New to Forum with a question

[Fowl]

Hey All,

I am new to this forum and have never consulted with anyone about buying anything for my home theatre. I just go to the store listen to what I like and then purchase what suits me. But after reading many of the post here I think I have a few questions. However before I go into that let me say I wish to let you guys know that I was searching the net on information about the Pioneer Elite 84txsi when I came across this site and I am glad I did. Let me tell you about my system before I go any further.

TV: Sony 42" LCD projection
DVD: Sony DVP NS75H
Marantz SR6400
1 Paradigm CC 170 (Center)
2 Paradigm Phantoms (Front)
2 Paradigm 170 ADP's (Surround)
2 Paradigm Titans Surround Back
2 Paradigm PDR 10's (Sub woofer)

I Recently added the Phantoms and thus switched the Titans to the rear. So now I realized that I have to upgrade the Marantz which is a 6.1 because I want to go 7.1, thus my search began.

I have a budget of US$2,000. So here are my choices:

Pioneer Elite 84TXSI
Marantz SR7001
Yamaha HTR 5990.

I am very aquainted with the marantz but none of the others. So guys I really need your help on this one. You can suggest others for consideration as well. This system is used for 75% HT and 25% music. But when I turn on my system for music if it does not sound good with great envelopment I am dissatisfied. Sorry for the rant. Please offer your suggestions. I will be purchasing on the 13/8/07

 

[Adam]

Fowl, welcome to the forum! Glad to have you here.

I'd just like to suggest also looking at the Onkyo line-up. Their 805 model has gotten some good reviews and costs under $1000. Their 875 model, which seems to just add better video processing, costs around $1600 (but someone here can probably tell you where they're cheaper). Around here, it seems like Onkyo is the brand to beat this year. Marantz, Pioneer, and Yamaha are also good brands, of course.

Look at the features and see which ones suit you. Have fun.

Adam

 

[20Glove]

I had a vsx-82txs

I used to own a vsx-82tsx... which is the little brother to the pioneer elite 84tsx... and I thought it was great for surround... I mean absolutely AWESOME. As far as Stereo Sound... ok... but you lose a little bit of that sound stage, vocals are not very center, and drum and guitars seemed to me to be very all over the place.

I had called Pioneer several times to correct this and had the installer out a couple of months after purchasing and the sound just sounded muffled and dull in stereo only. SACD and DVD-A sounded great as well and if you listen in the 7 channel stereo mode it is GREAT as well.. Just to me stereo was not as strong as my Denon 3805. So I sold the 82tsx... and am now trying to decide between the onkyo 805, onkyo 875, and the denon 3808ci.

Denon may be a good choice for you... since in my opinion the Denon and Marantz sound pretty comparable and are owned by the same parent company. Plus with the Denon 3808 or the Denon 4308 you get the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD.

I would definately go with Denon or Marantz over any elite receiver, but that is just my opinion. I have never heard Yamaha receiver b4 so I am unable to comment about that. I am about a 50% HT and 50% music so I really lock in on stereo sound. To me the sound field has to be even and the 82txs was not.

Hope this helps.

Thanks!

 

[Gimpy Ric]

Welcome Fowl! I agree with my buddy Adam on this one, Onkyo is hard to beat this year. But if you can wait until December, Emotiva will have their new Preamp/processors out. For $2000.00 I would get the MMC 2 Pre/Pro and either a LPA-1 7.1 channel amp, or the IPS-1 7.1 channel amp.

Good Luck!

 

[Fowl]

Thanks for the quick responses, I have never listened to Onkyo before. Are you guys saying that sound wise that it is a unanimous decision that they have a better sound quality than the Marantz? If so I am willing to give it a try.

 

[zumbo]

Thanks for the quick responses, I have never listened to Onkyo before. Are you guys saying that sound wise that it is a unanimous decision that they have a better sound quality than the Marantz? If so I am willing to give it a try.

NO!

You have done well with your products. I say, if you like Marantz, I would stick with them.

http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-bin/item/MARSR7001

http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-bin/item/MARSR8500A (out of stock)

http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-bin/item/MARSR8001

http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-bin/item/MARSR9600A

 

[Fowl]

Is that store legitimate? I am about to order the SR7001 and the prices seem very cheap compared to the Marantz website. has anyone ever ordered from them before? Also how do you think the SR7001 will mate with my current setup?

 

[Adam]

Is that store legitimate? I am about to order the SR7001 and the prices seem very cheap compared to the Marantz website. has anyone ever ordered from them before? Also how do you think the SR7001 will mate with my current setup?

Fowl, it's a refurbished unit, that's why. You can probably check the Marantz website to see if they are an authorized dealer, but I'm guessing that they are. You just need to decide if you'd rather have a new unit.

EDIT: I checked the Marantz site. They are authorized.

 

[zumbo]

The links I posted are new. Their refurbs are called Factory Certified.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28752&highlight=accessories4less

EDIT: Only the MARSR9600A is new.

 

[Adam]

zumbo, the condition of the SR7001 is listed as "Marantz Certified Refurbished" on the link that you posted.

 

[zumbo]

zumbo, the condition of the SR7001 is listed as "Marantz Certified Refurbished" on the link that you posted.

My bad. The MARSR9600A is new. Sorry.

 

[Gimpy Ric]

I looked at three of zumbo's links, and 2 out of 3 were refubs. Me, I'd go with Emotiva (evil grin).

 

[Adam]

My bad. The MARSR9600A is new. Sorry.

No worries! Refurbs aren't necessarily a bad thing. Just wanted Fowl to know why it was so much cheaper.

So, let me begin the chant once again...ON-KY-O, ON-KY-O, ON-KY-O. Just kidding. Marantz is a good brand, no doubt.

 

[zumbo]

People do have good things to say about the refurbs from there. And, it does say it's refubed by Marantz. Sounds to be as good, or in this case, better than it's new condition.

Another link to the thread about refurbs from them.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28752&highlight=accessories4less

 

[Fowl]

No worries! Refurbs aren't necessarily a bad thing. Just wanted Fowl to know why it was so much cheaper.

So, let me begin the chant once again...ON-KY-O, ON-KY-O, ON-KY-O. Just kidding. Marantz is a good brand, no doubt.

Hey Adam,

From your posts it is perfectly clear that you are for ONKYO, on the website they have a ONKYO TXSR804 for $539. What is your suggestion on this? Should I give it a try, it is not too expensive so I would not lose too badly. Let me know?

 

[Adam]

Hey Adam,

From your posts it is perfectly clear that you are for ONKYO, on the website they have a ONKYO TXSR804 for $539. What is your suggestion on this? Should I give it a try, it is not too expensive so I would not lose too badly. Let me know?

Fowl, I do like Onkyo, but I was also just kinda kidding around. I've liked their products in the past, and I've read good customer reviews of their 500-series products over the past three or four years since I started paying attention to those. I don't know anything about the 804, sorry to say. The first 800-series product that caught my eye was this year's 805 because of what it offers for the money versus other brands. Everything that I've read so far on it points towards a winner, although I've heard mentions of issues...but haven't actually read anywhere what those issues are. With their offerings this year, I personally would pass on last year's models. However, like I said, I don't know much about the 804.

I have owned and like Onkyo, currently have a Pioneer that I also really like, and my receiver before this was a Yamaha that had it's pluses and minuses. So, there are a lot of good brands out there, including Marantz (who has a strong follower in one of my friends). I've just read about how Onkyo's offerings this year are currently leading the pack.

 

[fmw]

Since 7.1 content is as scarce as Helium 3 on this planet, I think there must be another reason for your desired upgrade. Maybe it would make sense to come to grips with that or wait until there is enough 7.1 content to make the upgrade more sensible for that reason.

As, an example, I did my receiver upgrade to get rid of the complex pre/pro/power amp setup I had that couldn't be managed with a remote. I had to turn everything on and off manually before and after a viewing session. I made the change purely for convenience and I'm glad I did.

Take a closer look at your real motivations.

 

[Fowl]

Thanks for your input I appreciate your candidness but I think the time has come for a change. I guess many audiophiles go through this stage and I think mine has come. Hence my decision to upgrade to 7.1

 

[mazersteven]

Around here, it seems like Onkyo is the brand to beat this year. Marantz, Pioneer, and Yamaha are also good brands, of course.

Adam

That is only because they came out with HDMI 1.3 ahead of most of the others.

 

[Fowl]

I went today and had a chat with my dealer and told him my delema with choosing an amplifier that will sound as good as my Marantz 6400. he gave me a denon AVR 2807 to listen to over night. I spen about 2 Hrs hooking up and reading the (ouch) manual. My conclusion, it by no mean sounds like my Marantz. It is not a bad unit by any means, it definitely has more power than the marantz but the sound in the movie setting and in stereo is no comparision. I will be getting the Marantz SR8500 tomorrow to listen to the dealer guarantee me that it will sound better than my 6400 so we will see. What do you guys think will the 8500 out do the 6400? Let me hear your comments.