Marantz AV8003 or UMC-1

[viking20]

I have been patiently waiting for UMC-1. I am on the 2nd list near the end so I don't know when I will get it.

While I am waiting, a local dealer has a demo AV8003 that I think I can get for 1,200 or 1,300. I have always been a big fan or Marantz and the SQ. However, the UMC-1 may be more flexible in setting up.

Now the firmware is updated, I would like to hear about the SQ of the UMC-1. I am not concerned with EMO-EQ since I can manually calibrate. What is your opinion(s) on if I should pull the trigger on AV8003 or hold out on the UMC-1. Thanks.

[chazk13]

At that price I'd jump all over the marantz. If i was in the market and could get that deal I'd do it.

[tjb4141]

Im in the same boat. Trying to determine a Denon Product or UMC. It sounds like if your not using all HDMI cables then you should go else where when it comes to the UMC-1. I have read through a ton of posts, and that is what I have deciphered. I could be wrong. I will be running one HDMI into the UMC-1 from the Direct TV box, then an HDMI to the TV. I will be running component from my DVD player to TV and then running Digitial audio to umc. Still trying to figure this all out

[pynchon]

I agree with chazk - if you can get an 8003 for 1200 + tax do it today

[billmac]

The 8003 at that price is very good deal especially if the dealer can provide a full manufacturers warranty (original box and packing?). If the 8003 is in good cosmetic shape then you could always sell it in the future if you decide on the UMC-1 instead. At that price if it is in good shape you should easily be able to sell it for what you paid for it.

Bill

[viking20]

Thanks Guys for your input. I just called and it sold for $1400 with box and warranty. Oh well.

[billmac]

Feb 10, 2010 17:46:47 GMT -5 viking20 said:

Thanks Guys for your input. I just called and it sold for $1400 with box and warranty. Oh well.

Thats too bad. A great deal especially with the warranty. Maybe next time .

Bill

[teedub21]

That is a great deal, I've been quoted $1699 for a new one. Keep in mind, that is still double the price of the UMC-1 and the Marantz is pretty old too.

[pynchon]

1699 is the lowest I have seen it as well.
If I was in that stratosphere of cost I would likely purchase a NAD T175HD

That thing let's you take out individual cards and replace them as new standards arise

But that is why the umc-1 sounds awesome to me - video scaler, all the new sound codecs at half to 1/3 of the price of the 886p or 8003 or 175hd

[billmac]

Feb 10, 2010 20:01:17 GMT -5 pynchon said:

1699 is the lowest I have seen it as well.
If I was in that stratosphere of cost I would likely purchase a NAD T175HD

That thing let's you take out individual cards and replace them as new standards arise

But that is why the umc-1 sounds awesome to me - video scaler, all the new sound codecs at half to 1/3 of the price of the 886p or 8003 or 175hd

The NAD is a great piece if NAD provides the cards in the future. The 886 can easily be bought for around $1K used hardly 3X the amount of the UMC-1 . The 8003 can also be bought for around $1500 used that is a little over 2X the cost of the UMC-1. It all comes down to what someone wants out of a prepro and how much they are willing to spend .

Bill

[viking20]

I am going to continue to wait for the UMC-1 - I been hoping to see more user reviews of the UMC-1 on SQ since the firmware is now updated. I looking for a quality 2 channel sound that can operate HT. I have heard very little on the UMC-1 on SQ. Hopefully we will see SQ reviews shortly.

[pynchon]

Feb 10, 2010 21:00:38 GMT -5 billmac said:

Feb 10, 2010 20:01:17 GMT -5 pynchon said:

1699 is the lowest I have seen it as well.
If I was in that stratosphere of cost I would likely purchase a NAD T175HD

That thing let's you take out individual cards and replace them as new standards arise

But that is why the umc-1 sounds awesome to me - video scaler, all the new sound codecs at half to 1/3 of the price of the 886p or 8003 or 175hd

The NAD is a great piece if NAD provides the cards in the future. The 886 can easily be bought for around $1K used hardly 3X the amount of the UMC-1 . The 8003 can also be bought for around $1500 used that is a little over 2X the cost of the UMC-1. It all comes down to what someone wants out of a prepro and how much they are willing to spend .

Bill

The 886p can 'easily' be bought for $1000 - where?
The only ones I see left new online are on outlaw for $1449

Where is the marantz 1500? Cheapest online I saw even on ebay is 1699 and many stores I see have it for $2600 still
- my local dealer quoted 1999
Used isn't the same because you don't get warranty

NAD T175HD is about 2100 at the lowest, which is triple

and the nad t175 became the nadt175hd by replacing 2 cards, an audio and video - cost about $1100 for the 2 card upgrade install

[billmac]

Feb 10, 2010 21:31:54 GMT -5 pynchon said:

The 886p can 'easily' be bought for $1000 - where?
The only ones I see left new online are on outlaw for $1449

You should reread my post it says USED .

Where is the marantz 1500? Cheapest online I saw even on ebay is 1699 and many stores I see have it for $2600 still
- my local dealer quoted 1999
Used isn't the same because you don't get warranty

Again I said USED and I am aware used means no warranty As far as I know USED is still the same as USED .

NAD T175HD is about 2100 at the lowest, which is triple

and the nad t175 became the nadt175hd by replacing 2 cards, an audio and video - cost about $1100 for the 2 card upgrade install

Thats good math but again if you read my post my only mention about the NAD was about the cards not anything about cost . If NAD is making the cards available that is good for T-175 owners.

Bill

[smackrabbit]

You can find the 886 refurbished for $1,200 easily if you check when Onkyo has them on sale at their store, or at Accessories for Less (ac4l.com). I've considered it, but less than stellar reviews about the analog section turned me off.

I did live with the Marantz for a couple of months, though, and I wish I had it back. It's fantastic sound quality wise.

[twatkins521]

I know everybody's product opinion are subjective. I owned the AV8003 in the first few weeks it came out. It sounded fantastic but it had MAJOR HDMI handshake issues in my setup. After numerous Tech support cases and even a Rep. coming to my home and working with it with various different types of manufacturers HDMI cables, the HDMI issues could not be solved so it was returned. I got the Onkyo 886 for less than half the price of the Marantz. It does not sound quite as good as the Marantz but for less than half the price, it is very close in SQ and my HDMI issues went away completely and I got far more features in the processor. (I do not use any Analogue so I cannot comment on that) I can say, I have not missed the AV8003 for a minute and have really enjoyed the 886 so far.

Since I have been on UMC-1 pre-orde list forever, I decided to get it a try when my number came up. Finally it did and I phoned my info in yesterday and my UMC-1 should ship Friday or next Monday. I plan on comparing it to my current 886 and we'll see which one wins. If the UMC-1 wins, there might be an incredible deal waiting for someone on a 886 still under Manufacturer's warranty AND with extended warranty purchased directly from Onkyo. If not, then a UMC-1 will go back and I'll wait to see what happens with the XMC-1.

Happy Listening.

[viking20]

Looking forward to your comparison. Also I appreciate the insight on the av8003.

[pynchon]

Bill - ok, but you are talking about used compared to new so yes, if one comes around you may be able to grab one at the prices you state, but I was comparing apples to apples - new to new - still there are a grand total of 0 used 886s for sale on ebay or audiogon right now, although one may be coming up thanks to the previous poster.
[Also, you ask me to read what you actually wrote, and I would ask the same, I never said the 886 was 3x as much as the umc-1. - I said half ($1400) - and when comparing a new unit to a new unit I am correct]

There are 885s starting around 800 on audiogon - so that + integra 9.8 look like good comparison units (used) compared to a new umc-1

A refurbished 886 is $500 more than the umc-1. One would have to weigh the added features compared to the additional cost which it sounds like twatkins is going to do hands-on and I look forward to that assessment.
To me, the xmc-1 sounds like it will be more comparable to the 886 and umc-1 should be compared to the 885.

At $700 you have a choice between a new umc-1 w/ the benefits of buying direct from the company or a 2-3 year old used 885 or 9.8 that is 3rd generation already.

[rvallejos]

There are some deals out there I just bought an Integra 9.9 new B stock for $985

[house72]

Hello

I did buy an AV8003 brand new with full warranty out the door for $1900 after waiting for UMC1 for a while.

I love the SQ on AV8003 but it has some limitations:

1. It cannot process high definition codecs and apply EQ at the same time. EQ will be disabled and you can bypass this limitation by sending LPCM from your BR Player instead of Bitstream.

2. You can set global passthrough or apply processing for video processing but you cannot tweak at each input level.

3. Third you have to setup global Frequency meaning your fronts can go down to 25HZ whereas surrounds may go down only up to 50HZ. You cannot set each channel but has to be global.

If you can get over these limitations, I cannot stress how much you will love the SQ.

Cheers

[kt10r]

#1 is the main reason i havent bought anything with audessey(sp)