Comments for Marantz SR6003 7.1 A/V Receiver at http://www.hometheaterhifi.com , comment 1 to 30 out of 20 comments http://www.hometheaterhifi.com Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:48:09 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-2780 Take a look at the new Marantz 6004. They added an additional HDMI input as well as Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Dynamic Volume. There was also a slight power increase from 100x7 to 110x7. Having not heard the Pioneer 21 or 23 myself, it is hard to comment. I've owned a few Pioneer receivers over the years and have always enjoyed the slightly more musical sound they offer compared to Denon or Onkyo. I find it unlikely that the Pioneer will sound "better" than the Marantz units, maybe just a bit different. Either should mate very well with your B+Ws. You can't go wrong with either the VSX-23 or the Marantz 6004. Try and give them both a listen at your local dealers or see if you can get an in-home trial of both to see what you prefer. - Tyler Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:17:25 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-2766 You mentionned that the pioneer elite has a rich sound much like the marantz. I am looking into getting the marantz 5003 or 6003 but also looking at the pioneer vsx 21 and 23.Pioneer has the extra hdmi that could be good for future extras. Can you help me choose. I have read your 6003 comment but nothing on the pioneer model mentionned above. My speakers are the b&w DM601.Might upgrade these in the future. I like to listen to movies and hd channels but also like to listen to music. I guess I want the best of both world. - Denis Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:12:02 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-2439 I had the Onkyo 607 in my system for a few months and it IS capable of applying Audyssey to TrueHD and DTS-HD MA sources. The 707 should have no problem. The only limitation it had was on 192kHz sources. The Onkyo did NOT have the processing horsepower to decode a 192kHz lossless signal and apply Audyssey processing on top of it. - Tyler S Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:45:24 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-2435 Adam, I just know of the issue with the Marantz from experience. However, since almost all manufacturers put their manuals online, most of those will specify if their room correction will only work on PCM or Bitstream, or if they support a max sample rate (many can't do room correction on audio beyond 24/96, and some even on 24/96) as well. That is probably the best way to determine this for different models. - ChrisHeinonen Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:55:37 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-2434 is this issue isolated to marantz, or are other brands of receivers unable to EQ bitstreamed HD audio? for example, i'm wondering if the Onkyo TX-SR707 disables the Audyssey EQ when HD audio is bitstreamed. - adam Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:19:58 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-2433 "Preset" is actually a customizable curve for the Audyssey MultEQ, so it is disabled for DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD soundtracks as Chris points out. It was indeed a cost-cutting mesasure, as an extra DSP chip would have been required in order to perform both the decoding and EQ'ing of the lossless sources. LPCM is already decoded, so the 6003 could apply Audyssey on top of that. Oddly, Marantz has not corrected this issue with the new 6004 models, which is a real shame because the 6003 was the finest sounding receiver (particularly on 2-channel) I have ever heard in my own home, even without the Audyssey processing on certain sources. - Tyler S Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:19:43 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-2428 Adam, I imagine the reason behind only supporting one or the other was a cost reason. The additional processing power required to do both at once was probably an added cost they didn't feel would benefit most users compared to the money saved. I'm sure as processing gets cheaper and cheaper, these types of limitations will start to go away, unless of course Audyssey gets more and more advanced and needs even more processing power to work. - ChrisHeinonen Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:34:19 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-2426 thanks Chris H, I have been internally decoding HD audio for the past year because my player can't bitstream. i just don't understand why would someone put HD audio decoders and an EQ in a receiver if you can't use them together. The "less is more" argument is nonsense. IF that were true, Marantz would have removed the EQ completely, not just for HD bitstreams. - adam Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:23:28 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-2358 Adam, I recently reviewed the AV8003 processor from Marantz and on that, Audyssey is disabled if you bitstream HD audio (TrueHD, DTS-HD MA), but they work just fine with PCM audio. My advice with the Marantz, and other receivers and processors that work this way, is to set your Blu-ray player to decode the audio and pass it as PCM instead of bitstreaming it, if your player allows it. The large benefit of Audyssey and other EQ's should provide far more of an audible benefit than any difference you might hear from a bitstream compared to PCM. - Chris H Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:35:49 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-2351 the manual says that the acoustic EQ's are disabled when listening to bitstreamed HD audio. I was wondering if that includes the "preset" EQ? Your review only mentions the Audyssey EQ is disabled - adam Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:32:52 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-2055 I have not had the chance to hear the 5003 and 6003 side by side. However, from my conversations with Marantz's staff, there are differences in the audio boards (which are isolated from video on the SR6003) between the two units, which should result in better sound quality for the SR6003, though I'm not sure how sizeable of difference this really makes. Personally, I like the aesthetics of the 6003 a bit better as it hides most of the front panel buttons behind the flip down door, but I'm always looking for an excuse to "upgrade" to the better model :) You can't go wrong with either unit. Can you stop by a local dealer and try to hear the two units side-by-side? - Tyler Stripko Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:51:45 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-2050 Hey Tyler, I'm torn between the SR6003 and SR5003. Is there a sonic difference between the two that makes the SR6003 worth $200 more? I don't care about the 10wpc difference nor the extra HDMI output. If the SR6003 does sound a little bit better than SR5003, to me, it may be worth the extra $200. Have you had a chance to compare the two side by side? Thank you very much for your input. Martin - Martin Nguyen Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:43:44 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-1852 Stuart, Overall, the SR6003 is the best sounding receiver I have heard in my system, particularly for 2-channel music. However, I like a slightly richer, warmer sound, which the Marantz delivers (and still manages to provide lots of detail). I have always been a big fan of Pioneer Elite's sound, which also tends to be richer as well. I have not yet heard the SC-07, which uses Icepower Class D amplification. In general, the Icepower amps tend to sound more "neutral" than warm. I would advise that you try to listen to both components before purchasing. I highly doubt that the SC-07 will sound "better" than the 6003, maybe just a bit different. Daniel, The 5003 includes the same i-Chips processor/scaler and HDMI repeater (just with one less HDMI output) as the 6003 so it should function perfectly for HDMI passthrough. I had no problems with BTB or WTW passthrough when using the 6003. I am always hesitant to comment on sound quality when I haven't heard a unit with my own ears, but being that the 5003 shares most (but not all) of its audio circuitry with the 6003, I will go out on a limb and venture that the 5003 will sound better than the 1909. I've owned Denon gear myself (3800 series receivers) and none of the Denons that I have heard have ever gotten me as emotionally involved in music (and theater) as the SR6003 did when it was in my system. - Tyler Stripko Mon, 11 May 2009 23:06:18 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-1850 Hi, I'm considering the purchase of the SR5003. Do you know if the unit passess through the video signal untouched (also RGB: BTB and WTW) and a very important issue for my (due to the lack of space to put the unit) does it run hot? And how does it compare to the denon AVR1909. Your advice would be helpful Thank you. Daniel - Daniel Sun, 10 May 2009 23:53:44 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-1806 Trying to decide between this and The Pioneer Elite SC07. Both have everything I need in way of features, my needs are pretty simple, All I care is sound quality if the Pioneer has more audio chops then I dont mind spending the extra money, but every review Ive seen of the Marantz raves about how good it sounds... I just want to be sure that they dont just mean how good it sounds for the money and for a few hundred more I can get much better sound - stuart Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:42:11 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-1764 I found the audyssey room correction to offer no benefits at all. I ran it several times and each time it offered the same lacklustre results on any of its iterations. Front was the best of the bunch but still fell short of the natural warmth and clarity the receiver has without any useless processing. For home theatre it made voices overly bright and tinny. Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law in Sky Captain (HDDVD) sounded like they were talking through a can. It also flattened any of the big action scenes. Its was like audyssey stole all the mid and low bass creating a very unenthralling experience. And this was not just with Sky Captain. I went through many hddvd's and blurays with dts-hd/DolbyTrueHD all with the same disappointing results. For music audyssey was just as bad. All I could think of was, "Where did the mids go?" Again voices were terribly bright and tinny with none of the happy warmth that I love from this receiver without processing. So I turned it off and now utterly enjoy anything I play through the 6003. I have to agree with Marantz on this one. Less is more. - Duncan Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:47:03 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-1697 From an amplifier perspective, there is not a big difference between the SR6003 and SR7002, at least not in terms of power. What I would concern myself with which of these receivers' amp sections sounds the closest to the 3-channel amp you are using to drive your Thiels. What type of amp is your 3-channel? If it is a sweeter sounding amp, the Marantz is probably the better fit. If not, the Onkyo's sound may match a little bit better. You definitely cannot go wrong with the SR6003 from a sound quality perspective. Video processing is not the greatest, but the SR6003 functions perfectly as a "passthrough" device for HDMI sources so as long as you have a source component or display with solid processing, this is a non-issue. The SR6003 cannot apply the excellent Audyssey room-correction to DTS-HD Master or Dolby TrueHD, but it can apply Audyssey if you first convert to LPCM in your source (which most good Blu-ray players can do). I'm not sure if the Integra has this same limitation. I haven't had an Onkyo/Integra receiver in my system yet so I can't speak to their amps, but I do have the Integra DHC-9.9 pre-pro in my rack now and have been very happy with its performance. I also really like the Audyssey Dynamic EQ function, which really seems to improve sound quality at lower volumes. - Tyler Stripko Sun, 29 Mar 2009 05:51:41 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-1696 I am trying to decide between the marantz 6003 or sr7002 receivers or the Integra DTR-6.9 receiver. I plan to use my three channel for the front and the receiver amp for the rear. Both audio and video is important and lossless format in the future. Any suggestions? My front speakers are Thiel 2.4 - Roy Yamamoto Sun, 29 Mar 2009 02:26:48 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-1504 Sorry, I haven't heard an HK unit in some time so I really can't compare the two. You definitely can't go wrong with the SR6003 if audio performance is your primary goal. It really does offer superb sound for both music and movies. - Tyler Stripko Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:56:51 +0100 http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/receivers/529-a-secrets-receiver-review.html#comment-1502 These days it's pretty hard to find reviews for HK receiver espeically the new AVR 354. I have to decide between Marantz SR 6003 or HK AVR 354. Does anyone has input or feedback on comparing these two? My main goal is expectional audio performance and decent movie performance and then features. - Kumar Fri, 06 Feb 2009 23:47:49 +0100