The Official Marantz SR7005 Receiver Page!! - Page 8

Marantz has Dolby PLIIx that upmixes 5.1 source to 7.1 output. Applies to HD codecs such as TrueHD as well as long as their sampling frequency is 96 kHz or less (not a big problem, very few titles come in 192kHz).

I know what you're saying about upmixing, but I'm pretty sure that all DTS HD MA and DD True HD soundtracks are "flagged" for the rear channels. That is, there is built-in encoding for those with 7.1 setups. We have a less-than-optimal seating arrangement, but it is the only option, and it really helps to have the rear surrounds (you notice when they're inactive). Thanks for the info, sgupta, and if anyone else out there can comment, it would be much appreciated!

Good to know. I'm wondering if, when you simply play a 5.1 DTS HD-MA soundtrack, you still get sound from the rear channels? With my SC-25, when playing a 5.1 DTS HD-MA movie, you get the rear channels, too. This is when the receiver is in "DTS HD-MA" standard surround mode with no other modifications. On the front, it just says "DTS HD-MA" and has only the L,C,R,SL,SR, and SW lights lit, but still plays out of the rears.

Does anyone have a pic of the GUI overlay on video? (OTA, Sat, Cable, BD)

CD

Is there a consensus as to whether or not the unit's amp can drive 4ohm speakers well?

Sgupta, I forgot to ask, I assume you mean this is possible by turning on VieraLink in the Panny and whatever HDMI control in the Marantz, right? Also, does this allow you to view things like the surround mode on the TV screen when it's changed rather than looking under the front panel on the Marantz?

Cool and thanks - do you know if the receiver knows to apply it automatically or if I have to manually enable it each time?

Ahhh okay that makes sense. (The reason I didn't go 7.1 is no real room for it). Sorry I can't answer you more directly, but I'm interested in hearing more about this also.

Here are a few to give you an idea; to get clear menus, I had to use flash on the camera, so you can't see the video too well - rest assured you actually can in person; it's just dimmed a bit.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46070476@N08/5097938855/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46070476@N08/5097940233/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46070476@N08/5097941427/

Correct - it's the VIERA Link that allows this control. Some people don't like VIERA Link as it by default means turning on or off devices with the TV, but you can turn that *part* of it off and leave the main setting on (this is in the wrench -> VIERA Link settings).

You can see volume up and down on the TV (not the numbers, but a small overlay comes up just indicating a volume change) as well as Mute, but that's about it audio-wise via the TV controls unless I'm missing something. (Info button displays stuff about the video, but nothing audio-wise). You can, of course, pull this up on the overlay for the Marantz on the TV screen, but that's using the Marantz control, so VIERA Link won't help there.

Thanks for the follow-up, sgupta. About half an hour ago, I realized that it is 2010 and we do have such a thing as the Internet, so I could stop being such a pest and go ahead and read the manual online, which I did. I'm pretty sure it answered most of my questions. I am not promising I won't bother you again, but I think I'm content for this evening. I HATE WAITING FOR MY GEAR TO GET HERE! Thanks again for your patience and help!

LOL - not a pest at all; happy to help if I can and discuss these things. The manual does help but it's still a bit confusing in parts until you actually see everything in action. Yeah the wait for the gear is always the most nerve-wracking bit! I hope you really enjoy yours once you receive it - let us know! =)

Does the SR6005 use the same menus as the SR7005?

^ Yes, based on the user manual. I.e. the "Commodore" menus from Denon 3311ci.

Thanks! The screenshots I've seen look fine. Much better than "Commodore".

I'm more than happy with the menus. They're probably not quite as pretty as, say, current Denon models, but Marantz is known for being a step behind technology wise, which isn't always a bad thing as long as sound quality and the important stuff comes first.

Also, I'd say this is still a nice step up from the Pioneer models (including Elites) since it can actually overlay and you don't have to keep switching inputs back and forth to access the meu.

I like Marantz's simpler menus better. The fancy Denon ones do one serious blunder. They change presentation of the menu options as you drill into them. I.e. when you scroll to a main menu via an icon, it shows a submenu as a list of text (description of each submenu item). Then the text submenu transforms into list of icons and reveals another submenu.

Basically a list of (purely) text suddenly because a ribbon of icons. The icons are not displayed with the text, so you don't see correlation between the submenu (now top level menu) and have to scroll to each position and read it title.

You get used to it after a while, but it's very confusing and an example of a badly designed UI, where the goal was form and function was ignored (I mean really where do they get those user experience specialists is beyond me).

On Marantz everything stays as text, and you simply enter next level of a menu. Pretty simple, but feels natural.

I've got a Harmony One, and I noticed the 7005 isn't recognized in the Harmony database yet. Did you learn the remote buttons or use a different Marantz model?

looks like a great machine. I will probably order one for myself. Let me know if anyone has any questions about it

Not home ATM to check but I think it used a similar model based on a few buttons it sensed on my remote - I'll check when I can.

That would be awesome, thanks!

So I checked out my Harmony software, and when you tell it SR7005, it wants you to use the remote near the Harmony to verify some settings and ends up suggesting trying the SR-7000 template, which works for all the basic functions for me at least (volume, power, GUI) until this is added to the DB. Hope this helps!

Actually good to know. Sometimes prettier isn't necessarily better. =) This Marantz menu does seem to work well once you get used to it. It does take some time to get to know where everything is as some of the headings aren't intuitive right off the bat, but after a little practice, it's quite easy to navigate, and probably preferable to lots of icons and little text.

I agree on the simpler menus. Sometimes the simplest thing needs to go through 8 levels of menus

I was comparing SR7005 and 4311ci, and while I initially thought I prefer SR7005 sound wise, now I tend to think 4311ci sounds better overall, and of course stomps on SR7005 features wise:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...postcount=2223

Unclemat, interesting observations.

I've definitely found after some comparison listening I prefer letting Audyssey calibrate the distances/levels, then turning it off and letting the natural sound come through. Like you, while playing with it, I initially thought I preferred Audyssey, but after some fairly extensive comparisons, now feel it was overemphasizing things a bit for *my* taste (others may vary, and so may rooms of course). I have a pretty good feeling I'd feel the same about other receivers, whether an MCACC based Pioneer or newer Audyssey based Denon, but of course it's impossible to say 100% without listening to them.

That Denon does look like a killer unit - I was considering it, but decided against for three main reasons:

1.) Availability; I needed something ASAP and it looked like it would be at least a few weeks before it became available enough for me to do that.
2.) A Definitive Technologies tech I spoke to highly recommended Marantz for my specific speakers.
3.) I actually felt better about buying the SR7005 and having it be the top receiver for a while from Marantz than buying the 4311 only to have the "better" A100 version come out shortly thereafter; I know this one's purely psychological, but it did bug me and I think would have given me a bit of buyer's remorse (silly I know).

The main advantages I see for the Denon are the 140 w per channel (which I don't seem to need for my setup as this goes plenty loud for my small room) and the newer MultEQ32 vs. the XT on the Marantz (which may or may not make much of a difference per each individual room setup). Besides that, how much useful stuff does the Denon offer the Marantz lacks? IMO, the Marantz has a very nice/very modern feature set, but is one step behind the Pioneers/Denons in terms of frills.

Also, the more I listen, the more I'm liking what I'm hearing. Since owning the Marantz, I've done 3 Audyssey calibrations (one quickie; two complete, mainly after changing speaker positioning slightly, etc.), and now I can safely say it's been a few days since I've adjusted audio much at all. I don't know if it's break-in or just me getting used to the sound, but I'm finding I'm liking it more and more.

Enjoy your Denon, and I look forward to further observations. Is the Denon as warm as the Marantz? Are you auditioning them both to decide which to keep, or in a position where you get to play with different equipment regularly?

Also, re your too much bass on the Marantz. Just curious if you adjusted crossovers after running Audyssey?

My first complete calibration with Audyssey, once it was done I went in and adjusted crossovers to speaker manufacturer spec.

This second time, I left them at what Audyssey detected (much higher for center and surrounds), and...I much prefer the sound this way. It took a lot of the edge off the bass, but it's still there and very prominent when it's supposed to be.

Finally, I'd love to hear a comparison of the sound with any sort of EQ turned off...ie, speaker levels/distances in place, but that's all, for both.

Was wondering if anyone has gone from a marantz sr8002 to the sr7005? Would u think this was an upgrade or lateral move.And if you did any comparisons.

I did not adjust crossovers, except changing front speakers to "small" ("large" effectively means no crossover from the fronts). That cleans up the bass, since there is no overlap between the fronts and the sub.

Marantz sounds very nice, but the bass is overdone (with Audyssey+DynEq) and it sounds more "edgy", i.e. brighter. Denon has this smoother, more mid-tone centered sound, that feels overall more natural. Especially apparent with jazz and classics. I really do think now Denon is not only better features wise but also sound wise.

I liked Marantz look better, although the main display being hidden behind the door is somewhat pain, plus the design compromises the IR reception. Marantz's remote is much nicer than Denon's (which is garbage), but then it's mostly moot since I will be using Harmony remote anyway.

To me big advantages of the 4311ci are: 9 amps and DCD decoding. Not sure if native DCD decoding made a difference, but SACDs listened thru Denon sound markedly better than on Marantz. The difference with some PCM sources was less.

I am auditioning them deciding to which one to keep. I initially got Marantz SR5005 but then realized it does not overlay UI (user manual seems to suggest it does), then read about the Denon, and given the feature set, decided to get it. But then thought, hmmm, Marantz was perhaps sound better, so got SR7005 to compare and decide which one to keep.

I think it would be very difficult to be unhappy with either one. Both are incredible audio producing pieces of equipment.

How about the sound on the new Yamaha Aventage line vs the SR 7500?