[Vailoa]

I’ve narrowed my AVR choices down to the Denon X6500H or the Marantz SR8012. I will be powering a 7.2.4 for use as 50/50 quality music and HT. I have reviewed the specs for both, and from what I can understand they have many of the same features. The things that are different, I do not know enough about to decide between the two. They are about $600 - $700 difference in price. Please help to share your thoughts on whether or not there is enough of a reason to choose the higher cost for the SR8012. 90 percent of my listening is from iTunes. Quality of sound is HUGE for me. Thanks in advance.

 

[vjcs20]

I’ve narrowed my AVR choices down to the Denon X6500H or the Marantz SR8012. I will be powering a 7.2.4 for use as 50/50 quality music and HT. I have reviewed the specs for both, and from what I can understand they have many of the same features. The things that are different, I do not know enough about to decide between the two. They are about $600 - $700 difference in price. Please help to share your thoughts on whether or not there is enough of a reason to choose the higher cost for the SR8012. 90 percent of my listening is from iTunes. Quality of sound is HUGE for me. Thanks in advance.

I was also deciding between the X6500 and SR8012.

There are marginal differences between the 2018 and 2019 models for both Denon and Marantz.
So in terms of features and capabilites, both the X6500 and SR8012 are very similar.

The SR8012 has Marantz's proprietary HDAM modules which helps to take music to the next level.
If music quality is important, then SR8012 is the best choice without a doubt.

In my region, the SR8012 is only USD$200 more expensive than the X6500, so it's easy for me to justify getting the SR8012.

But for USD$600-700 more in your case, you will need to decide if it's worth the upcharge.

Maybe somebody who has auditioned both can chime in.

 

[yodog]

I would do the Denon 8500. If that is a no can do and money is a real factor I would choose the 6500 with plans to use a 2 channel external for the front left and front right speakers

 

[bigguyca]

I’ve narrowed my AVR choices down to the Denon X6500H or the Marantz SR8012. I will be powering a 7.2.4 for use as 50/50 quality music and HT. I have reviewed the specs for both, and from what I can understand they have many of the same features. The things that are different, I do not know enough about to decide between the two. They are about $600 - $700 difference in price. Please help to share your thoughts on whether or not there is enough of a reason to choose the higher cost for the SR8012. 90 percent of my listening is from iTunes. Quality of sound is HUGE for me. Thanks in advance.

The Denon X6500H and Marantz SR8012 are very similar, they use a number of common components and circuit boards. The units evidently are both assembled in Japan, for better or worse.

If the new unit you choose will be used to power your speakers as you state in your post, as opposed to using any external amplifiers, then it is difficult to believe that there will be any sort of noticeable difference in performance.

The HDAM buffer for each channel adds an electronic stage between the volume control (identical in each unit) and the input to a power amplifier stage (identical in each unit). The volume control is perfectly capable of driving the power amplifier stage on its own based on the impedances involved. The HDAM is purely an analog electronic circuit. It doesn't do some AI magic and improve the signal.

If cost is important to you, should get quotes from members on this forum who are dealers for these products. Feedback provided on this forum on these dealers seems to be excellent. Your price difference seems to be based on some sort of MSRP or the like. There is no reason to pay what amounts to a fixed advertised price. Dealers are allowed to sell for lower prices, which are often quite a bit lower, but typically can't advertise those prices.

Likely you would be equally happy with either unit.

 

[355F1]

If cost is important to you, should get quotes from members on this forum who are dealers for these products. Feedback provided on this forum on these dealers seems to be excellent. Your price difference seems to be based on some sort of MSRP or the like. There is no reason to pay what amounts to a fixed advertised price. Dealers are allowed to sell for lower prices, which are often quite a bit lower, but typically can't advertise those prices.

Where can we find a list of these dealers on this site to contact?

 

[eriksells916]

Last time I saw a post @jdsmoothie was an avsforum dealer? Another member here said he gave him a great deal on a new Denon, you just have to give him a call....well PM since I do not know his #.

 

[jdsmoothie]

Last time I saw a post @jdsmoothie was an avsforum dealer? Another member here said he gave him a great deal on a new Denon, you just have to give him a call....well PM since I do not know his #.

Yup.

 

[355F1]

Last time I saw a post @jdsmoothie was an avsforum dealer? Another member here said he gave him a great deal on a new Denon, you just have to give him a call....well PM since I do not know his #.

Yup.

Did not know this!!!!

I will definitely be in contact when I buy my receiver later this year. I would buy now if the right deal came along but my new home won't be finished until January. I was most likely looking at safeandsound for a 4500/6500/8500, open box or new but not refurbed.

I am very close to buying a used Parasound A51 amp for my 5-ch Energy RC-70, LCR, 10 setup (yep....overkill but the price seems to be right for this amp) that will be the 5.2 setup i am going to be running!


And here I just thought he was a D&M Expert as a hobby!!!!

 

[Leeliemix]

Did not know this!!!!



I will definitely be in contact when I buy my receiver later this year. I would buy now if the right deal came along but my new home won't be finished until January. I was most likely looking at safeandsound for a 4500/6500/8500, open box or new but not refurbed.



I am very close to buying a used Parasound A51 amp for my 5-ch Energy RC-70, LCR, 10 setup (yep....overkill but the price seems to be right for this amp) that will be the 5.2 setup i am going to be running!





And here I just thought he was a D&M Expert as a hobby!!!!

I have the a31 (3ch version) and its a very nice amp indeed.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[355F1]

I have the a31 (3ch version) and its a very nice amp indeed.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Ended up buying an A51 & A21 from a fellow forum member here two weeks ago!

Still unsure on which AVR or Preamp I am going to run!

 

[Vailoa]

Ended up buying an A51 & A21 from a fellow forum member here two weeks ago!

Still unsure on which AVR or Preamp I am going to run!

I purchased my Marantz SR8012, and picked it up yesterday afternoon. So far i think it is an excellent AVR for the money.

 

[355F1]

I purchased my Marantz SR8012, and picked it up yesterday afternoon. So far i think it is an excellent AVR for the money.

What did you have before?

 

[Vailoa]

What did you have before?

I had a crappy Bose boxed set I bought from Costco that had a low wnd Yamaha unit which failed after about 1 year. Since then I have been holding off to build my dream system. Very close to it being done.

 

[355F1]

I had a crappy Bose boxed set I bought from Costco that had a low wnd Yamaha unit which failed after about 1 year. Since then I have been holding off to build my dream system. Very close to it being done.

Awesome!

This is exactly what I am doing.

Bought my first house and it is currently under construction scheduled to be done in Jan.

Pretty stoked I was able to pull the used Parasound Amps for a great price from a forum member.

Doing a very solid 5.2.4 setup with 4 Energy RC Towers and LCR for center.

The sad part is that I can afford an AV8805 but I just don't think I can see the "value" in it for what I need.

I'm currently running an ENergy RC setup off an 11year old Denon 2308ci from 2008 so ANY AVR or preamp is GOING TO SOUND INFINITELY BETTER so I'm thinking the SR8012 might be the sweet spot between an av7705 and the av8805, plus it will give me amplification for my 4 atmos speakers and sone other Zone.

 

[Vailoa]

Awesome!

This is exactly what I am doing.

Bought my first house and it is currently under construction scheduled to be done in Jan.

Pretty stoked I was able to pull the used Parasound Amps for a great price from a forum member.

Doing a very solid 5.2.4 setup with 4 Energy RC Towers and LCR for center.

The sad part is that I can afford an AV8805 but I just don't think I can see the "value" in it for what I need.

I'm currently running an ENergy RC setup off an 11year old Denon 2308ci from 2008 so ANY AVR or preamp is GOING TO SOUND INFINITELY BETTER so I'm thinking the SR8012 might be the sweet spot between an av7705 and the av8805, plus it will give me amplification for my 4 atmos speakers and sone other Zone.

Yup .. in my opinion the SR8012 is the most ideal. You’ll get the IMAX enhanced,+++ so much more. After listening to the SR8012 all day (since I just brought it home yesterday), it is exactly what I expected for music. Many on the forum stated that the Marantz does a better job processing music vs. Denon. Even though they are owned by the same parent company. The Marantz produces awesome sound quality for music.

 

[xb243]

Yup .. in my opinion the SR8012 is the most ideal. You’ll get the IMAX enhanced,+++ so much more. After listening to the SR8012 all day (since I just brought it home yesterday), it is exactly what I expected for music. Many on the forum stated that the Marantz does a better job processing music vs. Denon. Even though they are owned by the same parent company. The Marantz produces awesome sound quality for music.

What were your previous receivers? Have you had a Denon before? I know marantz does a better job with music but how does it compare when it comes to movies? Most I've read pick Marantz for music but Denon for movies.

 

[Vailoa]

What were your previous receivers? Have you had a Denon before? I know marantz does a better job with music but how does it compare when it comes to movies? Most I've read pick Marantz for music but Denon for movies.

I’ve had Yamaha, and Denon AVR’s in the past. This is my first Marantz. Since my media room is at 75% complete, I will not be able to tell you for sure how this unit does for HT. Everything Ive read tells me that the Marantz does everything the Denon can do at the same model level. The added advantage of the Marantz is its ability to process music very well. You get the best of both worlds. I can say for sure that the SR8012 is pumping out ultra clear sound for music. For me at least, this is very important and I am not dissapointed in any way with the SR8012. I will definitely add an update once my media room is complete and I have some experience with how this unit handles movies. I am set up for 7.2.4 and really look forward to the full setup and enjoying it soon.

 

[Derek Crager]

Yup.

Hi,

I'm in an AVR dilemma myself. 6500 vs 8012 vs 8500 and it comes down to best bank for the buck.
With Black Friday here I'm ready to purchase but don't know which one and from where.
What help can you offer and price points for these or an alternative?

THANKS!

MrFreePress
Indiana

 

[bigguyca]

Ended up buying an A51 & A21 from a fellow forum member here two weeks ago!

Still unsure on which AVR or Preamp I am going to run!

Since you already have external amplifiers then the Marantz AV7705 is likely your best choice. The AV7705 is cost effective (clearly pay less than list) and has had a continuing set of upgrades.

The AV7705 will do a much better job of driving your external amplifiers to full output than an AVR like the X6500H or X8500H. This is because it has a higher voltage output capability. For a variety of reasons the preamp output capability of the AVR's is limited by having the power amplifiers onboard.

The AV7705 also has output buffers (the HDAM's) which will provide a higher quality output than driving the external amplifiers from direct from the 8-channel volume control.

The AV7705 also has XLR outputs to match the XLR inputs on your amplifiers.

 

[355F1]

Since you already have external amplifiers then the Marantz AV7705 is likely your best choice. The AV7705 is cost effective (clearly pay less than list) and has had a continuing set of upgrades.

The AV7705 will do a much better job of driving your external amplifiers to full output than an AVR like the X6500H or X8500H. This is because it has a higher voltage output capability. For a variety of reasons the preamp output capability of the AVR's is limited by having the power amplifiers onboard.

The AV7705 also has output buffers (the HDAM's) which will provide a higher quality output than driving the external amplifiers from direct from the 8-channel volume control.

The AV7705 also has XLR outputs to match the XLR inputs on your amplifiers.

I am already in the process of purchasing an AV7705 NIB from one of our forum dealers!

Thank you!!!!