data) such as a DVD player, Satelite system, or CD player. It changes the data to an analog form that can be utilized by the preamplifier. The preamplifier is as described above.

The preamplifier supplies the amplifier with low level variable input. The amplifier converts the low level input into high level and amplifies the speakers.

The other 4th part is the tuner, without a tuner such a unit would be regarded as a home theater integrated amplifier.

So if you decide the receiver doesn't have all the power you would need for your application you can opt to get a power amplifier, which come in a variety of flavors.

Hope this was helpful.