Pioneer Elite v. Marantz v. Denon

[rythimz]

I'm looking to upgrade my receiver, which is currently a Pioneer VSX1019. I'm also using a simple Def Tech 600 package for now. My question is, in your opinion, who has the best audio quality? I have listened to each manufacturer, but only in the set-up phase, so I'd like to hear some end user votes. I would use it for mainly movies/games, but do enjoy quality vinyl. As a side note, I am considering the higher end models. Thanks ahead for any advice!

 

[njedpx3]

Marantz

Any of those three are good, but I favor Marantz.

 

[timoteo]

Yes any of the top models from those manufacturers will be great. The Pio SC line are class D amps which effect the sound a bit. But in that price range i would highly recommend the Yamaha RX-A3010 or save a little cash by jumping on last years models that are dropping in price. You get a lot more for your money with the Aventage line & the audio quality is top notch without a doubt!!

Have fun!!

 

[templemaners]

Not sure why you are looking at higher end receivers... you'd be better off putting that money towards better speakers and keeping your 1019 for the time being.

 

[rythimz]

templemaners - not sure why you're answering a question I didn't ask...

 

[Adam]

To answer the original question, I agree with the others than any of those choices are good. I prefer Pioneer, but that's mostly because that's the first brand that I ever owned with auto calibration/equalization - and that was a huge step up. I went from a Pioneer VSX-1015 to a Pioneer Elite VSX-23 because the Pioneer 1000-series no longer had the features that I wanted.

templemaners - not sure why you're answering a question I didn't ask...

Not what you asked, true, but I think a valid remark - if perhaps a bit specific. It's common to answer the question that was asked, but it's often good to inquire about why the person is asking that question. It comes down to what are you expecting to get with your new gear? A new receiver will help with some things, new speakers with others, room treatments with others, and so on.

 

[rythimz]

Adam - Thanks for some Pioneer backup! Didn't think they were going to get any love. May I ask what you commonly use your receiver for (TV, Movies, Games, Music)? I do listen to each equally, but I may value the sound quality of vinyl a little higher.

Also, observe how you were able to simply answer my question politely, while not simply downplaying my speakers as Templemaners had? Jussayin.

Other side-note; I appear to be leaning towards the Marantz at this point. It seems to have better music mixing. Simply based on reviews that is.

 

[Adam]

It would be a shame if Pioneer got no love.

I use mine mostly for TV, with movies second, and music third. I've never used the internal amps, but based on my experience with my VSX-1015, I believe that they'd be just fine for my NHT speakers.

For me, the auto calibration/equalization is a must - and you'd get that with any of those companies. That made an enormous difference in my listening enjoyment. I never really liked listening to music on my circa-1998 Yamaha with my NHTs because most music sounded overly harsh. It wasn't the Yamaha brand - it was the lack of equalization. I'm guessing that your Onkyo had that, but newer systems keep getting better. My 2009 Pioneer was more advanced than my 2005 Pioneer.

 

[templemaners]

I'm in the camp that electronics sound the same, provided you run them within their limits. So, I dismiss any claims where someone says "my Yamaha sounds bright" or "my Marantz sounds flat" or any nonsense like that. I highly doubt you'll hear any difference between those brands if you were DBT, so, if you were going down the road of purchasing a new receiver, you'd be best served looking at desireable feature sets (such as room equalization that Adam mentioned, or preouts), GUI interfaces, and ease of use instead of trying to figure out which one has the best sound quality.

Sound quality is primarily driven by a.) your speakers b.) your room's interaction with said speakers and c.) source material quality (CD's vs low quality MP3's as an example). So, instead of dropping $1000-2000 on a higher end receiver, you'd obtain much sound quality by spending that money on better quality speakers.

 

[rythimz]

Templemaners - Thank you for clarifying your previous post! I definitely see your opinion. I was in the same camp for a very long time. Yamaha, denon, h&K, it didn't matter. Yamaha's YPAO made the difference in my mind. That paired with an outstanding set of speakers that is! Then recently I did a set up for a client that had the same speakers/cabling that I did (calibrated), and his system sounded dramatically better than mine. Difference...a/v receiver. There was more of a warmth from his that I wasn't getting on mine. This scenario caused me to listen more closely, and appreciate the quality of the components going into the product. Not the numbers coming out. So there's my new camp.

Quick off semi off topic question:
If you believe that all electronics sound the same; (based on specs I assume) By the same thought process, do you believe that all TV's look the same?

 

[templemaners]

Templemaners - Thank you for clarifying your previous post! I definitely see your opinion. I was in the same camp for a very long time. Yamaha, denon, h&K, it didn't matter. Yamaha's YPAO made the difference in my mind. That paired with an outstanding set of speakers that is! Then recently I did a set up for a client that had the same speakers/cabling that I did (calibrated), and his system sounded dramatically better than mine. Difference...a/v receiver. There was more of a warmth from his that I wasn't getting on mine. This scenario caused me to listen more closely, and appreciate the quality of the components going into the product. Not the numbers coming out. So there's my new camp.

You said that you did this for a client of yours - same speakers and cabling. Are you sure the only difference was the A/V receiver? What about the room? I assume you set it up in their location, right? If that's the case, I'd bet what you heard was a better/more pleasing interaction between the speakers and the room than the speakers & receiver.

Quick off semi off topic question:
If you believe that all electronics sound the same; (based on specs I assume) By the same thought process, do you believe that all TV's look the same?

I've never really thought about that. I would think that it would depend somewhat on the distance you're viewing the screen, using 1080P vs. 720P, and screen size. Using a projector vs. a TV is another potential variable, though that is more or less sorted out on the screen size parameter. There could be other variables, but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

If I had to venture a guess, holding those variables constant and calibrating both models, I believe the screens should look the same or very close to it to the human eye. I haven't read much of anything with regards to screen/TV quality, so that's my uninformed opinion.

 

[PENG]

There was more of a warmth from his that I wasn't getting on mine.

The same system in a different room will likely sound different, even after it has been EQ'ed. It is also possible that his AVR has more power for those 4 ohm DT speakers. Also, if you did not do a carefully conducted A/B comparison in the same room at the same time, and you were going by memory, the results would not be very reliable. Not all AVRs sound the same, but the 1019 is a decent entry level AVR that should sound pretty much the same as more expensive ones if driven well within its power limit.

Back to your original question, if you prefer higher end ones I strongly recommend the Denon AVR-4311 or the Pioneer SC-37. The $1599 Marantz SR7005 is reportedly a near clone to the lower priced Denon AVR-3311 but I am not sure how true that it. If I remember right, someone posted that the 4311 was going for something like $1499. If true, it would be a real no brainer.

 

[Adam]

IMO, even if different branded receivers can sound the same, they likely often (or maybe that's always) don't - because different manufacturers use different algorithms for their room calibrations.

Maybe they sound the same with all equalizer settings turned off, but I don't plan on ever running one like that again. I like Pioneer's MCACC system. Perhaps I'd like the others as well or better.

 

[templemaners]

If you're still interested in a higher end receiver, check out the $2000 A/V receiver comparison guide.

 

[slipperybidness]

My 2 Cents

I have the pioneer elite VSX-82TXS, this was the 2nd from the top of the line about 4-5yrs ago. It really is a great reciever and had all the bells and whistles that you could have expected back then.

My friend has a denon AVR about $1000, and it sounds great as well.

I am highly considering moving to the Marantz 7005 separate and pairing it with a NAD amp.

However, I used to have an older Yamaha Natural Surround reciever. It was awesome for both movies and music. I haven't heard the newer Yamahas, but I would definitely throw those in my list as well if I were you.

 

[sajeets]

NEED HELP!!!!


I'm working on building my entertainment system. I bought a pair of Martin Logan LX16 (which are really the same as the motion 15s) which are 4 Ohm speakers.
I need a new receiver and I'm comparing the following
I found some really good deals but not sure which is a better product
Pioneer elite vs denon vs marantz

Pioneer elite
SC-71 SC-72 ( a bit of a power difference and the pre-outs on the 72)
sc- 71 (open box)
SC-72 (marked down to 899)

Denon
AVR X3000
(899)
Was at magnolia and they were pushing the Pioneer elite over the Denon because the sc-71 and 72 are Class D amps (amongst other reasons) but I'm not sure if they are just pushing the products they want vs what's really the best.

Marantz SR7007
(online for 999)

PLEASE HELP

 

[j_garcia]

Pioneer is about to get sold, so they're probably pushing them because they don't want to get stuck with them. I'd opt for either Marantz or Denon anyway.

 

[rojo]

Denon
AVR X3000
(899)
Was at magnolia and they were pushing the Pioneer elite over the Denon because the sc-71 and 72 are Class D amps (amongst other reasons) but I'm not sure if they are just pushing the products they want vs what's really the best.

Hey sajeets, how bout a Denon AVR-X4000 for $800 shipped? If you ever decide to upgrade your system with a second sub to even out the bass response in your room, that X4000 ha better bass management (Audyssey Sub EQ HT) than anything in your list.

 

[sajeets]

Pioneer is about to get sold, so they're probably pushing them because they don't want to get stuck with them. I'd opt for either Marantz or Denon anyway.

Is there a difference between pioneer elite and pioneer?
(comparing the sc-75 and the sc-1523 which is 50% off on amazon)

 

[sajeets]

Hey sajeets, how bout a Denon AVR-X4000 for $800 shipped? If you ever decide to upgrade your system with a second sub to even out the bass response in your room, that X4000 ha better bass management (Audyssey Sub EQ HT) than anything in your list.

I saw that but was a bit hesitant because it's refurbished.

Overall which is better pioneer or denon?