|   Marantz SR7200 | Brad-
Oct 5, 2001 8:12 PM | | While I'm partial to the Yamaha sound and really not a Marantz fan, I can
get a heck of a deal on a SR7200. I can get it for about $660 brand spanking
new from an authorized dealer. This is a special deal for me only, so sorry,
I can't share. I have 45 days to try it out risk free but I'll lose $20 in
lost shipping expense if I do not keep it.
My LARGEST concern, I've heard reports about the dreaded S-Video switching
noise problem. Supposedly, Marantz is aware of the problem and all newly
shipped units will not have this problem,"SUPPOSEDLY". I don't know for sure
as this is rumor, but two have stated this problem at audioreview in their
review. They highly rated it but mentioned this negative.
The next thing, how is bass management? Is it still 100Hz? Does it offer a
mode where bass is sent to the subwoofer from all speakers, but allows the
mains to play full range also, as Yamaha does? Does it direct all bass to
the main speakers when using all small speakers and not a powered sub, if a
PASSIVE subwoofer is used? Does it use bass management on stereo with a sub
output, as that's a must in my system? Any reliability problems? I know
Marantz is a division of Philips, does it also suffer from the poor
reliability and performance quirks that plague Philips equipment? What's the
amp rating on this 7200? Marantz's web sight shows blanks were the amp
rating would be.
The biggest question, does it sound more dynamic than that of the $1000
Marantz receivers a few years ago(which I found simply unusable bass
management also)? I simply found the stereo sound dark, and none energetic,
preferring Onkyo, Denon, and Yamaha much more.
As I said, I normally wouldn't consider Marantz because of their lack of a
phono input, their previous darker sound, and earlier poorer bass
management, but that was in the past and things are much more competitive
right now. Another big question, will this be a big down grade from a Yamaha
RX-V2095. I'm having problems a bit as my Yamaha was rated the receiver of
the year by publications when it came out. It also is a heavy receiver at 44
lbs being known and showing result from Audio Magazine to be a very high
power receiver. This receiver could be rated at about 140 watts/channel in
stereo because it didn't clip until about 155 watts! I know the 7200 won't
likely be as powerful, but as long as it's got guts and a good comment from
a few, I might give it a chance if I can be assured I won't be affected by
that S-Video problem. At $660, I wouldn't be able to buy a 6.1/DPL II
processor with additional amp!!
Thanks in advance for your response
Brad |
| re: Marantz SR7200 | beerme1
Oct 5, 2001 8:54 PM | | Brad, a couple of quick things. First of all when I started to look into this unit I was informed that the cross over was indeed fixed at 100Hz. Secondly although I thought otherwise a friend of mine (no not Bob Dole) told me this unit was not DTS-ES so based on those two issues I personally decided against it. Of course my price was going to be $799 plus tax or something in that range, your price is of course much sweeter and I might have just gone ahead and done it.
Later |
| re: Marantz SR7200 | Brad-
Oct 5, 2001 9:14 PM | | Yeh, the 2 things it's missing is DTS-ES discrete and dts:Neo. I can overlook those things for these reasons. I read that DTS-ES discrete does have the rear center channel in the digital domain, but it is a matrixed channel from the 2 rear surround channels. While it will provide a bit less noise, it still was derived in a matrix form, it's just stored in a digital package. Since this "should" not have any major sonic benefits, I can let this slide for the great value. While I really want dts:Neo, DPL II has a music mode PLUS the 7200 offers 5.1 Circle Surround, which might even be sweeter.
The pluses I really like on this receiver which seem really good for a $800 receiver let alone for a $660 receiver.
1) Very nice LCD learning remote
2) Multi-source/Multi-room audio and "video"
3) 2 optical inputs, 3(?)coaxial inputs, all assignable
4) 1 optical digital output PLUS 1 coaxial digital output
5) The surround modes
6) 105 watts * 6 with 32.2 lbs of weight, could mean good current, could mean nothing, that's why finding the input current would be nice.
7) 2 "audio" tape loops
8) and finally, something different to play with
My biggest fears
1) Will sound horrid next to my Yamaha RX-V2095
2) Pathetic power output next to my Yamaha RX-V2095
3) Fear of a down grade in audio and video performance for features and glitz
1 negative, I'll have to buy a recoton $40 magnetic turntable cartridge pre-amp. |
| Bass? | beerme1
Oct 5, 2001 9:31 PM | | I think that's a hell of a price. But how strong are your feelings on the bass management issue at 100Hz? |
| Bass? | Brad-
Oct 5, 2001 9:54 PM | | Yamaha is at 90Hz, THX is at 80 Hz, I'm not going to let 10Hz bother me. Seriously, in todays world with satellite speakers with 4" woofers and smaller, that would be a benefit, even if it's a negative for tower speakers like mine. You can't please everyone. Personally, I think 80 Hz might be to low for some bookshelf speakers. I considered the Yamaha's 90Hz more of a realistic point. However, I would like something adjustable but for all those features at $800 or less in my case, you can't expect the best.
This is not going to be a quick decision regardless, as I'm waiting for email responses from Marantz. If they don't beat my deadline for the sales, then I simply don't buy. To me, I really don't care if I get it or not, it's just such a good price, it's hard not to at least consider. |
| Brad, I'll disagree with the DTS-ES theory... | nick4433
Oct 6, 2001 8:08 AM | | Brad, you make a very interesting quote:
"I read that DTS-ES discrete does have the rear center channel in the digital domain, but it is a matrixed channel from the 2 rear surround channels. While it will provide a bit less noise, it still was derived in a matrix form, it's just stored in a digital package."
Personally, I thought that was true for DD-EX and not DTS-ES Discrete. DTS-ES Discrete is indeed 6 digital domain discrete channels. The "back" is also a fully encoded independant channel in digital domain by itself.
But I may be wrong and would like to be corrected on this issue. Since you said you read this somewhere, please direct this forum there which will be very helpful. |
| Brad, I'll disagree with the DTS-ES theory... | Brad-
Oct 6, 2001 11:49 AM | | RE:"please direct this forum there which will be very helpful."
When DTS ES discrete first came out it was a very, very hot topic and reading from many forums and newsgroups, this was verdict.
While the ES discrete channel is discrete and not matrixed in your receiver, it was said to be "matrixed" in it's original form so that DTS-ES 'discrete' sound tracks are completely compatible with none ES processors and none ES discrete processors. From my reading and understanding, ES discrete channel is maintained and stored in a digital, discrete package, but it's roots are from a matrix.
Of course, everyone wants the most for their money but to me, since I'm not a dts fan, this doesn't hold a significant importance. |
| re: Marantz SR7200 | Smokey
Oct 5, 2001 10:19 PM | | Hi Brad
If the manufacture have acknowledge the S-Video problem then your most worry probably would be the receiver S-Video capability since you mentioned in your previous posts that you are using receiver as S-Video switch.
Somebody also mentioned in their post (I think it was Coup) that the reason higher end ES Sony model don't utilize OSD is that they fear video circuitry will have too much noise interference with audio component, which also make sense to me since most of home theater noise do come from video applications.
Also not knowing its power and Dynamic Headroom ratings also sucks.
I guess you will find out for sure once you get it into your house and run it thru its paces.
Good luck. |
| Thanks everyone for your replies! | Brad-
Oct 6, 2001 11:54 AM | | Thanks everyone for your time and effort in helping make my decision. After
just about buying the Marantz SR7200 today, a few things came to mind.
I use optical digital outs on all 4 of my components. So on 2 components,
I'd need to buy 2 coaxial digital cables to make them compatable with the
SR7200 limited optical inputs. Considering about $15 a piece, that $30. Then
the recoton phono preamp is a bit more than I thought, it's now $50. Add in
my tax and that is $84 more to make it compatable with equipment where other
costlier recievers wouldn't need that. I should be able to get the Onkyo 797
for about $900, if I wanted. With tax, and a coaxial digital cable, that's
$985.91. The Marantz SR7200 would cost me $795.15 with $660 discounted
price, tax, cables, phono pre-amp. The Onkyo will be only $190.76 more but well
worth it since Marantz's only benefit is the remote, in which I already have
a Pronto TSU2000.
Regardless, the SR7200 total price of almost $800 to get what I already have
doesn't seem like a great bargain anymore. I will still demo it as I found a
local dealer who priced matched the authorized internet dealer's price. If I
find it sounds awesome compared to the Onkyo 797 or 787, I may just buy it.
The fearful part of the Marantz SR7200 is that I will use it's only 2
optical inputs for my Yamaha CD player and my Dish Network 4700 satellite
receiver. If I upgrade in the future to a DVD-Audio player, most are now
only offering optical digital output. I'll then be screwed. Very hard
decision!
The Onkyo offers these features over the Marantz SR7200:
One rear optical input
One front optical input
One rear A/V input
Incorporated Phono preamp
DTS-ES Discrete
THX-Select(benefit or negative, hard to say without using)
Composite to S-Video conversion
Digital Upsampling
DTS:Neo(Marantz has CS 5.1 equivalent IMO)
The Marantz SR7200 offers these features over the Onkyo 797
Excellent remote
Coaxial digital output
Circle Surround 5.1(Onkyo has DTS:Neo equivalent IMO)
3 year warranty opposed to 2 years
Hard decision where I may just keep my excellent performing Yamaha RX-V2095.
With Marantz, my only feature gains are DPLII and CS 5.1 |
| Thanks everyone for your replies! | Brad-
Oct 6, 2001 4:55 PM | | I think I found why this receiver is so cheap. It's very under rated. I found a review of the SR7000(100 * 5). The power rating results from Home Theater Magazine of the SR7000 is more of 80 watt receiver, than a 100 watt receiver. The SR7200's weight is the same, so stereo power is likely the same, although they rate it a 105 watts now.
Marantz SR7000(100 * 5) power test results:
http://www.hometheatermag.com/showarchives.cgi?19:1
Harman Kardon AVR7000(100 * 5) power test results:
http://www.hometheatermag.com/showarchives.cgi?43:3
Denon AVR-4800(125 * 5) power test results:
http://www.hometheatermag.com/showarchives.cgi?39:3
Integra DTR-9.1(130 * 7) power test results:
http://www.hometheatermag.com/showarchives.cgi?74:2
Yamaha RX-V1(110 * 6 + 35 * 2)power test results:
http://www.hometheatermag.com/showarchives.cgi?23:1
Yamaha RX-V795A(85 * 5)power test results:
Home Theater Buyer's Guide Magazine Summer 2000
2 channels driven into 8 ohms:
66.2 watts = .015% distortion
90.3 watts = .1% distortion
113.2 watts = 1% distortion
All these receiver power ratings were issued for 8 ohm loads, so that is why I point out 8 ohm results. As you can see, by the above information, the Marantz RS7000 has lower power output into 8 ohms than even the Yamaha RX-V795A which is only rated at 85 watts.
The SR7200 while being rated 5 watts more per channel, along with an additional channel of amplification, still only has the exact same weight as the SR7000. I can only think the 7200 uses the same size and power rated transformer and equivalent circuits. I'll pass on the SR7200 after seeing the Marantz SR7000 power results. |
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