Marantz 6004 vs Denon 720-AE

[admin_exported]

Hi all,

I'm considering buying an amplifier and CD player and wondering which one should I chose between the Marantz 6004 series (PM and CD) or the Denon 720-AE (PMA and DCD) ones. The first ones received 2011 awards for amplifier and CD player, but it seems that the Denon one are also very good.

Anyone has some facts / opinion to share about this - if so, please share the speakers that you're using / used with both?

Thanks!

 

[Blackdawn]

I've not heard the Denon 720 AE's but am interested in them. I see the DCD 720AE is also an SACD player, not that I have any SACD's, but it looks nice. It also has a USB in and headphone out, which is useful same as the Marantz. The Marantz cd player uses a 24bit DAC, the Denon uses a 32bit DAC. The amps are similar power ratings. Has any one compared the 6004 with the 720ae components?

 

[matthewpiano]

The 720AE is a pure CD player and is not a SACD player. I've seen it listed as such by one retailer but a quick check of the Denon website proves that it isn't an SACD player. The cheapest Denon SACD player is the DCD1510AE.

http://www.denon.co.uk/uk/Product/Pages/Product-Detail.aspx?Catid=HiFiComponents&SubId=SACDCDPlayer&ProductId=DCD720AE

 

[dalwen]

Hi,

i don't know for sure if the 720 Denon CD player supports SACD. On the Denon site there is a difference between the 1510 en the 720 spec's.

The 1510 does support SACD.

 

[dalwen]

The new Pioneer CD players PD-10 and PD-30 are in the same price region and support SACD. The PD-30 picked up a 4 star review in Germany, while the matching Pioneer Amp A-30 gets highly recommended 5 stars (betters the Marantz PM6004 in some aspects). Maby worthwile checking out.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Dalwen. Do you know if this amp also has a phono entry / pre-amp?

 

[Cypher]

I really like the look of the PMA-720 amp. Looks like it's build like a tank.

 

[dalwen]

Hi Terrace, to avoid a wrong advice, please check the pioneer.eu site. For example the Dutch.

http://www.pioneer.eu/nl/products/42/98/405/A-30-K/specs.html

 

[Blackdawn]

The 720AE is a pure CD player and is not a SACD player. I've seen it listed as such by one retailer but a quick check of the Denon website proves that it isn't an SACD player. The cheapest Denon SACD player is the DCD1510AE.

http://www.denon.co.uk/uk/Product/Pages/Product-Detail.aspx?Catid=HiFiComponents&SubId=SACDCDPlayer&ProductId=DCD720AE

Okay, thanks mattewpiano. I think i'd rather have a headphone output than SACD function.

 

[Blackdawn]

Hi Dalwen. Do you know if this amp also has a phono entry / pre-amp?

Looking at the Pioneer manual it says not to connect the phono (MM) terminals to anything other than a turntable, so I guess not. The unit's power amp direct terminals should never be connected to any other components connectors except pre-amp out.

 

[matthewpiano]

I think terraces was asking whether the amp has a phono pre-amp built in, to which the answer is yes.

Are you still considering a new amp yourself then Blackdawn? What have you shortlisted? I've heard a 710AE with the A26s and it sounded very good so I'd anticipate the 720AE to be a good match.

 

[Blackdawn]

I really like the look of the PMA-720 amp. Looks like it's build like a tank.

Me too, I also like the look of the Denon 720 and Pioneer A30. The Denon is more powerful than the Pioneer A30 by 10w and has a pre out for sub or power amp. The Rotel RA-10 looks nice too and has the same power output as the Pioneer but no remote.

 

[Blackdawn]

I think terraces was asking whether the amp has a phono pre-amp built in, to which the answer is yes.

Are you still considering a new amp yourself then Blackdawn? What have you shortlisted? I've heard a 710AE with the A26s and it sounded very good so I'd anticipate the 720AE to be a good match.

Okay Thanks. I'll be looking for a new CD player first. My CA is to be moved on to the other system. My shortlist is Marantz CD6004 (first choice), Denon DCD 720AE (2nd), Pioneer PD30 (final). I'm also tempted by the Yamaha CD300, which has good reviews and is much cheaper. I still like my Denon SE amp so it will probably be staying unless it goes up in smoke!

 

[Blackdawn]

I think terraces was asking whether the amp has a phono pre-amp built in, to which the answer is yes.

Are you still considering a new amp yourself then Blackdawn? What have you shortlisted? I've heard a 710AE with the A26s and it sounded very good so I'd anticipate the 720AE to be a good match.

Hows the 685's with the NAD btw? Do you have the white versions?!

 

[matthewpiano]

I think terraces was asking whether the amp has a phono pre-amp built in, to which the answer is yes.

Are you still considering a new amp yourself then Blackdawn? What have you shortlisted? I've heard a 710AE with the A26s and it sounded very good so I'd anticipate the 720AE to be a good match.

Hows the 685's with the NAD btw? Do you have the white versions?!

They're black. It is the best I've heard the NAD sound, though I shouldn't be surprised. I actually had a pair of 685s on home demo quite some time ago when I had a C325BEE and I was going to buy the demo units from the dealer, but then they realised they'd already sold them. For some reason, which I don't quite understand, I never bought a pair of 685s then - possibly due to the cost, but that turned out to be a false economy given the other speakers I've been through. Even this time I was thinking I would buy the 685s and try and change the amp to one of the new Rotels, but I stopped myself, bought the 685s and now I've heard them with the NAD all though of making any further changes has fortunately disappeared from my head.

 

[Cypher]

matthewpiano,

you heard the Denon PMA-710AE amp. Is the sound comparable to the Marantz PM6003/NAD C326BEE sound ?

 

[matthewpiano]

matthewpiano,

you heard the Denon PMA-710AE amp. Is the sound comparable to the Marantz PM6003/NAD C326BEE sound ?

I've heard it with both Boston A26s and KEF Q100s and it certainly sounded excellent with both. It is hard to make a direct comparison when you haven't had the amps side by side but I don't think there is a lot in it either way. Denon kit tends to fall slightly under the 5-star radar these days but my experience of their seperates has been very positive. The biggest problem can be getting an audition as some dealers seem to turn their nose up at Denon for some reason.

 

[Anonymous]

yeah,

it is nearly impossible to have a demo with these amps side by side :S

 

[Anonymous]

I'm not going to compare these two, but I have to share few things about Denon 720 cd-amp combo which I purchased about two weeks ago...I really liked design of Denon comparing to Marantz (which is quite ugly, but you don't have to agree.. )

The things I'd like to point out today is assembly quality of the units. I have Denon m-38 dab micro hi-fi system,which I bought nearly two years ago,extremely happy with it, sounds good, feels built as a tank...buying Denon separates and paying close to 400 euros each you would expect at least same quality, wouldn't you?well it's not.the case..first thing I noticed on cd player that all the buttons, all of them are misaligned with aliuminium panel...not big deal probably, it looks a bit like B grade product, thats it.Perhaps not many people noticed this anyway..The main reason I'm sharing this is another thing I discovered today.When turning volume knob clockwise between 10 and 11 o'clock you'll hear a crackling noise on speakers (kind of white noise) My parents Sharp's volume knob started produsing similar noise after 20+ years of wear and tear...You wouldn't expect this from brand new unit. Quite a dissapointment in Denon in general...You can't buy anything decent these days, can you? Any thoughts? Did somebody else have similar issues?

 

[GCE]

here some tests:

http://www.audiophilefr.com/Site/ecoutes/affichage-amplis-MARANTZ_-_PM_6004.html

http://www.audiophilefr.com/Site/ecoutes/affichage-amplis-DENON__PMA_710_-_AE.html

My Mara drives B&W 603s2 at 1/4 vol - very well built-made in Japan...

 

[Covenanter]

I have the Marantz (with Kef Q500s) and it does what all good amps should do, it stays out of the way of the music. I don't use the tone controls, I bypass them with "Source Direct", but I'm sure they work ok. The headphone output is good. The construction is very good, a really solid piece of kit that I expect to last for many years. I also think it looks nice but that is a matter of taste (and I don't spend a lot of time looking at it).

Chris

 

[GCE]

I'm not going to compare these two, but I have to share few things about Denon 720 cd-amp combo which I purchased about two weeks ago...I really liked design of Denon comparing to Marantz (which is quite ugly, but you don't have to agree.. )

The things I'd like to point out today is assembly quality of the units. I have Denon m-38 dab micro hi-fi system,which I bought nearly two years ago,extremely happy with it, sounds good, feels built as a tank...buying Denon separates and paying close to 400 euros each you would expect at least same quality, wouldn't you?well it's not.the case..first thing I noticed on cd player that all the buttons, all of them are misaligned with aliuminium panel...not big deal probably, it looks a bit like B grade product, thats it.Perhaps not many people noticed this anyway..The main reason I'm sharing this is another thing I discovered today.When turning volume knob clockwise between 10 and 11 o'clock you'll hear a crackling noise on speakers (kind of white noise) My parents Sharp's volume knob started produsing similar noise after 20+ years of wear and tear...You wouldn't expect this from brand new unit. Quite a dissapointment in Denon in general...You can't buy anything decent these days, can you? Any thoughts? Did somebody else have similar issues?

And what about the sound's charateristcs of Denon 720 amp...?