Purchased Marantz BD8002!

[zumbo]

Well I got my 8002 yesterday, played some CDs and watch a full DVD "Master and Commander", Russell Crowe. Not in BlueRay. I must say this is the warmest running CD/DVD player I have ever used. It calls for 10cm clearance above which I only have 6.5cm. But I bought the studio tech for my components so this will not be an issue. I exchanged the Sony BDP-s2000ES, there flag ship for this Marantz. Only because the Sony would not play alot of my Rhapsody purchased Cds. But with that said the Sony has two separate sections for audio and video, and the ability to turn off all actions from the video when listening to audio, great plus, and the sound is slightly better then the Marantz. But the volume level is slightly higher on the marantz at the same setting. The Sony weighs like 34lbs, and has a better front design for the button like a piano. Only it is not BlueRay and will not play the CDs I want to play on it. It is $700 cheaper and it is really a winner!! For those of you that like Sony, I agree they put out great products.

Specs from the Sony website:
Weights and Measurements
Dimensions (Approx.) : 16 15/16 x 4 3/16 x 14 1/4" (430 x 105 x 362mm)

Weight (Approx.) : 16 lbs 12 oz (7.6Kg)

Marantz has 7.1 M/C out.

Sony has 5.1 M/C out.

I would imagine the audio difference is in your head.

 

[zumbo]

Intersting article on Sony BD players.

http://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/sony-blu-ray-specification-deadline/?searchterm=BDP-s2000ES

Forum thread:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36684

 

[BobSD]

Hmmmm, Did not know you felt so bad about the word Sony. But I am very happy with the Marantz, I love the way its able to play any computer generated CD. A special thanks to your post, I really was at the end of my choices. I have never seen a BlueRay picture, so my wife in town picking up acouple BlueRays DVDs. My friend said it is better then HDMI, I cannot imagine that. I do have a Integra receiver, and they sent me a upgrade disc to reprogram the receiver not to cause that popping sound that could damage your speakers in bitstreaming with a BlueRay. I only have a component connection right now, will that still give me a picture qaulity? My Sat receiver is using my HDMI cable I could switch them. Bob

 

[zumbo]

Hmmmm, Did not know you felt so bad about the word Sony.

Who?

A special thanks to your post, I really was at the end of my choices.

Which post?

I have never seen a BlueRay picture, so my wife in town picking up acouple BlueRays DVDs. My friend said it is better then HDMI, I cannot imagine that. I do have a Integra receiver, and they sent me a upgrade disc to reprogram the receiver not to cause that popping sound that could damage your speakers in bitstreaming with a BlueRay. I only have a component connection right now, will that still give me a picture qaulity? My Sat receiver is using my HDMI cable I could switch them. Bob

How is it, that you can't imagine blu-ray picture being better than HDMI? HDMI is a cable?

To my knowledge, component will only do 1080i. For 1080p, you need to use HDMI. Blu-ray is 1080p.

 

[zumbo]

It calls for 10cm clearance above which I only have 6.5cm.

Thank you very, very much for the above comment. I missed this in the manual. Had to re-arrange. Added thanks to your reply for this.

But with that said the Sony has two separate sections for audio and video, and the ability to turn off all actions from the video when listening to audio, great plus, and the sound is slightly better then the Marantz.

Push the PURE DIRECT button on the remote. The display will read VIDEO OFF.

 

[zumbo]

Push it again, and it will read DISPLAY OFF. You don't get more pure direct than that. The little green light by power is the only way you know the unit is on. Man, I love this player, and I don't even have a tv yet.

 

[rgriffin25]

You can use component for 1080p. However, there is a chance in the future that DRM or some sort of copy protection scheme will prevent this.

 

[BobSD]

Zumbo, now I like to return the thanks, with the "direct off". Obviously I have not gotten very deep into the manual yet. Thought you may like reading this because it often happens to us. To set up my marantz, I had to do some switching of connections, HDMI from my sat to the Marantz, component to the Sat. So I had to tell my receiver what I just did. So I went direct to the TV and not through my receiver so I realized I have no on screen picture for setup, daa stupid. So then I rerouted the component first to the receiver then to TV. After all was done I had no sound, recheck all my connections in back, checked my audio assignments all good. What through me off was that I got a great picture with the DVD but no sound because the receiver was in sat mode. Anyways I saw my first Blue Ray movie, Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Mans Chest, and you know I could not see that much improvement over regular HDMI. maybe because I get such a great picture in HDMI already? But because I am going straight to the TV, not through my Receiver I do not get all the benefits bit streaming in master true etc. So I am a little undecided there? Oh, I am using Optical out of the DVD player to my Integra. Also using anolag out to my other setup pre-amp. I find listening in sterio, I can hear the dialogue better.

 

[zumbo]

Player is up and going. Got my display back today. While utilizing the analog multi-channel outs, the sound is different. I have the option to set the sub @ +10dB. I needed that. I switch back and forth on my receiver from m/c (in) to digital (in). I prefer the m/c in. It's cleaner. It uses the players x-over, instead of the receivers. I have both set @ 60. Duno.

 

[zumbo]

I ordered a PT dvd-a. It states it will play in a DTS dvd player. Can't get it to work. Queen dvd-a works fine.

 

[zumbo]

Look at me. A newbie all over again.

What is the difference between YCbCr, and RGB? I have that option for HDMI (out).

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I have seen that somewhere in my set up but always forget to ask about it.

Look at me. A newbie all over again.

What is the difference between YCbCr, and RGB? I have that option for HDMI (out).

 

[zumbo]

Just a refresher on how the unit is connected, and an update on the performance.

I have HDMI to the display for picture only.
I have rca digital to the receiver for DD and DTS. (digital)
I have 5.1 analog connected to the receiver for D TrueHD and DTSMA. (m/c)
X-over set @60 with sub set to +10 in the player.

While watching David Gilmour on BR, the audio level is about equal when I toggle between m/c and digital. The sound is cleaner, and more detailed with the m/c.

Due to the fact my receiver doesn't decode D TrueHD, the audio is automatically converted to DD before it is sent to the receiver via rca digital-out. This makes the 5.1 analog connection, and the bass management very necessary. (for me)

However, when I watch an older concert dvd that has DD or DTS, something different happens. When I toggle between m/c and digital, digital is much louder. m/c(in) is still cleaner, probably because the player has better DAC's than my receiver, but the sound level is just too low.

 

[zumbo]

The Denon 3800BDCI offers firmware updates on the Denon site.

The Marantz BD8002 doesn't offer the updates on their site.

So, I called Marantz to inquire. The representative informed me there were no current firmware updates. So I asked if I could download the Denon updates, and install them on my player. They informed me that the firmware in the Marantz player is not shared with any other player on the market today.

I then stated to the representative that the Denon player and the Marantz player were the same units. The representative then assured me that the firmware in the Marantz player was not shared with any other player on the market today. I didn't carry it any further.

 

[jamie2112]

Zum, you cannot argue with someone who KNOWS what they are talking about for goodness sakes....Glad you didn't take it further...LOL

 

[billy p]

The Denon 3800BDCI offers firmware updates on the Denon site.

The Marantz BD8002 doesn't offer the updates on their site.

So, I called Marantz to inquire. The representative informed me there were no current firmware updates. So I asked if I could download the Denon updates, and install them on my player. They informed me that the firmware in the Marantz player is not shared with any other player on the market today.

I then stated to the representative that the Denon player and the Marantz player were the same units. The representative then assured me that the firmware in the Marantz player was not shared with any other player on the market today. I didn't carry it any further.

Hey Zumbo if by chance you didn't buy this unit from the Audioholics site would you've returned this unit. I know that the mfg is responsible for FW upgrades but thats poor customer service if you ask me for a top of the line product.

 

[zumbo]

Hey Zumbo if by chance you didn't buy this unit from the Audioholics site would you've returned this unit. I know that the mfg is responsible for FW upgrades but thats poor customer service if you ask me for a top of the line product.

My unit doesn't require a firmware update. The customer service was not only great, they were in America.

My unit was also manufactured after the firmware updates for prior month Marantz players.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Zumbo, I played my Beethoven DVD-As on my DVD-3800BDCI and they all worked perfectly for DVD-V Dolby Digital. I think that Porcupine Tree DVD-A is only for DVD-A.

Did you know about the $99 Pioneer Elite SACD/DVD-A player from Vanns (free S/H)? I just found out. I just bought a used Denon DVD-1920 SACD/DVD-A for $70. Otherwise, I would have gotten a new Elite SACD/DVD-A.

 

[zumbo]

Zumbo, I played my Beethoven DVD-As on my DVD-3800BDCI and they all worked perfectly for DVD-V Dolby Digital. I think that Porcupine Tree DVD-A is only for DVD-A.

The PT dvd-a had a sticker on the package that stated it would work in a dvd player. It was also printed on the back that it would work in a DTS compatable player.

Did you know about the $99 Pioneer Elite SACD/DVD-A player from Vanns (free S/H)? I just found out. I just bought a used Denon DVD-1920 SACD/DVD-A for $70. Otherwise, I would have gotten a new Elite SACD/DVD-A.

Thanks. I have a Yamaha dvd-a player. I was going to get-out of all that. Doesn't seem to be going anywhere.