Sound, Build, Remote, features, 5ch stereo

Remote not backlit (not much of a problem though)

Before I start, I have to say I'm new at this "Home Theater" stuff. I'm an engineering graduate student with some outside income and A LOT of free time. I don't know how it all got started, but I decided to commence building my own system, from ground up.

I picked up my first Home Theater Magazine about two months ago and have been researching ever since (remember, I'm a grad student, research is my specialty). Anyway, I believe the first review I read was on the Denon AVR 5700......HOW MUCH? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING! Then I read one on the Pioneer VSX D608. Good review and under $400, wow! So, I went to go check it out........NOT GOOD! This was my first lesson. Not all good reviews guarantee satisfying results. After all of this reading and listening, and a month and a half later, I finally decided on the Denon AVR 3300. So, why didn't I buy it? Well, right before I slapped the plastic down, I decided to wait for the Marantz new line to come in the store. BOY AM I GLAD TOO!!!!

The SR 7000 is...

AWESOME!!!!!! My old school speakers (hand me downs - my next project) never sounded so good. The sound is crystal clear....right as rain. It's bright like Yamaha, Warm like Pioneer, Soft like NAD, or Raw like Denon. It's smooth and clean. Everything sounds wonderful. From music to movies (the Matrix is great), it is impressive. And the funning thing is, is that my set up is so screwy. My TV is working as my center channel, I got crappy speakers and wire, my DVD player is my computer running to the receiver, and somehow it sounds....well.....like Christmas.

Do yourself a favor and listen to this receiver. There are more inputs and outputs to satisfy anyone. The remote fits to hand real well, like it's part of ya. It is not backlit, but I'm already familiar enough with it that it doesn't bother me. Also, when you crank it up, magical things start happening. The sound comes alive. Sure, there are better receivers out there, but for $800 list.....you won't find one.

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR 3300, 2800, Kenwood VR-3090, NAD T-760, Onkyo TX-DS676, Pioneer VSX D608, Elite VSX-24TX,

Excellent Build Quality, Nice Remote, Excellent Sound, and Good Price

None that have not been mentioned

I am currently building a home theater for my bedroom and this unit fits in perfectly. I can't speak for the DD or DTS because I only have the front channels right now. I had a Marantz Sr-5000 but trade it in on this one because its remote started getting aggravating and I had to turn it up to very high volume to get to a reference level. This is not do to my speakers inefficiency because they are rated at 89/db. The 7000 fits in perfectly with my system and has excellent video and audio (2ch). This unit is definitely superior to the 5000 and a great receiver overall.

System Consist Of:
Marantz SR-7000 (Receiver)
Marantz DVD-930 (DVD)
(2)Paradigm Mini Monitors (Front L/R)
Sony 27V36 (TV)
JVC HR-S5400U (VCR)
Audioquest Type 2 (Speaker Cable)

Things I intend on adding:
Marantz RC-2000 MKII (Remote)
(2) Paradigm Mini Monitors (Rear L/R)
Paradigm CC-350 (Center)
(2) Paradigm PS-1000 (Sub L/R)
Direct TV system
Audioquest Interconnects and Cables
(Any advice or comments on these would be appreciated)

Similar Products Used:

Marantz Sr-5000

Incredible sound; Ease of use; flexibility in hookups ie. digital and RCA inputs and outputs - incl S-video. Multi-room capable. Lots of "tweakablility" via on screen display.

At first the instructions seem thin and remote seems cryptic - but you get used to it pretty quick. They don't tell you to pop-out the plastic tabs for banana plug inputs on the spkr terminals.

Lots of good things have been said already - I just wanted to reiterate them:

The sound quality in both HT and audio modes is incredible.

All the various inputs - both digital and analog- makes for great flexibility for old and new equipment.

For the money, I didn't see anything that seemed to perform at this level. I've matched it with Paradigm Studio 20's (bookshelf-size) fronts and matching center, with PS1000 sub - I wanted the best audio sound for CD listening I could afford and the paradigms really deliver. I also purchased the in-ceiling Paradigms for the LR and Kitchen - the multi-room functions is really nice.

Similar Products Used:

Sony (older products) looked at Yamaha prod's in the $600-$1,200 price range - also considered the HK and Denon units.

Overall musical, dynamic, balanced, detailed sound!

Can't find any........Really I don't!!

This is by far the most musical surround machine for $1000.
And believe me, I could tell, for I spend a lot of time trying the competition, such as Onkyo and Denon, the SR 7000 does the job for me.The Onkyo may have a lot of power, the Denon may have its clean specs, but apparantly they forgot all about music! The Marantz truly strikes me with his neutral and open sound, as well as its fine detail when it comes to DD or DTS!Films like 'The Matrix''Armageddon' and 'Phenomenon' boosts me out of my chair, while 'the Dance' from Fleetwood Mac rocks.Classical music sounds well balanced and with no agressive overtones.I must say I have the advantage to try all the combinations as I am working in a HiFi store with all the big and little names.(Musical Fidelity/Arcam/Rotel/NAD/Tag mcLaren etc..)But taken the pricetag of this Marantz, this is a very impressive piece of engineering.Finally check out the remote!! at last, one that really works for me!
Good job Marantz!!

Similar Products Used:

Harman Kardon AVR 21/Onkyo TXSV 646/TXDS 555/TXDS 676/Denon AVR 2800/Marantz SR 680.

5 channel stereo, good remote

Volume control is terrible for the different source material.

Got the receiver with an upgraded remote (rc1200), so I thought I got a pretty good deal (talk to doug at wild west, he's cool). With the backlight,the remote is awesome.

That being said, I'm very dissapointed that the remote can't auto level the volumes out when I'm changing between sources. It's very annoying to go from tv to dvd to cd and have to crank the volume way up or down every time. Let me repeat, very annoying. It also sucks that this thing does not have an equalizer, not that it sounds so bad, but that would have been nice.

I have to admit that this receiver rocks for dvd's, but I would have to say that it is so so for music. It's a terrible shame that the crossover is set so high for this receiver, forced me to have to hookup my front sats to my sub instead.

The manual is terrible, but still generally helpful (ie, better than nothing).

Overall, it's a good product for the money. If you are on a budget like me, then this one is for you.

btw -
If anyone found a way to minimize the volume problems, please email me and let me know, thanks.

power,sound clarity,features,remote

hard to figure out at first

I shopped around for the past six months looking for the perfect reciever.well I need not search no more.I have always been a big yamaha fan.but after listening to the two equaly priced models it came down to this.REMOTE-marantz POWER-marantz, CLARIYY-marantz,USEABLE FEATURES-marantz BETTER OVERALL REVIEWS-marantz.Do you get the picture? I was using the yamaha 595.All I kept hearing was that the yamahas sound bright and not full.I never knew what the hell people were talking about until I unplugged it and plugged in the sr7000.Big diference!I guess what I'm trying to say is this----MOVE OVER YAMAHA-THERE IS A KNEW SHERIFF IN TOWN

Similar Products Used:

yamaha2095

Looks, none other!

Lacks refinement, punch, dynamic control, poor if not xtremely bad manuals....

Why pay 800 on the M7000, when u can buy a Sony DB-930 at a lower price, exept the Sony is superior in so many ways! The DB-930 (my current amp.) has a 32bit, 96khz dac, the M7000 a 28bit, 96khz dac. I tried the Marantz 7000 for a couple of weeks, but soon found it to be a poor match againts my now beloved Sony. Not only does the Sony have all the finesse and refinement u are looking for, but it also can produce a hurricane within ur living-room. Belive u me, Sony totally outperforms the Marantz. Dont belive me? If u have the chance, take the Sony home for a test run. I`m sure u will agree with me after about, lets say, 30 sec. of listening......

If u absolutely want a Marantz, go for the SR-18.........

Similar Products Used:

Sony DB-925, Denon 3300, Harman Kardon AVR 65, Sony DB-930

Sonic accuracy, dynamic range, soundstage, power.

Manual

The SR-7000 is a truly great receiver. I've used it for over a week now, and I'm thoroughly impressed. The first bit of music that I listened to on it was a NorthSound CD that I had heard many times. This has always been a favorite CD of mine, but hearing it on this receiver was like hearing it for the first time. I've played the piano for more than 11 years, and I can attest that the grand piano in the music was more realistic sounding than any I've ever heard on a CD. Everything was incredibly clear and the placement of the instruments on the soundstage was quite precise. There was just something right about the sound.

The really great thing about getting a new piece of equipment is going back through all of your old music and movies and rediscovering each track and chapter. Although Star Wars Ep. 1 wasn't exactly the greatest theatrical hit, the soundtrack certainly is very well done. It was recorded especially well too; track 14 - the Droid Invasion, speaks for itself. There is an *incredible* three-dimensionality to it in stereo mode that I had never heard before. When I closed my eyes, I could see the orchestra before me on the stage. Every instrument and section was exactly where it ought to be, and the ambience was very natural as well.

On movies, the SR-7000 was quite accurate and dynamic as well. Contrary to what some people have said, I've found the bass to be quite smooth and powerful. I tried routing the L/R pre-outs to the subs in my front towers, but the bass really is more satisfactory with the high level inputs. I haven't had much of a chance to audition dts discs, but the launch sequence from Apollo 13 was pretty impressive. I'm looking forward to getting the Pitch Black dts disc in October. It apparently features dts-es and even though I don't have that processing ability, I'm sure the mastering on the disc will have been done well and it should sound pretty good. I think the Marantz's strongest selling point on movies really is its power. I don't know what some of these reviewers are smoking (or if they just have really inefficient speakers), but I almost never turn it up past the "0 dB" point. And this isn't because I have a small room (try 8k+ cubic feet). You can really crank this thing and it just keeps getting louder without distorting!

Features wise, this receiver has all of its bases covered. The manual basically sucks, but it gives you a general idea of how things work and you can figure things out just by trial and error. Everything's pretty forgiving. The DSPs are okay, but I don't usually use the 5-channel stereo for music unless it's a bad recording. It would be nice if there was a source-direct mode button on the remote, but pushing a few buttons (as opposed to one) is still easier than getting up off the couch. The HT-EQ is a nice touch, and the 2 assignable DC triggers can be quite helpful if you have equipment that uses these (such as Sony products).

Overall, the SR-7000 is quite flexible and delivers all that you would expect from a quality receiver. It doesn't have as many bells and whistles as some, but the sound and performance are clearly superb. Isn't that what we ultimately want in a receiver?

Sorry for the long post. Hope this review helps, feel free to email me with any questions.
Emery

Setup:
receiver: SR-7000
fronts: Polk Audio RT2000p
center: Polk Audio CS400
rears: Polk Audio RT800i
sub: Infinity bu-120 (yeah, yeah. Well, mine hasn't blown up yet.. ;)
TV: Sony Wega 36" XBR
power conditioner: Monster Power HTS2500

Similar Products Used:

Sony STR-DE835

This receiver kicks ass !!

NONE

This is the best sounding receiver that I have ever heard!! Crisp clean sound at all volumes. It doesn't get any better than this for the money !!

Similar Products Used:

Denon B&K etc

Great build quality, very powerfull yet elegant, smooth, very clear sound. Easy to understand and funtional design

The remote's lcd screen isnt backlit (all the buttons are)
I can see where instruction manual might be lacking for someone that has never set up a dolby digital system but if you use the onscreen display it makes for MUCH easier setup

To the previous reviewer....If you thought the Marantz 7000 sounded bad there was something wrong, either it was a poor source, speakers, or the reciever wasn't set up right. Eventhough the Sony 777 cost twice as much as the Marantz 7000 I tested it anyway and found nothing to justify the extra $750 I'd have to spend for the Sony. I liked the sound of the Marantz better. If you compare it to a similarly priced Sony there is no comparison.

The Dennon and Onkyo also sounded good but I fell for the smoothness of Stevie Ray Vaughn on the Marantz....AWSOME!!!

It doesn't have a million DSP modes to crap up the sound like my Sony did and thats why I love the Marantz. I like to here the music the way it was meant to sound instead of the reciever warping it into something its not. It has a few soundfields for HT and a few for music but I dont use any of them.

If your looking to spend less that $1500 like I was you need to audition this reciever. I thought I'd spend $1500 for the sound I wanted but only had to spend half that for this Marantz 7000. It sounded just as good if not better than most that I tested in the $1k-1.5K and better than all for under 1K.

Awsome reciever....especially for the $725. I paid at my local authorized Marantz dealer. You wont save enough buying over the net to justify, just haggle a little with your local dealer and tell him you can get it on the net for $699 like I did.

Go try it out before you buy anything else...Its worth the 5 stars!!!!!!!

Similar Products Used:

owned Sony STR-DE915, tested comparable price range products from Dennon, Onkyo, Sony, Pioneer