"Official" Marantz SR5003/6003/7003/8003 Thread - Page 2

For what it's worth .... I want to share my experience with Marantz 4002 that I bought recently and installed a couple of days ago. As you know 4002 is very similar to 5002 except it does not have video upconversion and some other not very important features. I was upgrading my 3 years old sherwood receiver. After automatic calibration 4002 didn't sound good even comparing to my sherwood. After some manual tuning sound improved but still I was not satisfied. And on top of all the receiver went into coma after I tried to change manualy the sub distance or level. I later found out that I can reset the receiver with some button on the back but I didn't bother as I didn't like the sound any way. I went to CC and brought Onkyo 606 which I didn't want to buy initially after reading about all these bugs but I took a chance and do not regret. Onkyo produces considerably better, cleaner, crisper sound especially in movies comparing to Marantz. Andd the sound is very important to me. Plus there are tones of smaller improvements I found in Onkyo comparing to Marantz: much better remote, better OSD, Audisey calibration, +1 HDMI port, + HD codecs, +listening modes, + cheaper, better video picture out of HDMI (I don do any upconversion as I only use HDMI inputs), + video upconversion (even though it's reported to be bad but I don;t need it anyway). The setup took me 10 mins with Audisey automatic setup. So Marantz went beck to the store. To sum up, ONKYO 606 beated Marantz 4002 almost on all fronts - SQ movies, SQ music, price, features, ports, ... the only 2 things Marants wins at are looks (Onkyo looks cheap and outdated) and heating (Onkyo is indead a nice heater for winter months

I understand that my perception is subjective, but I figured it might be interesting to people who are still deciding. At least listen to Onkyo before you buy Marantz.

Well, maybe. But the new Marantz receivers look really good to me. I would have been willing to pay a premium over Denon to get a Marantz, but I really do want Dynamic EQ, as sometimes I'm forced to watch movies with volume turned down (to not annoy neighbours). The Denon 1909 looks nice feature wise, but I've read a review which claims that it gets very hot. Also the same review stated that the Marantz 5003 sounds a little better than the Denon 1909. So maybe I'll take the cheapest route right now (Onkyo 606) and wait until I can get a really good sounding receiver with all the bells and whistles later. Maybe Marantz will add Dynamic EQ to the 7003 or something like that...

I just set up my new SR5003 receiver.
I have one HDMI input from my cable box, and one HDMI output to my monitor
I need to find out if my OSD is working correctly

I can see the setup information on my monitor (menu -setup)
But it seems the manual says that when a feature is changed (as in volume etc) the information should be displayed via OSD over the image on the monitor.
I am a little suspiciuous as the HDMI signal going in - out, is digital passthrough, and unless the SR5003 takes the incoming digital HDMI signal, adds in the OSD, then outputs a new HDMI digital signal, I don't see how the volume information can be displayed over the image on the HDMI output.

Anyone who has a SR5003, could you please comment on what OSD information you get over the HDMI output?

thanks

hi i have Denon 2106 and i want to upgrade marantz 7002 and also i like the sound of 7002 but it had not GUI should i wait for 7003?

Wallace, did you have any luck with this? I was really hoping someone would chime in and answer your question, but I think the x003 series is so new that there aren't many owners yet.

I know I'm really itching to read some reviews, and I'm curious to learn more about this new OSD.

I'm really torn between the SR6003 and the SR7002 at this point. The U.S. Marantz site finally added the SR6003 to their product page (along with the comparison feature), and I have to admit I just might go for the 6003. Of course, as soon as I make a purchase, Marantz will probably announce the 7003. :-/

-matt

Depending on what you have connected the SR5003 differs from the SR5002 in that the OSD setup menu information is displayed through the HDMI connection.
In the 5002, the OSD only is passed out the non HDMI output.
If you have a 5002, and you primarily use HDMI, in order to see the set up menus on the OSD, you have to change your monitor to another non HDMI input to receive the OSD.

I dont beleive any receiver will display information over the HDMI cable while watching HDMI video content. Its just the nature of HDMI.

However, in the SR5003, if you up convert an analog video signal, it passes it through the HDMI output. In addition, the receiver can now add in information to the upconverted signal (such as volume etc) directly to the image being viewed over the HDMI output.

Does anybody know if the firmware in these new receivers is user-upgradeable?

/waiting for the SR8003

I do not have one of these yet, but am strongly looking at the 6003. According to the manual, the OSD does not display through HDMI at all.

Hello

Do you maybe know if sr7003 and sr8003 will be available or new line will end up with sr6003

I'm very interesting in sr7003, but I can not find any usefull info on google.

thank you.
br

7/8003 haven't been announced yet, but CEATEC Japan 2008 is coming up very soon....you should see them there

Thank you.

I looked on ceatec site and this exhibition will start on 30.09
Very good, I don't want to wait much longer.

When do you think this new receivers will come to Europe, US.

Is it 100 % sure that 7003 and 8003 will be annoncued ?

BR

I am trying to decide between getting the 7002 or the 6003. Does the 6003 have features that the 7002 does not that would be useful? Is the 7002 better because it has more power or anything else better than the 6003? Any information about the comparison between those two would be helpful in making a decision.

I sure hope the 7/8003 are announced soon. I plan on buying a receiver in the next 2-3 weeks, and I'm curious to see if Marantz is going to offer any of the features that I'd really like to see in their receivers (user-upgradeable firmware, Audessy MultEQ XT, and Audessy Dynamic Volume/EQ in particular). I know I probably shouldn't hold my breath, but a guy can hope can't he?

I checked the CEATEC site and didn't see Marantz (or D&M Holdings) listed as an exhibitor, but I'm hoping that's just an oversight.

Keeping my fingers crossed...

-matt

yes,marantz is not mentioned on this web site

even if new receiver are annoncued it will take some time (probably one month ore more) to arrive in stores...

I think you will not get them in your store in 2 weeks.
maybe they will not be announced....
br

Does nayone happen to be successfully using the video passthru on the 5002? Preferably with PS3 as source? Preferably with Samsung TV on output? Preferably the LNT4671F?

Receiver picks up audio fine from HDMI without TV connected, PS# works fine with TV, but the 3 combined won't handshake...

I e-mailed Marantz and here's what they had to say:

Can I expect new models of AV Receivers, say 8003 and 7003 to appear at my local retailer soon? If so then when? Thank you for your time.

Response (Ean Levy) - 10/02/2008 03:16 PM
No since we are carrying over the SR7002 and SR8002.

Carry over sounds like another year to me.....

thank you for you info

this is not good news to hear
than I will have to decide for other brands (denon, onkyo...) which already have new models out..
I don't understand why is marantz always so slooow....

br

Just got the 6003 today after owning the Denon 2809 for 24 hours. The Denon is certainly nice, made in Japan, two remotes, all the new dynamic volume crap, etc. I felt the Marantz had a really nice style, the dynamic voume arrangement didn't seem to make much of a difference for me and I was able to get the Marantz for a little less. So far so good, I think this may be a competitive receiver.

I just made the decision between the 7002 and the 6003, and chose the 6003. A little less wpc, but some new features. I have not taken it out of the box yet, so can't comment on it at this point.

Please let us have your reviews. I'm really considering to buy the 6003 but I'd like to know something more about it. I'm very curious about video chip's performance.

Thanks

They fixed "DTS Bomb"?

It seems pretty decent so far, I run my receiver to separate amps for the front and use th receivers back channels. I can't seem to get the screen overlay to work so that I can see the volume, etc., the display on the receiver is hard and difficult to see across the room. The menus for set up are easy to navigate and so far it hasn't introduced any pops or hisses into my system which is always a big concern for me when I change gear. The audessey set some of the speakers up a little funky but that is probably more of an audessey thing. I like the styling vs. the other choices.

I purchased a marantz 4001 which is the older version of the 4003. I was unaware of the newer model when I ordered mine. Other then the extra HDMI input and GUI is there any real difference.

I only need two HDMI inputs anyway so the extra HDMI port is no biggie and the GUI is not that big of a deal either. Any thing else I may have missed between the newer model and my New Old Stock (NOS) SR4001?

So what made you return the Denon so quick? Was there some sort of issue or were you just checking it out?

Does anyone think the 6003 is a competitive receiver sonically (not wattage wise as I don't believe manufacturers power specs anyway) vs. the Denon 2/3808? I am looking for a very tonal receiver without all the bells and whistles. I don't even use all the options my 3805 has, so extras are what I want to avoid for a better listening experience for both movies and music without breaking the bank.

I am running a Paradigm cc-150 centre and Studio 20's v.1 rears, b&w dm302 sides and Energy Reference rc-50's for fronts if this helps with anyone's reply.

Can someone with a 5003/6003 comment on the remote? I just bought a 5003 two weeks ago and the remote is baffling me.

It seems to switch sources you have to push the AMP button, then the button for source you want TWICE. Like double clicking a mouse. I can't get it to change sources any other way.

It also looks like you can't turn on the receiver by just selecting the source, like every other receiver I've ever owned. You have to push the AMP button, then the ON button, then the source button twice.

Not a deal-breaker, but kind of annoying.

*EDIT* - Never mind. I just looked in the manual and you do, in fact, have to press the source button twice to select a source. WTF, Marantz? This makes no sense.

I just set my 5003 up this week and here's my findings...

If you enter the setup menu, it always replaces the picture on the screen over HDMI.

If you change a setting (volume, surround mode, etc) when there is no video signal (you have a source selected that is powered off), the receiver will display that change over HDMI momentarily. If you are playing a video signal over HDMI, those changes do not display on the screen.

Any rumors about SR8003 ?

Did you upgrade from another receiver? Can you provide a little review on how it sounds? Thanks!

HI all, I have has an SR5003 and IS201 (iPod docking station) for a week now. While I have the 5003 running as expected I just can't get the docking station to work properly - while I can get audio I cant get the remove to navigate through the iPods menus or get the menus to display on my Plasma as it is supposed to. My iPod is 3rd generation (and is supported by the docking station). Has anyone out there had similar problems?

It's replacing a Sony STR-DG910. It's hooked up to a PS3/Xbox360/Wii/Tivo HD/digital out from PC, and is driving Paradigm Monitor 9 V.5 mains, CC290 center, and ADP190 dipole surrounds.

**Cliffs Notes** - Pro: Sounds awesome, does all the switching and conversion I need it to, optical out to Zone 2 is cool. Con: Audessey calibration is crap, remote is terrible.

Here's a copy/paste of the review I wrote for it on Crutchfield:

Initial setup was a bit of a pain. I ran the Audessey calibration with the mic and it didn't work. The speaker distances were all way off, it set the sub at -16db (making it inaudible), and set the sub crossover to 120hz. So I scrapped all of the Audessey settings, entered everything manually and it sounded much better (although annoyingly you can't set the sub crossover any lower than 60Hz). One useful thing I found was the Audessey EQ settings. The "Flat" EQ made my Paradigms sound WONDERFUL. It balanced the levels of all the frequencies and made for a more even sound. Mainly elevating the mid range that usually gets lost between the highs and lows, stuff you usually don't hear...

Assigning the inputs was easy enough if you read the manual carefully. The on-screen menu doesn't make it clear what everything means, so you'll have to refer to the manual.

Sound quality is improved over the Sony 910, but not as dramatically as I expected. There is definitely more detail and depth, especially at higher frequencies, but the difference isn't glaringly obvious. I think most of the difference comes from the EQ settings and the different processing options.

Lastly, the remote is just plain terrible. The main volume control button is small and toward the middle of the remote, and the buttons don't do what you'd expect them to. You have to push the AMP button THEN the source button TWICE when you want to select a source.

Other than the remote, this is a really nice unit. Looks nice, sounds great, does all the video converting I need it to, and the optical out to Zone 2 really nice to have. Worth a try if you ignore the Audessey calibration and look past the bonehead remote.