Discrete home cinema / music system wanted, Marantz 1504 any good?

[Paul.]

I was wondering if anyone had heard the Marantz 1504 slim line amp? Is it any good? I can see the 1604 only offers 7.1 and 4k upscaling, both of which I am not interested in.

My system is morbidly obese for the size of room I have and listening volumes I can use it at, so I was debating downsizing. I would shift the BR/BX speakers and the Onkyo amp, and keep T3 sub. I would like the system to be Neat Iota based, and I hear they pair well with the Marantz CR603, so hopefully they would match up well with a 1504? For the time being I would only buy the front three, and worry about rears later. I think Iota rears may be a bit of a waste, so would probably buy something cheaper?

My living room is not particularly large, and any house I can actually afford to buy in the not too distant future will be no bigger, so I like the idea of having all speakers wall mountable (hence Iota), and the sources hidden in a piece of furniture somewhere out the way.

Thoughts? Options? Three Iotas and a 1504 are approx. £1400, so thats the ballpark. The goal is a discrete (ish) home cinema system that is used 50/50 music and movies. Thanks!

 

[Paul.]

Any alternatives?

 

[Mr. Iceman]

Paul, few years back I got NR 1601 that I was very happy with, so much so that I replaced it with the 1603 which offers network connectivity, preamp out and larger display fonts. It drives Wharfedale Jade 5 fronts (biamped) with the matching centre as a 3.0 HC system. Also tried the SPC 10 sub with this but realised that Jade 5s give me enough low end as it is.

One of my other systems is M-CR603 with Wharfedale Diamonds 9.1, and both 1601 and 1603 have similar "house" sound signature to the '603. Though not the latest in bass control, 1603 is a versatile and decent hub in a half-size package.

Sorry, never heard the Iotas so cannot comment on them.

 

[bigboss]

What about Motive C for centre instead of Iota?

 

[bigboss]

Another option is Monitor Audio Radius. Check out Radius 90 for fronts, and Radius 200 for centre. They're wall mountable.

http://www.monitoraudio.co.uk/products/radius/

 

[Paul.]

Paul, few years back I got NR 1601 that I was very happy with, so much so that I replaced it with the 1603 which offers network connectivity, preamp out and larger display fonts. It drives Wharfedale Jade 5 fronts (biamped) with the matching centre as a 3.0 HC system. Also tried the SPC 10 sub with this but realised that Jade 5s give me enough low end as it is.

One of my other systems is M-CR603 with Wharfedale Diamonds 9.1, and both 1601 and 1603 have similar "house" sound signature to the '603. Though not the latest in bass control, 1603 is a versatile and decent hub in a half-size package.

Sorry, never heard the Iotas so cannot comment on them.

Thats reasuring, thanks for that. Think I will definately have the 1504 on the short list

 

[Paul.]

What about Motive C for centre instead of Iota?

Is that one wall mountable though? Also, one Iota sells for £350, the Motive C is double that.

Another option is Monitor Audio Radius. Check out Radius 90 for fronts, and Radius 200 for centre. They're wall mountable. http://www.monitoraudio.co.uk/products/radius/

They do look rather nice, will give them a go too. May take a look at that Radius One bar as well, curious if thats any good.

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

FWIW - I love my Iotas, and would seriously consider a third for 3.1. As for rear channels, I think overkill and would use some MA 45s, or perhaps just some Jamos or Cambridge Minx. I'm not too concerned about rears, and would probably be perfectly happy with 3.1