Unbelievable sound quality and detail; amazing separation of instruments; huge sound stage; features and inputs galore; THX EX, HDCD, 7.1 capability; Source Direct; etc.

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The new Marantz SR-18EX is the most unbelievable receiver I have ever heard. I finally made the leap from an Onkyo Dolby Pro Logic and folks it is like night and day. There is no need for separates when a receiver of this capability is available on the market for much less. I was completely blown away with both its audio and video performance. There is an ease in which the SR-18EX exerts its brute force and power - no strain whatsoever. The receiver is high-end across the board and looks it and sounds it. It is rated at 140 watts per channel and is huge and heavy and can barely fit into my entertainment center.

Listening to a few of the HDCD discs which I owned was a fun trip too - the decoder makes a difference in sound quality over your typical 16 bit CDs. Playing through the Toshiba 6200 DVD player, 20 bit HDCD discs such as Beck's Midnight Vultures, Phish's Farmhouse, Galactic's Crazyhorse Mongoose, as well as the 20 bit remastered versions of Miles Davis' King of Blue and Herbie Hancock's Headhunters were a true pleasure as there was a perceptable difference in dynamic range, closeness, and soundstage. You truly hear things from the far left, far right and everything in between - nothing is muddled together. Playing DVDs were also a treat. Pink Floyd's The Wall made the place rumble - the acoustics are movie quality and make it sound like David Gilmour is playing right there is the room with you. The Beatles' Yellow Submarine was an audio and video wonder and makes music 35 years old sound brand new. Steely Dan's Two Against Nature DVD in DTS was fantastic - there are different things coming out of every speaker and really makes you feel like you are there at the concert. I can't wait to watch Gladiator, T-2, Matrix, Road Warrior and Saving Private Ryan - I am sure my neighbors could wait though no one ever bothered us. I never heard the music and dialogue so clear and defined before this receiver - my Polk RT-800 tower speakers, center channel and surrounds never sounded so good. Heck, even my wife was very impressed. Even VCR tapes sound incredible as there is a THX processing (4.1) for Dobly Pro Logic - try Mission Impossible 2 for a nice action packed workout.

There are plenty of digital inputs (6), 3 component video inputs, 2 digital outputs, S-Video inputs, you name it. The get the THX-EX decoding you must connect this receiver to an additional 2 channel amp via the 6.1 channel inputs. This is no big deal when you hear this thing in 5.1 DTS, DD plus optional THX decoding. The "Source Direct" feature is one of the best features on this receiver. The feature makes the music bypass all of the tone controls and give a more pure and sonic sound. It truly makes a difference and is not a marketing ploy like some of the other crappy DSP modes out there. With older CDs, poor 1980s mastering techniques resulting in muddled sound are improved with the SR-18EX's Source Direct feature.

The remote control is sharp, ergenomic, and rather easy to program as you basically aim your other remotes right at the LED bottom of the remote to have it "learn" the other remotes' codes. Four Macros buttons enable you to have the remote perform up to 20 functions on any component with the push of one button. All of my components are now routed through the remote and it makes couch potato life a lot easier.

This receiver has no weaknesses. It is upgradeable and state-of-the-art. You cannot go wrong with Marantz as this receiver truly lives up to its prestine reputation. This is probably a better buy than the top of the line SR-14EX, the Denon 5800 both of which have a ridiculous price tag.
This baby truly goes to 11.

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