^ Yes, however the Marantz AV7005 is a preamp with a built-in processor (and radio "tuner"), sometimes called a "pre-pro". It has no watts and needs to be paired with a power amplifier, usually just called an "amp".
The Marantz SR7005 is nearly identical in features and quality to the AV7005, however it includes a power amp built-in, so it is a
receiver. It should work well for you.
WARNING: Many discerning "audiophiles", including many but not all major A/V magazines and retailers, will pooh-pooh the concept of a receiver being just as good as separates, usually playing the snobby "Well
you wouldn't know because
your gear (and/or ears) aren't adequately refined"
card against my claim otherwise*, however they have
zero evidence to back their claim in a scientifically controlled environment which precludes expectation bias, or "placebo effect" as it is generally referred to. All they have is anecdotal evidence and reviews from sources which do sighted,
not blind (nor double-blind) testing, so they are completley void of any scientific value, because such "testing" doesn't ensure there's no expectation bias going on, and boy can we expect a lot of expectation bias going on in this industry! [Generally more expensive things "sound better".
Go figure.]
It is also critical to volume level match the two DUTs (devices under test) in proper double blind testing, using precise, external instrumentation, to at least .2 dB if not .1 dB accuracy, which is very difficult for most consumers to do since most gear these days has volume knobs with .5 dB increments. You can't just put the volume knob of two devices to the same setting and assume they are playing at "exactly the same level"; they vary. Studies have shown that humans notoriously misconstrue very small level changes, on the order of .5 dB or even less, as
quality differences, not
quantity differences,
even when they know this is a common error that people are susceptible too!.
People who claim they are immune to these issues I have just mentioned, or that they can "hear beyond that problem", are just fooling themselves (or are liars). This shouldn't be surprising though because the majority of the propaganda thrown at them from the audio industry, including many magazines, shuns even talking about these issues and avoids discussing them at all cost. It is not in the interest of the high-end advertisers they cater to.
Enjoy your speakers. I would recommend placing them at a height such that the center point between the two tweeters, they have each, is at ear level. This will minimize comb filter effects and lobing from having them at different distances to the listener, at least regarding their direct (not reflected off room surfaces) sound path.
*Generally with modern day electronics, two units with low noise, low distortion, a wide flat frequency response, and kept within their operational limits (no clipping allowed, which weak units may have trouble with if you play music loudly) will sound pretty much the same. In the case of receivers, room calibration circuits will vary and even one microphone test run to the next will vary, ON THE SAME UNIT, so you have to be sure to eliminate such variables when comparing them. I rarely see that done in these forums, so beware.
Edited by m. zillch - 12/22/12 at 11:04pm
Sat/cable boxes often have HDMI handshake issues with all brands of AVRs which can also present with a new firmware update to the sat/cable box when none existed previously. The work around is to connect the DirecTV HDMI to the TV with optical from the DirecTV to the 7005 for surround audio. Many installers make this configuration as it guarantees no potentional issues either immediately after installation or down the road after a firmware update is installed to the box.
