Sound quality difference between Marantz 5008 vs. 7008?

[snfekf]

I want to upgrade my receiver from my current lower end Onkyo to a Marantz. I have Emotiva amps so I only use the Onkyo as a pre/pro for my 7.1 theater room. Since I don't need the amp component of the receiver, will I notice a difference in sound quality from the 5008 vs. the 7008? I know the 7008 has Audyssey XT32, but is it really worth it for such a huge price difference? I also have no need for Zone 2 HDMI outs or some of the other features of the 7008. I'm really most interested in sound quality for both 2.1-channel music and multi-channel for movies. My speakers are Monitor Audio Silver 2 bookshelves, Silver Center and Silver Surrounds, single Rythmik sub. A friend of mine who does custom install felt I should just sell the Emotivas and run everything off the 7008 since it's a 9-channel receiver (I use Zone2 for several in-ceilings in my basement) He felt that would give me the best overall sound quality. Any insight would be appreciated!

 

[Pyrrho]

If you bypassed the different automatic setup systems, and level matched them and listened blind, you almost certainly will never hear any difference between the two receivers. If you don't do those things, you may well hear a difference or believe you do.

And, if you are never going to upgrade your speakers, you likely do not need separate power amps, just like your friend says (that is a refreshing change, as, it seems, most of the time, the "friends" who are mentioned on posts to which I respond are wrong). However, I would not casually recommend that you sell them off. If you upgrade your speakers to something difficult to drive, then your power amps might be of use (depending on what models we are talking about). So think about that before you sell them. But, again, you likely do not need them for your current speakers at all, just as your friend says.

 

[astrallite]

A few generations ago I think the 5 and 6 series were identical except the 6 series had like 5000uF more capacitance. Now it looks like the weight of the units are all different so it could be more significant delineation of products. Although the way they did it was make the 7 series like the old 5/6 series, and nerfed the current 5/6 series.

Ah...the joys of money printing. You get less product year after year.

 

[PENG]

A few generations ago I think the 5 and 6 series were identical except the 6 series had like 5000uF more capacitance. Now it looks like the weight of the units are all different so it could be more significant delineation of products. Although the way they did it was make the 7 series like the old 5/6 series, and nerfed the current 5/6 series.

Ah...the joys of money printing. You get less product year after year.

I think sometimes people are stuck with the old myths, that weight is everything. Time and again, bench tests show the light weight Arcam, Denon, Yamaha models put out as much as and at times more power output than the heavier Onkyo, Integra, NAD, Anthem products. The data are there in the public domain you just have to search them out to see for yourself. Bottom line is, the latest model such as the Marantz 7008, and Denon 4520, though relatively light, are as powerful as or more so than their heavier precedessors. A lot depends on material choice, and thermal designs, weight is still a factor to a large extent, just probably not as much as it used to. I also think your friend is likely right, given that you have those bookshelf speakers.