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Post by edoggrc51 on Oct 12, 2011 22:04:07 GMT -5
* If you're serious about two-channel Stereo listening, then you have a separate system; me truly think. . The Marantz is good enough in Pure Direct mode that you may find yourself not needing a seperate two channel set-up.  Hey B, how does the Marantz in PURE DIRECT compare to the USP-1?? |
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Post by briank on Oct 13, 2011 7:55:52 GMT -5
The Marantz is good enough in Pure Direct mode that you may find yourself not needing a seperate two channel set-up. Hey B, how does the Marantz in PURE DIRECT compare to the USP-1?? That's actually a hard comparison to make at this point as I was using the USP-1 with different speakers, cd player, and cables. But my overall impression is that the Marantz in Pure Direct mode gives up nothing to the USP-1 and may even surpass it. In regular mode, the USP-1 is definitely superior. Another forum member, Redfive, actually ended up selling his USP-1 after he purchased an AV7005. I find his posts on the Blu-ray.com forum to be interesting, helpful, accurate and a recommended read for anyone considering the Marantz. I totally agree with Redfive's comments regarding "burn in" time the Marantz needs as it basically sucked for the first week and I was wondering what the heck these reviewers were hearing. After about 3 weeks the unit settles in and starts sounding really good. |
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NorthStar
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Post by NorthStar on Oct 13, 2011 16:22:20 GMT -5
If it means anything to anyone: Michael Fremer not only has reviewed the Marantz AV7005 pre/pro in the April 2011 issue of Home Theater, but I believe he also bought his unit. And many other professional audio reviewers own and use the Integra/Onkyo pre/pros in their own homes. Many many of them. Want names? ...Thomas J. Norton, Kal Rubinson, Kris Deering, Darryl Wilkinson, David Vaughn, Chris Heinonen, Brian Florian, and several others from all around the world. {Perhaps few of them, if not upgrading to a newer model, don't have them any longer. This is only to cover my axe.}  Anthem pre/pros are also very popular among the professional community, and general community as well. |
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Post by edoggrc51 on Oct 13, 2011 16:41:47 GMT -5
Hey B, how does the Marantz in PURE DIRECT compare to the USP-1?? That's actually a hard comparison to make at this point as I was using the USP-1 with different speakers, cd player, and cables. But my overall impression is that the Marantz in Pure Direct mode gives up nothing to the USP-1 and may even surpass it. In regular mode, the USP-1 is definitely superior. Another forum member, Redfive, actually ended up selling his USP-1 after he purchased an AV7005. I find his posts on the AVS forum to be interesting, helpful, accurate and a recommended read for anyone considering the Marantz. I totally agree with Redfive's comments regarding "burn in" time the Marantz needs as it basically sucked for the first week and I was wondering what the heck these reviewers were hearing. After about 3 weeks the unit settles in and starts sounding really good. Interesting...... Thanks for the info bud. I guess once Marantz releases a pre/pro with XT32 I'll have to SERIOUSLY think about picking one up. |
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NorthStar
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Post by NorthStar on Oct 13, 2011 16:50:52 GMT -5
For that, Marantz would have to add the right DSP chips;
and more of them for more processing power wouldn't hurt either.
But then, the price would also go up!
By the way, Marantz is big on Cirrus DSP chips and DACs.
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Post by edoggrc51 on Oct 13, 2011 17:31:45 GMT -5
Hey if I can get some "USP-1 like" 2ch performance along with the latest version of Audyssey in a pre/pro, I am all in! ;D
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Post by briank on Oct 13, 2011 17:46:21 GMT -5
Hey if I can get some "USP-1 like" 2ch performance along with the latest version of Audyssey in a pre/pro, I am all in! ;D Me too! I wish my Marantz had XT32 and I seriously considered the Denon. Came down to me just liking the Marantz sound. Hopefully in 2012 I can add the XPA-1's. |
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NorthStar
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Post by NorthStar on Oct 13, 2011 18:01:56 GMT -5
Do you guys ever noticed that upon opening a Marantz product (removal of the top cover), Marantz love the use of ferrite beads? ...Lots of them. In their Pre/pros, A/V Receivers, CD players, Universal BD players... And Marantz is quite unique with their HDAM opamp modules & transistor circuits. Also, some Special Edition Marantz products are specially tweaked for better sound quality, in particular in the UK. |
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Post by briank on Oct 13, 2011 19:55:28 GMT -5
Do you guys ever noticed that upon opening a Marantz product (removal of the top cover), Marantz love the use of ferrite beads? ...Lots of them. In their Pre/pros, A/V Receivers, CD players, Universal BD players... And Marantz is quite unique with their HDAM opamp modules & transistor circuits. Also, some Special Edition Marantz products are specially tweaked for better sound quality, in particular in the UK. Mine is "tweaked" too. |
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NorthStar
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Post by NorthStar on Oct 13, 2011 21:58:53 GMT -5
But yours ain't a Special Limited Edition, it is a mass market pre/pro for the general populace.
Or did you tweak it yourself somehow?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2011 3:20:17 GMT -5
But yours ain't a Special Limited Edition, it is a mass market pre/pro for the general populace. Or did you tweak it yourself somehow? But Bob the "general populace" doesn't buy pre/pros, enthusiasts do. |
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hemster
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Post by hemster on Oct 14, 2011 4:01:03 GMT -5
The "general populace" also don't take the top cover off. Most enthusiasts don't also.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2011 4:06:46 GMT -5
Very true.
Sometimes we forget we're a small minority that spends thousands of dollars just to enjoy beautiful sound and video.
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NorthStar
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Post by NorthStar on Oct 14, 2011 14:09:13 GMT -5
You guys knew what I meant anyway. * The Marantz AV7005 is a regular pre/pro; it is not a Special Edition, that is all. And same for the Onkyo/Integra pre/pro. As opposed to some higher 'tweaked' models from Oppo for example. |
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Post by moovtune on Oct 14, 2011 16:08:52 GMT -5
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Post by NezFF on Oct 14, 2011 17:33:25 GMT -5
Well, the Onkyo will "heat your listening room" and with winter coming on that might prove to be an advantage. ;D ;D ;D It amazes me that a pre/pro can run so hot (at least everyone says it does). The 5508 does NOT run hot like other Onkyo AVRs mainly because of the missing AMP. Mine is warm like any other electronic. Despite what Bob says, the Marantz seems to be the better unit at a lower price. Does XT32 improve SQ or just have better auto eq? The Onkyo is certainly the queen of bells and whistles, but does it sound the same as the Marantz or somehow worse? Is there a real difference in SQ of pre/pros? Audyssey XT32 is leaps and bounds better than the older versions. |
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NorthStar
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Post by NorthStar on Oct 14, 2011 20:27:28 GMT -5
I've heard realy good things about that company ( The Upgrade Company). ...And that 5508 looks like a winner! |
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NorthStar
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Post by NorthStar on Oct 14, 2011 20:37:01 GMT -5
1. Onkyo/Integra pre/pros don't get any hotter than any other pre/pros. ...And here the 5508. {Ronnie and Theresa just above have simply a good sense of humor.} 2. The difference between Audyssey MultEQ XT32 and Audyssey MultEQ XT is very evident; just read all the owners threads from various audio forums, and from those people who have experienced both flavors. And Neil just above knows it very well. {I know not a single person who prefers the later over the former.} |
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NorthStar
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Post by NorthStar on Oct 15, 2011 22:34:10 GMT -5
In Stereophile's October 2011 issue, the Integra DHC-80.2 pre/pro (equivalent to the Onkyo PR-SC5508 pre/pro) is in the Class A of recommended components, with that particular $$$ logo for excellent Value.
In that same issue, the Marantz AV7005 pre/pro is in the Class B of recommend components (same 'Surround Sound Processors' section), and without any logo for value.
* I'm just reporting the facts ladies and gentlemen, just the facts!
In both cases, Kalman Rubinson did the pro reviews.
+ Both these pre/pros have a 'Pure Direct' audio mode, that can be used with both Music and HD Movies.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2011 3:13:17 GMT -5
No need for defensiveness. I take Stereophiles recommendations with a grain of salt. I do accept that the 5808 is a good unit, one I might buy. In all my research I have found nothing but vague subjectivism recommending one over another. I think they, and the UMC-1 too, are all pretty equivalent in sound but the 5808 is superior in features. I will probably get the 5808 myself especially for $1500 and free shipping.
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