Marantz SR5005 vs Onkyo TX-NR 708

[admin_exported]

Hi everybody

I recently bought a pair of B&W DM 604 for a steal and was looking for a good receiver where i could upgrade in the future to 5.1 surround.

I live in Denmark and here the Marantz SR5005 and Onkyo TX-NR 708 cost almost the same, so is there any opinions on which i should use my money on?

I know that the Onkyo has more features but im more interested in the sound and not all the fancy features so do the Marantz sound better?

//Christian

 

[ear]

If stereo amps by marantz sometimes have trouble driving big speakers the Av amps of marantz are better at this? a bit confused myself.

 

[Anonymous]

Currently, I own a Onkyo SR608 & must say I like the music re-production (I listen mostly to vocal).

Thinking of upgrading to one that can support multi-channels input (so as to fully make use of my OPPO BDP93 player).

Therefore make a few trip down to the local HT shop to tried out a few brands.

Yamaha (667) : according to the shop, mainly use for 50% music & 50% HT, but I find it too bright + too music too forwarding (although I must say the detail at the high is there).

Dennon (1911) : according to the shop, mainly use for 60% music & 40% HT, but I find it not to my likeing. Music too lay back + balance btw the high & the mid overall to me is not detail enough.

Marantz (Can't remember) : according to the shop, mainly use for 70% music & 30% HT, but I find it also not to my likeing. Mid detail is there, but high is not.

Onkyo (708) : according to the shop : mainly use for 40% music & 60% HT. I still find the balance btw high & mid + the offer detail & music style (a little bit layback & not that forwarding as compare to the Yamaha) is what I like.

NOTE : all the 4 AV amp brands were tested in the same shop with the same CD players, cables & floor standing speakers.

In short, it still boiler down to what particular type of sound style you preferred. Trust you ear.

 

[kinda]

Yes, I'd say trust your own ears.

For example for me in demoing, Yamaha was too laid back though detailed and natural.

To me Denon was enthusiastic, had a good solid bass and gave as much detail as the Yamaha.

Marantz great with music, but does have a fuller sound and slightly less of an emphasis on the top end than the Denon.

Pioneer, very much the emphasis on the higher frequencise and detail, less solidity in the bass. OK with music, but sometimes stuggle to keep a baseline clear.

The Onkyos I have heard, not recently though, just didn't have the detail or musicality.

To me the Marantz and Denons were clear all rounder winners. I think the Denon is slightly better with films, with a little more cohesion and clarity, and maybe the Marantz slightly better with music as it has a fuller bigger sound.

If you like the Marantz sund I don't think you'll go far wrong but I'd have a listen if you can as suggested. the Denons may be worth a go especially with some of the discounts currently on the go.

 

[Anonymous]

I used to have a Marantz but it needed to be replaced. I bought the Onkyo TX-NR 708 thinking I wanted or needed more features and there would be much difference in music sound quality. After months of listening to the Onkyo, I wasn't listening to music because I didn't like the sound. So I sold the darn thing. Just bought the Marantz SR 5005. What a difference in terms of sound quality.

The great thing about the Marantz is that the zone 2 preouts can go to a power amp and you can still control tone and volume from the receiver. Many other brands (Onkyo, Denon and others) that have zone 2 preouts still need to connect to another integrated amp or receiver as there is no way to control volume. I'm not sure why that is.

I now bi-amp the Marantz to my HT set up (Focal JMLABs) sounds very warm for both video and music and it sounds much better than not bi-amping in my opinion, and I use the zone 2 preouts to a NAD poweramp to drive my Totem Arro speakers in another audio only room. The Marantz could drive the Arros (4 ohms) but it didn't have quite enough juice when I needed it.

If you value music over movies, go with Marantz first, Denon second. If you value movies over music, go with Denon first, Marantz second. If you don't value music, buy the cheapest piece of equipment that has all the input / outputs and feature you want / need.

D