musicality, multichannel performance

bass, dimensionality

When I moved to this country I had to say goodbye to my beloved Pioneer A400X amp and marantz cd player (that was an increadible duo, especially the amp!) and let my parents enjoy it back in the "old country." I was in the market for a new audio system and then I caught a home theatre bug. After buying DVD and a big screen TV, I needed some multichannel amp and speakers to complete the picture (or sound rather). Here the big dillema begins. I can't really afford (nor do I have room for) a separate audio-only system. I needed to compromise and buy something that will be good for both music (mostly classical and jazz) and movies at the same time. I listened first to Yamahas (since they are sooooo praised everywhere) and while they were good for movies they were just horrible in 2 channel. Denons were noticibly better but like almost all Denons, while good and reliable, they sound just sort of dead and flat. I always liked Marantz and owned their equipment before, but I didn't even realize that they produce multichannel amps (also Marantz is more admired for their CD players rather then amps in Europe). After finding a dealer in SF (which wasn't that easy), I listened to SR 8000 and I just couldn't believe that multichannels can sound so good in stereo. I also listened to SR 7000 and it is very close in sound to its older brother. 8000 has more sonic breath, smoother edges, captures tiny nuances a little better and (that's such an American comment, by the way, but I am assimilating!) has a better remote. If not the sale price for 8000 I would have bought the 7000, but this price difference (995 versus 799) justified the upgrade I made.
As for sound quality, I'll talk about drawbacks first. It does come close to a good separate integrated amp (like my A400X or Rotel 972 or any other good 2 channel amp in this price range) but not quite. It lacks dimensionality, this is probably its biggest flaw. There is some but not as much. When you close your eyes, you can identify right and left channels, there is not so much "in between" and "behind". Bass - it could be better. It is sort of hidden, shy. It is quite well defined though and does not sound like a unidentified "thumphhh" (like in Yamahas). It lacks some sparkle; cymbals, percussion could use more of that but then again I do like the way it portrays piano. Detail is there, but there could be more. Dynamics could be better. I agree with other reviewers, it has surprisingly not enough power in 2 channel mode. How come? You really have to crank it up to hear it to its full potential. Some 40W integrated amps are more powerful. Weird. Warmth - this isn't necessarily a drawback, it is rather amp's character but you need to make sure you pair it with a sharp CD player and appropriate cabling.
Now time for some praise. It is extremely musical. Throw almost anything at it from pop to chamber to big orchestral. It will play it beautifully with no sharp edges, smooth and quite effortlessly. Human voices are portrayed very believably, it's really a pleasure to listen to. Separation of instruments, voices is superb. It is not a cacophony of sounds all mingled together in an idiotic meaningless noise (Yamahas) but you hear your piano, violin etc distinctly and clearly. Despite its lack of dimensionality that I mentioned earlier, it really draws you into music. Really nice listening, easy to enjoy. Oh, did I mention the tuner - really great radio sound, tuner is top notch in this unit.
Make sure you use source direct for listening to CDs - big difference. Five channel stereo - I don't know, fun to try but if you are serious you will really listen in 2 channel source direct most of the time. In 5 channel you loose a lot of detail and definition to the sound, it does not sound natural. But if you want to impress your girlfriend while sitting on a couch an sipping wine, go ahead...
Dolby Digital and DTS sound phenomenal. Just listen to Saving Private Ryan landing on the beach scene or DTS sound in special edition of Seven. Just great. All nuances are there, you really feel like you are in the middle of the action. Great. Breathtaking.
To sum up - it is the best compromise available on the market for a reasonable amount of money if you want your music and movies in one. I have never thought that I would listen to music on a multichannel amp but... While it lacks few things mentioned above, I am really satisfied overall. I have never thought that a miltichannel amp can sound so good in stereo. I highly recommend it. If you want something cheaper go for 7000 if you can still hunt it down, it is almost as good.
P.S. By the way, don't even bother reading equipment reviews in American magazines. All they are concerned with are features and remote control usefulness and not sound. Also, a lot of them are very contradictory which clearly indicates thet they were bought. Get yourself some British magazine or log into this forum, which by the way, is one of the best resources on audio/video equipment I found. Happy listening!

Marantz SR8000
Sony 9000ES
Sony 36XBR400
B&W 602 multichannel set (great speakers overall but maybe a bit too warm for Marantz - try to experiment before you buy)
tara labs and silitech cabling

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yamahas, denons etc (you know the models so I won't bother)

Excellent Smooth Clear Sound. Smaller Compact Size. Tight Deep Bass. Rocks on Movies and Music. Great Remote.

None really other than remote is a little large.

I upgraded to the SR8000 after owning the SR7000 for a little over a year as I loved the SR7000. As great as the SR7000 is, the SR8000 is even better. The sound both on music and movies is slightly cleaner and the bass is considerably tighter and less boomy. Also you can't beat the remote. I have it programed to control every electronic device in my system as well as the few in my bedroom. You can't go wrong with Marantz.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz SR7000. Yamaha RXV2090.

Excellent fit and finish (and build), incredible sound from any source, awesome remote--fantastic value!

No component switching

Still living in the 2-channel era with a Rotel preamp/tuner and Acurus A150 amp, Santa decided enough was enough and upgraded me to the Marantz SR8000, Marantz DV7000 and Energy Take 5 with the 8" sub (with Monster interconnects and speaker cable).

A single word can sum up the system--perfect. Albeit, coming from a 2-channel system is an apples to oranges comparison. However, even in the 2-channel mode, the Marantz/Energy setup still blows away what many would consider a better 2-channel setup, which included the Acurus amp, Rotel preamp/tuner and B&W 610i speakers (biwired and all).

I also had the Sony entry-level DVD player from last summer, but upgraded to the DV7000 for the DTS capability and, of course, because its much more of an audiphile-grade unit (an absoloutely beautiful piece).

My whole world has changed. CDs I've had forever have a whole new life--especially in the 5-channel stereo mode. And DVDs, of course, now come out in full Dolby Digital or DTS (Mouse Hunt, by the way, has an incredible DTS track).

Marantz picture and sound is second to none (considering other products in comperable price ranges). The build quality of both Marantz products and the Energy system is unbelievable (check out the extensive copper shielding on the SR8000)! Not to mention that fabled Marantz remote--and I haven't even begun to program it. And I got a measurable discount over list on all three products at a NY-based store!

I can't say enough about the value here. Except that, if you've paid more on similar setups, you've paid too much.

None

Everything

Doesn't come close to the Yamaha in anything except maybe for the remote.
First unit I got was a dud.
Replaced with Yamaha.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RX-V1

Build quality,remote,sound,etc ...

Manual

All around great unit. I'm very happy with my purchase. Waited a long time for it to become available here in Canada. Don't think much of the reviews other Marantz components get (i.e. Marantz dvd players - personally, I purchased a Denon dvd player to go with this receiver ... nice) but they have manufactured a great receiver here.

Regards,

Mike

Clarity, style, remote (though I yet to totally figure it out)

da manual, binding postings are way too tight

So far I am very pleased with this A/V receiver ..... I listened to Denon, Yamaha, and Integra extensively before buying. I probably would have bought the Denon 3801, but I couldn't find a deal on it. The Yamaha RX-V1000 to me just wasn't very musical and didn't mate well with my Paradigm REF 60 speakers.

However, I have yet to be disappointed by the Marantz SR-8000 in my HT / music listening experiences. I had a lot of fun getting everything connected and tucked away in my entertainment center and, YES, the dang binding posts are way too close together. Nonetheless it is a very detailed and musical receiver ! It's built like a tank so make sure you have a strong shelf for it.

The remote is probably great, but I've yet to take the time to get it to run my other components. No doubt it can handle it, but the manual isn't real detailed on what this remote is capable of. Once I get moved in our new home I plan to spend some time getting all of my components to run off the remote. My sons' were impressed by it ! My 6 year old wanted to take it to show -n- tell for the letter "R" since it was so cool (he liked the lighting on it at night).

My overall will be a "5" once I figure out the remote !!!!

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32" Sony TV
Marantz SR-8000 A/V Recv'r
Sony 560 DVD
Panasonic VCR
Paradigm REF Studio 60's mains
Paradigm Studio CC
Paradgim Servo 15 subwoofer
surrounds -- to come soon
amplifier -- to come may'be sooner

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Nakamichi TA-2A (old 2-channel but a STUD)

ummmm, everything :) Power, features, the remote!

I think my manual got switched for a coffee machine manual, oh wait, it just sucks.

Well, as per the other reviews here, this reciever is the best thing since sliced bread!

Currently I'm using it in 2ch music only (can't afford to buy the rest of my speakers just yet). I have to admit, I was a bit sceptical to see if this unit could match an integrated for 2ch stereo. Let me tell you, this reciever sounds better than many of the integrated amps I have heard!

Also, this reciever seems to run fine down to 4ohm. I'm running a pair of Dynaudio Audience 70's, which are rated at 4ohm, and the receiver powers these without a sweat, even at near peak volumes for extended periods of time. Considering the last couple of days have been close to 40 degreesC, I think that's quite impressive for a reciever rated at 8ohm.

To the guy a few posts down who can't get the remote to learn, make sure you face the other remote toward the base of the Marantz remote where the marantz logo is, not the top (the top is the transmitter, the bottom is the reciever).

Just for other people in Australia who are looking to buy, the dealer cost price for this unit is AU$1946, so if you pay cash, and do a bit of bargaining, you should be able to get it alot less than the AU$2899 list price. Got mine from "THE MAX" in Burwood for the princely sum of AU$2150.

Also, the Champagne coloured unit is much prettier I think.

superior music reproduction,fantastic top-end,exclusivity-not found on every giveitaway.com site like Yamaha and Sony

binding posts and manual do not cut it.

All you Yamaha and Sony wannabes-bring it on! Listening to music on the SR-8000 reminds me of the good old days before we had 150 dsp sounds fields to distort and destroy a quality recording. The Unit simply crushes the 3yr old Yamaha and if Sony's idea of music reproduction is the best there is then the wheel would never have been invented. And I was a Sony guy b4 I bought the SR.
The SR-8000 definitely has more punch the 7000 when I demo'd it but I never got the chance to actually bring the 7000 home and connect to my equipment. DVD playback is awesome. The new Peter Frampton DVD is the real deal. We need more releases like that. Bond's latest DVD rocked.
The SR-8000's multi room feature is beauty as I am hanging a 100w Adcom off the back for additional speakers.
current equipment:
SR-8000
Sony DVD
Sony kp48v series rr projector
Definitive BP10's
Definitive center
Definitive Powerfield 1500 250w sub
Mitsubishi LD
Adcom 100 watt amp
Cerwin V rears
Yamaha 5disk cd

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Yamaha 2095, Entire ES AV Sony receiver line

Very clean sound, one of the best universal remote control, very solid and user friendly designed. Very easy to hook up everything.

No mono

I have owned this unit for over 3 months now and just like the clarity of the sound soming out to the speakers. It is one of the best receivers in its price range. I specially like the thoughtfully designed control panel. After my research, to get the same sound quality from other brands such as Denon or Yamaha, you will have to spend 2 to 3 times of the money. So I decided to go by Marantz. Since my speakers (Silverline's Sonatina) tend to detailize the recordings, this is perfect unit for that.

Similar Products Used:

Harmon Kardon AVR7000, Denon AVR-3300

Clarity and sonic "breadth"; price

none

I will state at the outset: I had a strong predisposition to buy Yamaha. I had owned a Yamaha receiver for 20 years, from the mid-70s to the mid-90s before it went tits-up. I loved that little receiver: clarity, range, everything about it was great . Except, it died. I temporarily replaced it with a Kenwood PoS. The difference was painful and was prolonged a LOT longer than I had planned.

So, I recently went shopping to end my suffering at long last.

I explained to the guy at Hillcrest that I was willing to spend up to $2000 on an A/V receiver. "Point me at the Yamahas," I said. "Here they are," he said, "the RX-V1000 for $1000 and the RX-V3000 for $2000. But," he continued, "you might want to also consider the Marantz RS-7000 for $800 and the RS-8000 for $1250. I personally prefer them. They are warmer and less expensive."

Cheaper! Hah! I laugh in the face of expense ... to a point. I was on a mission of mercy -- to save my tortured ears. Damn the checkbook: show how to work the switching panel.

So, the sales guy set me up with some B&W speakers and left me alone with the CDs that I had brought. An hour and half later, I bought the Marantz RS-8000. Here's why.

Between the lower-end receivers of both makes and the higher-end models there was a difference to my ears. I call it "sonic breadth". I do not know what other people call it. Switching back and forth on the same piece of music, the room widened about a meter on either side when I was listening to the higher-end equipment. The RX-V1000 and RS-7000 were very good, but the RX-V3000 and RS-8000 were better -- richer, more faithful in the subtleties of the music. They gave me the distinct impression that the room was wider and more full of the music that I love.

Between the two high-end machines, Yamaha RX-V3000 and Marantz RS-8000, there was almost no difference to my ears. The much talked about brightness of the Yamaha and warmth of the Marantz were, though noticable in the lower-end equipment, not apparent to my ears at this level.

So, what did make a difference? Well, the Yamaha has these cool DSP programs that simulate the acoustics of various famous venues. They sounded interesting. But, would I ever use them? Were they worth the extra $750?

Finally, my checkbook poked me in the ribs and said, "So, how much is cool worth?" I had to agree. I was not ever going to want to listen to the echoes produced in a Gothic church. Thank you very much. I bought the Marantz.

I got very happy with my choice when I got home, hooked the system up to my custom-built tower speakers and played two CDs. The first was Paul Winter's "Canyon Lullaby". I could hear the flute and the crickets and the silence in between like a night on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The second was McLaughlin, DiMeola, and DeLucia's "Friday Night in San Francisco". It was nice of the guys to stop by my living room and play a set.

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compared to Marantz RS-7000 and Yamaha RX-V1000 and RX-V3000