Marantz SR7007 AV Receiver Owner's Thread - Page 4

Here EU ( Sweden ) a new FW was relesed yesterday that includes the Spotify app !!!
But there is no info on Marantz web what more this FW includes.

The Spotify firmware update should be released to the USA/CA Marantz 1603 and X007 units later this week.

Not nice by Marantntz to use EU as test market ;-)
But the Spotify app works fine and it even have an search function, that it not implementet on for example Onkyos AVRs.

Thanks for the feedback. AFAIK, the update was released to all regions around the world except the USA/CA.

I upgraded from an AVR-4308CI to the SR7007 because of the 3D HDMI inputs and i must say that this blows it out of the water sonically. I also just setup an AVR3313CI for a client and i feel the same. I like the toyota vs. lexus comparison. Macintosh is part of D&M...are you guys going to say that they use the same design team as well? I personally like that marantz is taking a lot from denon, like the gui, 2nd zone hd outputs. I've always wanted to install marantz gear in my clients home but, until the past couple years, chose denon sometimes because of the bells and whistles. Now it's the best of both worlds.

^^^

Home Theatre Mag in the Oct 2012 issue has a glowing review of the SR7007. "A great receiver well worth it's price".

CD

Thanks to a post by Wide Glide in a different thread, here is a link to a review of the SR7007:

http://www.hometheater.com/content/marantz-sr7007-av-receiver



One item that caught my attention was:

"..... Another amp-related nicety, borrowed from Marantz’s high-end stereo gear, is Current Feedback Technology. Most amps use voltage feedback to control distortion. With current feedback, the circuit can respond more quickly to rapid changes in input voltage. Marantz touts reduced distortion at lower output levels, where amps function most of the time, and says it is the only A/V receiver manufacturer to use current feedback."

Independent of Marantz's claim for the benefits of this, it does seem to provide an objective piece of information on circuit differences between Marantz and others.

Bruce

Let's compare the "HT Labs Measures" from the same site

For the new Marantz SR7007:

Two channels driven continuously into 4-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 205.1 watts
1% distortion at 225.4 watts

Two channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 124.3 watts
1% distortion at 143.2 watts

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 89.5 watts
1% distortion at 111.4 watts

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 70.5 watts
1% distortion at 83.8 watts


For the 'old' Marantz SR7005:

Two channels driven continuously into 4-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 200.1 watts
1% distortion at 222.6 watts

Two channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 121.5 watts
1% distortion at 139.5 watts

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 91.2 watts
1% distortion at 112.1 watts

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 74.6 watts
1% distortion at 89.6 watts


For the Denon AVR-3312CI which is reported as be in the same 'class' as the Marantz 700x series with similar components :

Two channels driven continuously into 4-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 202.0 watts
1% distortion at 225.5 watts

Two channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 122.9 watts
1% distortion at 143.3 watts

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 82.9 watts
1% distortion at 103.0 watts

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 79.5 watts
1% distortion at 96.8 watts

And one of the competitors from a other company the Pioneer Elite SC-57 (Pioneer SC-LX85 is other countries):

Two channels driven continuously into 4-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 215.7 watts
1% distortion at 254.2 watts

Two channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 138.1 watts
1% distortion at 178.0 watts

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 115.1 watts
1% distortion at 132.0 watts

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 109.6 watts
1% distortion at 123.7 watts


Interesting is that the 'older' Marantz is apparently testing just a bit better, but not really a big change, no new amp section for the newer one ?
The Denon AVR-3312CI is benchmarking quite the same as both Marantz models
Looks like the amp section in both brands are outputting the same power amount of power.

And the Pioneer has the highest output, but that was expected the rated output is 140 watt 2 channels to 125 for the Marantz and Denon models

Interesting, but I wasn't referring to output power. Earlier in this thread, before things went viral, there was a discussion I found interesting on whether the inside of the SR7007 was the same as a Denon model, or whether Marantz had any different circuitry assuming they were both using the same basic building blocks. The statement from Marantz in the review referenced a difference in circuitry, indicating the Marantz is not a 100% clone of the Denon.

Whether the differences in circuitry affect output power, result in audible sonic differences, etc. is a different question.

Thanks
Bruce

Looks like somebody here has to buy both a Denon and Marantz and take the tops off for a good old comparison of insides. My wild guess is all processing is identical, but output section is unique.
Edited by lespurgeon - 9/9/12 at 9:08pm

This being a Marantz thread, it will be up to the Denon gang to put out the effort.

...........................................


"Tastes great! Less filling!"

Marantz lists HDAM, and I don't see a corresponding claim on the Denon web site, implying there could be a difference in the pre-amp section.

Denon lists the Denon Link HD Jitter-Free Audio Transmission Technology for connecting a Denon player. I don't see a corresponding claim from Marantz for connecting a Marantz player.

Thanks
Bruce

SR7007 should already be in some house ... no one wants to give us his first impressions?

Well I have the SR7007. I have had it for about a month now and I like it overall. I came from a Denon 4810 Ci and the Marantz is sonically superior in every way. More musical, better imaging with my B&W Naut. 804s. The only gripe i have is that when you change channels or mute the unit, the volume comes back up to the previous level SLOWLY. It may be a function of the Audessy system but I haven't had time to mess with it yet.
This unit is shallower than my Denon, but a bit taller. It fits in my custom cabinetry better. I love the look of the porthole design. Very distinctive yet sutle. The Sr7007 runs considerably cooler than the Denon did. Not sure if the HDAM circuitry is part of that or not, but it is noticeable.
I love the app contol of the unit with my android phone. Almost as good as having a Sonos system hooked up to it. I can enable zone 1 or 2 and chose the song list to play off of itunes (third party app) or use the native Marantz app to control Pandora or now Spotify. Pandora works great. I dont have Spotify. I think the ability to control network functions (which the Denon had but never did work well at all) make this receiver a great buy.
Powerful, beautiful and functional. Highly recommended.

A slow change in sound volume is not a feature of Audyssey. It's more likely to be a design decision made by the Marantz engineers. (I have a vague recollection of someone mentioning a slow volume increase for a current generation receiver in another thread. I wish I could remember which one...)

Thanks for posting. I have an SR7007 on order and am very encouraged by your positive comments.

Bruce

Is it possible to buy the 7007 in the beautiful light gold finish in the US?

AFAIK, those are only sold outside the USA.

I tried several of them. iRemote Free,and Remote iTunes w/dj voting. They all work ok, none great, but worth a try. Even the paid apps have free trials for most,

So I have this receiver, and first time setting up real surround sound so bear with me. Was looking to do a 7.2 setup. Going with B&W speakers front - CM9 center - CM centre 2 sides and rear surround - CM 1 and 2 subs the ASW10CMs all here: http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Speakers/Home_Audio/CM_Series/

Still prepping everything and doing a lot of reading but a few questions...
1. the 2 sub connections used are the ones listed in the pre-out section? and if so why? (this will be the only thing i have connected to pre-out i think)
2. TV is connected via HDMI. sources will all be hdmi (blu-ray, ps3, apple tv, directv receiver) - what would i use the 7.1 in section for? nothing right?
3. I notice connections for front wide and front highs. from my research this would be audyssey dsx? which would add 4 more fronts but non-discrete so if i had a 7.1 source blu-ray it'd basically be coming out 11.1 worth of speakers?
a. is there something special to do to configure audyssey dsx?
b. what speakers would you recommend for the FH and FW? More CM1 pairs?

any other tips or advice let me know. thanks.

1. Correct. Speakers/subs that are not powered by the AVR are connected to the pre-outs.
2. Correct.
3. DSX (wide/height) or DD PLIIz (front height). No, as the 11 sets of speaker posts are provided for convenience only. The AVR can only play up to 7 channels at a time, so expanding from 5CH to 7CH you have several choices to include either Surr Back, Front Height or Front Wide. Audyssey notes that Front Wide will add the most improvement to the surround experience followed by Front Height and lastly by Surr Back. As there is still very little true 7.1 audio, the majority of audio will be simulated up to 7.1.
3(a). Yes. A-DSX (p. 117).
3(b). Front Height - CM1 (mounted in ceiling aimed down towards main listening position), Front Wide (ideally CM9 or if CM1, mounted on stands with tweeters at same height as the CM9 FL/FR).

Thanks for the reply. I'm all set. I'm looking up blu-rays with either dolby true HD 7.1 or DTS-HD Master 7.1. You're right, not many but they exist so should be able to hear it at its best.
I'll be starting with all the white speakers in the diagram and maybe add the wides later.

I picked up my SR7007 over the weekend, and am very pleased.

It was easy to set up and start using. Everything is very intuitive.

I had borrowed an inexpensive Onkyo stereo receiver from my "retro" system to use as a stop gap until the SR7007 arrived. For the Onkyo, I had to use analog interconnects from the BluRay player and the DirecTV box. With the SR7007, all interconnects are HDMI.

One of the first things I watched and listened to was a Stones concert on Palladia. There was one song where Mick and Keith were both singing at the same time using the same microphone. I was impressed with the degree to which I could easily and clearly distinguish each of their voices. I never experienced that with the Onkyo and analog interconnects.

I then configured the BluRay player to bitstream high def audio when available, and enabled the SR7007 to decode and use the bitstream input. This was the first time I have listened to Dolby True HD and DTS-HD MA and I was mesmerized. The more I listened the more I appreciated the high def audio.

Am using an older pair of speakers (borrowed from the retro system) in a 2.0 listening array. My next step is to get a timbre matched set of 3 front speakers, L, C, & R, hook up the 2 in-ceiling surround speakers, and set up a 5.0 system.

Have not run Audyssey. May wait for the new speaker system before doing that.

So far, I am impressed.

Thanks
Bruce

Go ahead and run Audyssey on the stereo speakers. You can always run it again with the new setup.

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I temporarily purchased the SR7007 while waiting for my Onkyo 5007 to be returned with a new HDMI board.
My initial impressions (solely based on the User Interface) were horrible. I had just been delivered the Emotiva XR-5 and it coincided with the Onkyo failure. I initially wired up the SR7007 as a direct replacement for the Onkyo 5007, setup Audyssey but somehow was not impressed with the output into my 7.2 system. After a lot of juggling about I managed a manual setup (most likely due to my impatience with the foster child SR7007) and got some acceptable output.

I subsequently connected my XR-5 power amp for front, center and rear channels to preamp outputs, with surrounds being fed by SR7007 surround amp. After listening to it for a week I am hearing sounds I did not hear before and it is mesmerising; no doubt requires a detailed analysis and cannot totally rely on my imagination. I'm not sure if this is a result of XR-5 or quality of SR7007 or both. I have no idea. My Onkyo will be delivered tomorrow evening and I should have better comparitive details by end of this week or early next week.

Pinebaron,

I will be interested in feedback after you get the 5007 back and can make some comparisons between it and the SR7007.

If I am understanding correctly, you compared a 5007 functioning as both a PrePro and power amp with an SR7007 acting (primarily) as a PrePro and the XR-5 as a power amp.

Do your speakers present any kind of difficult load / are you using volume levels where the 5007 could have been clipping where the XR-5 is not?

If the power amps were not being overdriven, and assuming you are using the same sources / connectivity / use - non use of Audyssey, then that would be a difference in SQ due to the PrePro sections.

Bruce

No I did not have an opportunity to test the 5007 as a prepro, it failed just a few days prior to XR-5 arriving. I have however used SR7007 as an amp and a prepro for five channels feeding the XR-5. After I wrote the note yesterday, I once again setup Audyssey on SR7007 but find the output levels are uncomfortablly low, loud hiss, particularly noticeable between songs, otherwise not noticeable. One begins to hear output with volume set at 65% and above on SR7007. For instance Audyssey sets sub woofer to -7db and here I have an SMS-1 and two Dynamo 1000 subs and two large front speakers and could barely feel the music. I ended up overriding default Audyssey subwoofer level. Mids and highs are really bright but lows and really lows seem attenuated; I tried playing around with other settings but could not improve that band. This is not a criticism statement until I compare with my 5007, which incidently arrived (at my wife's business) and be home later this evening; I'll be rigging it up tomorrow and commence an evaluation. It is vaguely possible I have a 'not so perfect SR7007' or completely missing some setup on it; hence, please don't consider my review too seriously, there's a glowing one on HT.

Other observations:
On my 5007 running at 7.2, I could never imagine running it at full volume with Audyssey setup, reaching 120dbs plus at less than 3/4 volume. SR7007, while driving the 500-600watts rms/channel XR-5 amp, I turned the SR7007 up to maximum volume which stopped at the 95 scale and I don't think it was anywhere near 110db plus; hence only attaining a little more than half XR-5 rated output (perceived per bar graph display on XR-5). I will be running tests with my sound meter tonight and again prior to dismantling the SR7007 tomorrow to get a meaningful comparison. I'll keep you guys posted.