What would be a good receiver

[vladi57]

I have movie theater with projector, set of Polks (Monitor-50 + CS1 + Monitor-30) + Hsu VTF-3. My Yamaha RX-V1500 is not good enough anymore - it does not support the new audio formats, and doesn't have HDMI switching. So, it is time to upgrade. Can spend more, but the speaker system does not suggest so. I am looking at Marantz SB6004. What other options would you suggest?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

[highfigh]

I have movie theater with projector, set of Polks (Monitor-50 + CS1 + Monitor-30) + Hsu VTF-3. My Yamaha RX-V1500 is not good enough anymore - it does not support the new audio formats, and doesn't have HDMI switching. So, it is time to upgrade. Can spend more, but the speaker system does not suggest so. I am looking at Marantz SB6004. What other options would you suggest?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

Check out the Denon AVR-990/3310CI- I just got the 990 (my distributor sells only the three digit models) and have been playing with the GUI setup & control on my laptop. It up-converts from any analog format to HDMI, is HDMI repeater and converts analog audio to digital, too. That way, you can connect all of the sources to the receiver and use one HDMI cable to the TV or projector.

http://usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/4990.asp

 

[jostenmeat]

Check out the Denon AVR-990/3310CI- I just got the 990 (my distributor sells only the three digit models) and have been playing with the GUI setup & control on my laptop. It up-converts from any analog format to HDMI, is HDMI repeater and converts analog audio to digital, too. That way, you can connect all of the sources to the receiver and use one HDMI cable to the TV or projector.

http://usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/4990.asp

highfigh, quick question: Is it possibly true that one of the differences with the three digit models is the inability to update FW easily, and has to be shipped back to do so? I don't expect all of them to be like that, but I'm pretty sure I read that this was the case for at least one model, just can't remember which. Thanks.

 

[highfigh]

highfigh, quick question: Is it possibly true that one of the differences with the three digit models is the inability to update FW easily, and has to be shipped back to do so? I don't expect all of them to be like that, but I'm pretty sure I read that this was the case for at least one model, just can't remember which. Thanks.

Not true at all. The AVR-990 is the first in their line with an ethernet port but I haven't looked into doing this with the models below this one. In talking with Denon technical department and at their training, they said the first thing to do after unpacking is plug it in, do a hard reset, connect to the internet and do a firmware update- that's what I did last night. There's generally no difference between the 3 and 4 digit models- the 3 digit are sold through distributors and the 4 digit are sold to dealers who carry more inventory. Go to their site- you can compare the models and if you pick the two with the same price, you'll see this.

The configuration can be saved easily, too. Then, if the processor fails or a hard reset is needed, it's just a matter of going into the maintenance section and uploading the file, rather than going through the whole thing again.

 

[vladi57]

Check out the Denon AVR-990/3310CI- I just got the 990 (my distributor sells only the three digit models) and have been playing with the GUI setup & control on my laptop. It up-converts from any analog format to HDMI, is HDMI repeater and converts analog audio to digital, too. That way, you can connect all of the sources to the receiver and use one HDMI cable to the TV or projector.



Sounds extremely impressive. I have two more questions:
1. Marantz SB 6004 is also impressive. Without saying anything against or pro any of these, why Denon?
2. I can see deals for the same thing starting below $900. How do I know are they grey market, or not? Or, do I really care about it? What is the chance to get faulty unit, and to need warranty on it (yeah, got burned with the Yamaha, though!)

 

[jostenmeat]

Not true at all. The AVR-990 is the first in their line with an ethernet port but I haven't looked into doing this with the models below this one. In talking with Denon technical department and at their training, they said the first thing to do after unpacking is plug it in, do a hard reset, connect to the internet and do a firmware update- that's what I did last night. There's generally no difference between the 3 and 4 digit models- the 3 digit are sold through distributors and the 4 digit are sold to dealers who carry more inventory. Go to their site- you can compare the models and if you pick the two with the same price, you'll see this.

The configuration can be saved easily, too. Then, if the processor fails or a hard reset is needed, it's just a matter of going into the maintenance section and uploading the file, rather than going through the whole thing again.

Good to know! Thanks for the explanation. You'll have to trust me that I did run into a model where the 3digit version had to be sent in for FW (I think I discovered that when helping a person with HDCP codes/FW for a particular display, could've been a Panny PJ, can't recall exactly). I'll let you know if I run across that post/thread again.

1. Marantz SB 6004 is also impressive. Without saying anything against or pro any of these, why Denon?

It seems to me, of all the brands that use Audyssey, Denon typically has had the best implementation (however, no real knowledge about NAD, outside of the fact that some units offer a third target curve). All codes from Audyssey themselves are identical, respective to the tech. They allow certain things like applying a desired target curve for, say, stereo listening, and a different curve for HT, for example. In general, I think Denon is a good brand for reputation/reliability, and overall implementation of things even outside of Audyssey.

For instance, Marantz, AFAIK, doesn't offer Mult EQ XT with ANY product. But, even with the vanilla MultEQ, it can't be applied to TrueHD or DTSMA as bitstreams, but instead only as pre-decoded PCM. Finally, Marantz typically cannot matrix for rear channels with these same codecs, unless, again, they are sent as decoded PCM from the bluray player. Never having owned a Marantz or Denon receiver, this is all I know at this point.


In English, long story short, jostenmeat easily chooses Denon over Marantz for his particular needs.

 

[highfigh]

Sounds extremely impressive. I have two more questions:
1. Marantz SB 6004 is also impressive. Without saying anything against or pro any of these, why Denon?
2. I can see deals for the same thing starting below $900. How do I know are they grey market, or not? Or, do I really care about it? What is the chance to get faulty unit, and to need warranty on it (yeah, got burned with the Yamaha, though!)

Denon, because that's one of the brands my distributor sells but they're both from D&M Holdings and are very similar. They're not gray market- they're sold through distributors to non-stocking dealers, like me. You'll have to check with Denon to find out if that dealer is authorized- if not, no warranty. Most units are exchanged in the first year but it varies with the distributor. Actually, I have two distributors in MKE who I can buy these through and a third where I don't have an account. I got it from the one I did because the CI manager worked a deal with Denon for the 890 and 990 models.

BTW- some people say the Denon receivers sound especially warm. I don't know what they're smoking because mine doesn't have any noticeable sonic signature, one way or another and there wasn't much time between using my other amp and this one. It also has enough gain to play an album with a low output moving coil cartridge without a moving coil preamp. I had to set the volume to +10dB but it worked and sounded really good. I'm getting a new cartridge on Friday, so that will be a moot point. FWIW, I haven't run Audyssey yet and it still sounds really good, which makes me all warm & fuzzy about my speakers.

 

[jostenmeat]

Good to know! Thanks for the explanation. You'll have to trust me that I did run into a model where the 3digit version had to be sent in for FW (I think I discovered that when helping a person with HDCP codes/FW for a particular display, could've been a Panny PJ, can't recall exactly). I'll let you know if I run across that post/thread again.

highfigh, I think I might have ran into it again . . .

I just posted this, in the thread:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?p=707667#post707667

You'll have to confirm, but I believe the 889 might not be easy to update/upgrade FW. It is missing the RS232, which is used with the 2309 with computer for FW. What I have read is either you send it in, or you may be able to with optical/digital input, with CD-R.

If you have info to enlighten the OP there, he might appreciate it.