The often asked question: Marantz 8500 or Denon 3805?

[Zax]

Hi Audioholics,

I want to buy an overall new hifi & home theater set, intended for playing both classical and popular music, and for watching movies/DVDs.

I consider the following setup:

* Mordaunt Short speakers: 2x908 front, 2x906 rear, 1x905c center, 909w subw.

* Receiver and DVD player:
either Marantz 8500 / Marantz 6400 combination
or Denon 3805 / Denon 2910 combination

* Philips 32PW9509/12 TV.

Any comments / advice / experience is welcome!

And which AV/receiver better fits the speaker combination, Marantz or Denon? I've often seen similar Marantz/Denon discussions before, I'm awaiting the upcoming Marantz reviews on Audioholics.. what do you think?

Thanks in advance for all your comments!!!

- Mark.

 

[emason17]

Marantz 8500 Advantage:

1. DVI switching if you are into that (digital video)
2. Warmer sounding for music
3. Pretty good value

Denon combo advantage:

1. Feature laden
2. DVD player is rated very highly
3. Remote has many problems
4. Overall receiver is rated highly as well

I was in the same position and chose the Marantz combo - until the HK 7300 entered the picture. Eventually I chose that one. Good luck!

 

[Mort Corey]

Since the receivers are pretty close in price and power, I'd pick the one that has the features you need most. I don't really buy into the "warm" or "bright" notion if the noise floor is close to the same on both units.

Mort

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Mort,

Both have more features than you'll ever need. Ease of set up is big. The Denon weighs almost 5lbs more, distortion is rated at .05 as opposed to .08, but the Marantz S/N is 105 as opposed to 102 on the Denon. Personally the Marantz has a nicer front panel. The Denon is roughly 2" shallower but 2" higher than the Marantz. I went with the 3805 because there was not much difference in the sound of the units, the fact it "fit" in my A/V unit - most of the better receivers were too deep, and I found one for under $850. I couldn't justify another $400 for the added THX Select certification, the HDMI ins/out, and whatever Circle surround 2 is (similar to Denon's 7 channel stereo ??). If I was going to spend $1250, I'd add another $150 and get the Harman Kardon AVR7300 at www.jr.com for $1399. IMO is heads and tails over both the Denon and Marantz. The monster weighs 55 lbs, has DCDi by Faroudja processing, and power comsumption is double that of the 3805 and 8500. That $400 is going towards a new sub I desperately need.

 

[Zax]

Marantz 8500 / Denon 3805 / HK 7300

Thanks all for your feedback.

Emason, Mort, I have not found a shop yet that allowed me to test Marantz and Denon receiver in the same setup to compare and see whether the Marantz sound "warmer" or not..

Emason and Buckeyefan 1, you both recommend the Harman Kardon AVR7300,
it's more expensive so what would be the advantages over Marantz 8500?
I've also read some critical notes on the AVR7300's User Interface, see for example
http://reviews.designtechnica.com/user_reviews1880.html

Grtz Mark.

 

[Zax]

Denon 4805?

And what about the Denon 4805, is it due to be released soon?
What will be the price and improvements?

 

[Falp]

Try the Marantz dv6500 +sr7500 combo too...

It may surprise you and you'll save money...

And both the sr7500 and sr8500 can bi-amp front speakers with a click of a switch...

 

[Menelaos]

Sr7500

Hi,

I recently bought the Marantz SR7500. I'm new to the high quality audio scene, so I cant really compare. But it sounds really good to me. There's a guy on www.avforums.com who is over the moon about his, but i dont know how much of a reference that is.

I was also torn between Marantz and Denon. The 3805 was out of my budget, but I looked at the 2805. Every dealer I talked to that had both the Marantz and the Denon, said they were a close match (musical vs more oumpf), but for some reason they all used the Marantz for their standard listening set-up in the shop. So that kinda pushed me towards the Marantz, plus it does look better!

Let me know what you think of the DV6400 if you buy it.

Greetz,

Menel.

 

[Falp]

Why not the DV6500?

Updated, better remote, Prog Scan....

 

[aarond]

i would avoid any DV x400 , I know the dv 8400 video was a poor copy of the pioneer offerings, the audio section was very good. i am unfamilur with the 6500, but the 9500 has a new video section that is much improved over past marantz offerings
aaron

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Thanks all for your feedback.

Emason, Mort, I have not found a shop yet that allowed me to test Marantz and Denon receiver in the same setup to compare and see whether the Marantz sound "warmer" or not..

Emason and Buckeyefan 1, you both recommend the Harman Kardon AVR7300,
it's more expensive so what would be the advantages over Marantz 8500?
I've also read some critical notes on the AVR7300's User Interface, see for example
http://reviews.designtechnica.com/user_reviews1880.html

Grtz Mark.

Zax, they are skipping the 4805 and introducing the 4806. Here...

www.audioholics.com/ces/CESprocessors/DenonAVR4806receiverCES.php

Mark,

I've read that guys review. Seems to whine and complain quite a bit. I'm guessing he's technically illeterate. I think he likes to "play around" with his equipment because he's probably never satisfied with the way it was set up. I'd love to read his review on the Denon 5803 (he stated "5308") after he brings it home. His head will hurt. The HK is simply more powerful than the Marantz 8500 for about the same price. Check out "PDF - in the lab" on page 4... I don't know of any receivers other than the "Ultimate Receiver by Carver" that puts out more power than the HK in 5 channels - 145 watts! And it's only rated at 110 watts per channel!

www.soundandvisionmag.com/article.asp?section_id=1&article_id=699&page_number=1

 

[Zax]

Harman Kardon vs. Marantz

Hi all,

thx for your advice.
I agree, Marantz 8500 + DV 6500 would be the better combination.

The Harman Kardon AVR7300 looks awsome indeed from its specifications, Buckeyefan, but I've not seen many reviews online...

The price at www.jr.com for $1399 is great, I would go for it, but.... they only deliver in the US/Canada....

I'm living in the Netherlands and the Marantz 8500 here roughly costs me 1350 euro and the Harman Kardon AVR7300 2300 euro!!!

So if you can tell me where I can buy HK for that price and get it delivered in the Netlerlands, I'll be very glad!

Grtz Mark.

 

[groov']

HK 7300 in the Neherlands

Hi Zax,

You can now get the HK AVR 7300 in the Netherlands for 1849 euros at Pick2Pay.nl (http://www.pick2pay.nl/?/details.php?nav=176). Scroll to the end of the HK receivers. Their location is somewhere between Arnhem and Nijmegen.

Still al lot more expensive than in the US, but that´s our fate with all equipment...

 

[Zax]

HK7300 worth 500 euro more than Marantz 8500, combining different brands in setup

Hi groov, and others

that's a good hint.... 1849 is more like it, but still 500 euros more than the
Marantz 8500... is HK 7300 worth 500 euros more than the Marantz 8500 in your opinion???

And Harman Kardon does not have DVD player that supports SACD in its range, so I would have to team it up with a Marantz or Denon DVD Player... But I don't think it is bad to pick combine different brands in a setup..

Best Regards

Mark.