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Post by monkeypimp on Mar 18, 2010 23:20:31 GMT -5
Is anyone able to compare the audio quality and functionality of the UMC against the Marantz 5004/6004?
If so what are you opinions on audio/video/features/etc?
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Post by bigred7078 on Mar 18, 2010 23:33:54 GMT -5
Well I own the 6003 and I did own the UMC-1 for awhile. Audio quality was about the same for me in my room with my system. The UMC-1 has better potential though with its EQ adjustments...great feature.
The Marantz uses Audyssey which works great in my setup. Its just not as adjustable. When I owned the UMC-1 it was insanely buggy to the point where I just could not stand to use it anymore. From what I understand now, its been improved, but not perfect.
The UMC-1 uses individual crossover adjustments while the Marantz uses a globabl setting.
HDMI switching was considerably faster on my Marantz than on the UMC-1 (and its not like the Marantz is a speed demon in that regard...). The GUI on the UMC-1 is waaay better since it overlays the image (great for adjustments on the fly). At that time the UMC-1 was just a pain in the butt, so I just decided to send it back...I used that upgrade money for a bunch of new vinyl...and I have been enjoying my trouble free experience. Now if the UMC-1 is a smoothe running machine at this time, then It would also be a nice unit.
Anyway you could get them both and just test out what you like the most?
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Pauly
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Post by Pauly on Mar 19, 2010 0:02:57 GMT -5
bigred, do you anything about the most recent 6004's having problems? Every Marantz I've owned (three of them) have been solid reliable units. I hope the new ones are ok. The 6004 is what I'm considering someday if the UMC doesn't work out.
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Post by bigred7078 on Mar 19, 2010 0:29:02 GMT -5
bigred, do you anything about the most recent 6004's having problems? Every Marantz I've owned (three of them) have been solid reliable units. I hope the new ones are ok. The 6004 is what I'm considering someday if the UMC doesn't work out. Ahhh that pop of death issue eh?  I haven't heard anything about issues with that for some time now...besides people asking about it. I wouldnt worry about it unless it really is still a major issue. |
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Post by moe on Mar 19, 2010 8:13:56 GMT -5
I just read a review from a guy that's on his 5th 6004.
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Post by billmac on Mar 19, 2010 8:57:59 GMT -5
I just read a review from a guy that's on his 5th 6004. Yikes  . I can't see why someone would go through that much BS. I would move on after the 2nd one failed. I can see being loyal to a specific brand but going through 5 units you would think the guy would spend all his time connecting and reconnecting his 6004 than using it. Probably does it quicker than a Nascar crew changes tires  . Bill |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2010 9:14:20 GMT -5
what's the 'pop of death' issue? I wasn't aware . . . thanks
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Post by moe on Mar 19, 2010 9:36:38 GMT -5
I just read a review from a guy that's on his 5th 6004. Yikes . I can't see why someone would go through that much BS. I would move on after the 2nd one failed. I can see being loyal to a specific brand but going through 5 units you would think the guy would spend all his time connecting and reconnecting his 6004 than using it. Probably does it quicker than a Nascar crew changes tires . Bill I agree,after the 2nd failed I'd be done unless they said we found the issue and it's now resolved in your 3rd unit.This again only points out that hdmi units have way more problems than the units of old,or not so old.I'm a Marantz sound quality fan,they have a good record with me.I blame hdmi for most of these problems that are so widespread with most all manufacturers,to a lesser or greater extent per manufacturer.. |
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Post by jmilton on Mar 19, 2010 10:04:37 GMT -5
what's the 'pop of death' issue? I wasn't aware . . . thanks  Never heard it referred quite as the "pop of death", but it is still a NE favorite! |
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oneliterpeter
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Post by oneliterpeter on Mar 19, 2010 10:30:41 GMT -5
Yep... I was going to go for the Marantz but once I heard about the "Pop of Death"... I went with a Yamaha. I just wanted something that worked well out of the box.
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hemster
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Post by hemster on Mar 19, 2010 10:46:44 GMT -5
I am still hanging on to my Marantz SR-5003 which does not have the "pop of death" issue. I plan to install it in the Family room as I do like the SQ of the Marantz. I also have complied a set of discrete codes for it so I can use a universal remote! If anyone would like these codes, feel free to PM me. I believe the codes are the same for the entire SR series of Marantz AVRs.
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Post by casey01 on Mar 19, 2010 11:24:33 GMT -5
I am still hanging on to my Marantz SR-5003 which does not have the "pop of death" issue. I plan to install it in the Family room as I do like the SQ of the Marantz. I also have complied a set of discrete codes for it so I can use a universal remote! If anyone would like these codes, feel free to PM me. I believe the codes are the same for the entire SR series of Marantz AVRs. I have the 5003 that I am using as a pre-pro with outboard power amps and it sounds great. Compared to others with its more stripped down feature set, in this day of HD television and Blu-Ray players, I have never been one who has ever been particularly thrilled with the relatively "basic' video processors on board these AVR's that from time to time do little but adversely affect HDMI "handshake" issues. Today's Blu-Ray players, such as the Oppo BDP83 and Panasonic units(both of which I have) when it comes to video processing and upscaling, in this area, these units more than hold their own. For me, personally, since all my source equipment is connected via HDMI only, I would rather have a "clean" as possible video signal going through the unit with only the necessity to adjust "video resolution". |
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hemster
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Post by hemster on Mar 19, 2010 11:30:01 GMT -5
^ I agree. Before I got the UMC-1 I had the Marantz and the Oppo BDP-83 hooked via HDMI. I did comparisons between the Oppo and the Marantz video quality and went with the Oppo which I felt was doing a much better job of video processing with its ABT chip. However, that said, I was quite pleasantly surprised at how good the Marantz proprietary video processing is. Not bad at all.
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Post by UT-Driven on Mar 19, 2010 12:31:55 GMT -5
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Post by red5ive on Mar 19, 2010 16:43:39 GMT -5
I just read a review from a guy that's on his 5th 6004. I'm willing to bet this person has the initials of WDH. While I'm not saying the 5004/6004 don't have any issues, it just seems like every time I see info on the POD (AVS, Amazon, Hometheatershack, and other sites) it's always the same person reporting it. Granted that the AVS thread itself has multiple persons who have reported the problem, it seems to be a handful of folks that are having it repeatedly. In short, all that I've read on it does not lead me to believe that the POD is widespread. That said, I did try out a 5004 a few weeks ago for my second setup as I was looking for a possible alternate solution to the UMC-1. I can say for certain that I was very impressed with the 5004, given the price I paid new (less than the UMC) and the fact that this is an "entry-level" AVR. Though I've demo'd Marantz gear in the past, I've never actually had one in my setup. With a few EQ tweaks, I was able to dial the 5004 in well enough that I thought as a pre-pro it stood on it's own with 2-channel music. I didn't think it was better than the UMC, I just prefer the sound from the UMC. I did think the 5004 had better imaging, but overall the UMC was IMO better with midrange detail/openness, midbass detail, and overall soundstage. Where the 5004 was smoother and airy, the UMC was cleaner and more pronounced. This is not to say there was anything wrong with the 5004 - it is definitely the most musical AVR I've ever tried, and it even impressed me running solo. I wouldn't have any complaints running it solo . However, I ended up returning it as I did experience some handshaking issues with my blu-ray player and DVR - it just wouldn't lock and there'd be no picture or sound. It wasn't a big problem, but it happened a enough times during the week that I had it that I grew concerned. The unit also ran very hot, which is a big concern I have with my proximity to the gear in my second setup. |
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stxman
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Post by stxman on Mar 21, 2010 17:22:44 GMT -5
This is the dilema I am in too. I am fond of the Marantz Sr 6004 and Sr 8002 .I understand they are very musical. How do these units compare with the Umc in sound quality . And ease of use. Can someone with experience with these answer.
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Post by bigred7078 on Mar 21, 2010 19:27:40 GMT -5
This is the dilema I am in too. I am fond of the Marantz Sr 6004 and Sr 8002 .I understand they are very musical. How do these units compare with the Umc in sound quality . And ease of use. Can someone with experience with these answer. did you read any of the responses? |
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stxman
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Post by stxman on Mar 22, 2010 14:33:09 GMT -5
Yep sure did. I didn't see anything specific about the 6004 or the 8002 . Did I miss somthing?
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Post by fistofsouth on Mar 26, 2010 16:33:42 GMT -5
what's the 'pop of death' issue? I wasn't aware . . . thanks Apparently about 46% of the Marantz SR6004 AND SR5004 units have this issue. Their is an audible Pop and then the unit dies. I'm not happy with the UMC-1 issues, but at least half of them don't end up as paper weights. |
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. I can't see why someone would go through that much BS. I would move on after the 2nd one failed. I can see being loyal to a specific brand but going through 5 units you would think the guy would spend all his time connecting and reconnecting his 6004 than using it. Probably does it quicker than a Nascar crew changes tires 
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