Best Receiver $1600 or under? Whats your opinion?

[Footloose301]

I'm about 3 weeks from getting that paycheck that will allow me to purchase a receiver. Right now I'm leaning towards the Marantz SR8002 which is about $1600 on ebay. Anybody believe theres something better for $1600 or less? Maybe the Pioneer Elite 94TXH? The Pioneer has a bit more power(and looks better with my XBR3) also $600 cheaper, but the Marantz has 2 HDMI outputs and I have heard nothing but great reviews on this receiver so it screams quality. I'm really torn here.

[CAB]

The Marantz will do 125W (RMS) at 8 ohms to all channels while the Pioneer cannot. I like the Marantz to provide more headroom for power hungry speakers but I'd be cautious if you are unsure of the power you can provide as it draw 780W.

[Footloose301]

Originally Posted by CAB

The Marantz will do 125W (RMS) at 8 ohms to all channels while the Pioneer cannot. I like the Marantz to provide more headroom for power hungry speakers but I'd be cautious if you are unsure of the power you can provide as it draw 780W.

Right now I'd only be using the speakers that came with my Onkyo HTIB then my next purchase would be the AV123 15" subwoofer for $600. So buying the Pioneer would allow me to get the sub+receiver whereas the Marantz would yield my subwoofer purchase.

[Footloose301]

Also, kind of trying to stay away from the Onkyos and Sonys because I have never been a fan of Sony audio department and I have not heard much good from the Onkyo's decoding lately....

[mr.hidef]

Originally Posted by Footloose301

Also, kind of trying to stay away from the Onkyos and Sonys because I have never been a fan of Sony audio department and I have not heard much good from the Onkyo's decoding lately....

Onkyo's (some early models had bugs) are just fine now days..........(130w per channel! txsr-805).

[crackinhedz]

the fact that you even have the SR8002 as an option is crazy!

im envious.


...thats my vote.

[crackinhedz]

heck, even the SR7002 is bad ass.

[Footloose301]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

heck, even the SR7002 is bad ass.

Yeah, I could save $600 with that. Looks like the only thing I'd be losing is a bit of power(110 watts vs 125 watts) and gold plated terminals...

[Footloose301]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

the fact that you even have the SR8002 as an option is crazy!

im envious.


...thats my vote.

Haha thanks for the vote. I'll probably pick this one up. Probably have to get a power conditioner to go with it though.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by Footloose301

Haha thanks for the vote. I'll probably pick this one up. Probably have to get a power conditioner to go with it though.

That and a UPS for even better protection.

[CAB]

Originally Posted by Footloose301

Right now I'd only be using the speakers that came with my Onkyo HTIB then my next purchase would be the AV123 15" subwoofer for $600. So buying the Pioneer would allow me to get the sub+receiver whereas the Marantz would yield my subwoofer purchase.

Since you don't have hungry speakers, the Pioneer is the more logical choice. I'm looking at the AV8003 to front my amps. I've grown accustomed to separates, the warmth of tubes, and refuse to replace my XLR interconnects. I'm all to pleased to take the utility hit.

[werewuf]

Originally Posted by CAB

The Marantz will do 125W (RMS) at 8 ohms to all channels while the Pioneer cannot. I like the Marantz to provide more headroom for power hungry speakers but I'd be cautious if you are unsure of the power you can provide as it draw 780W.

The Marantz website lists the SR8002 as being capable of 125w continuous power, not RMS, which is average power. RMS is now considered an antiquated and useless terminology:

http://www.hifi-writer.com/he/misc/rmspower.htm

www.eznec.com/Amateur/RMS_Power.pdf

[CAB]

Originally Posted by werewuf

The Marantz website lists the SR8002 as being capable of 125w continuous power, not RMS, which is average power. RMS is now considered an antiquated and useless terminology:

http://www.hifi-writer.com/he/misc/rmspower.htm

www.eznec.com/Amateur/RMS_Power.pdf

Thanks for the Internet references. While there is no real Watts RMS that's what vendors mean when they quote Watts per channel. Those CEs usually call it instead the SINE wave continuous average which equate to the same thing in real math. Are there amps made that don't use both positive and negative voltage?

[Beta Man]

Wish I had your problems! I have a 7001 and 5001 and they're both awesome......

Onkyo HTIB speakers???? What are you upgrading to???? You may be buying more AVR than you need.... just a thought....

You need to get some pretty good speakers to justify that lofty of an AVR purchase.

[Footloose301]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Wish I had your problems! I have a 7001 and 5001 and they're both awesome......

Onkyo HTIB speakers???? What are you upgrading to???? You may be buying more AVR than you need.... just a thought....

You need to get some pretty good speakers to justify that lofty of an AVR purchase.

Just getting one thing at a time. So I'm not worried about the speakers yet.

1. Receiver
2. Subwoofer
3. Speakers

The speakers I have actually sound pretty good IMHO, not like your everyday HTIB. Each of the Center/Left/Right speakers have (2) 5-1/4" mids and a 2" tweeter and supposedly they are capable of twice the power that my current receiver (TX-SR575) is pushing to them. The 4 surround speakers though are sitting 130watts (max I'm assuming).

[Ectoplasm]

As an owner of the Marantz SR-8002, I'd caution you to reconsider.

Yes, it sounds great, but it also ships with the DTS-bomb TI chip, only you can't easily update the firmware. You have to ship the thing back to Marantz to have them do it, and it is taking people weeks now. Just read AVS. Oh, and the Audyssey software also has one (or possibly 2) LFE bugs.

I'd look hard at Denon if I were you (same ownership anyway). I can no longer recommend the newer Marantz models if they aren't on the ball and providing user-serviceable/downloadable firmware. Most of the other big-boys provide that, including Onkyo and Denon, and I believe Yamaha, too.

Sorry, Marantz. Get with the program.

Oh, another thing... you can save yourself a heap of cash by purchasing the Marantz SR-8001, which doesn't have the buggy on-board DTS-MA processing, but it's not like it matters much, because LPCM sounds identical to me, anyway. I'd go that route -- the SR-8001 is a great bargain if you buy a blu-ray player that decodes its own stuff internally.

[literati819]

While the Marantz and Pioneer models you mentioned are also admirable, I just thought I'd throw in my two cents on a brand with which I've derived much enjoyment over the years: Denon.

I have owned a Denon AVR-3300 receiver since 2000, and it has never failed to impress me whenever I use it. Denon has a couple receivers worth considering in your price range.

The AVR-2808CI can be had on eBay new for as little as $800, and it has two HDMI inputs, as well as decoding for all of the next generation audio codecs. It's rated at 110 w x 7.

The AVR-3808CI bumps up to four HDMI inputs and 130 w x 7. It can be purchased on eBay for as little as $1200.

THe AVR-4308, which lists for $2500, can be purchased on eBay for around $1700. It increases the power to 140 w x 7.

[Driver_King]

Go for the Marantz SR8002. I'm sure it's better quality than that Pioneer.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

Go for the Marantz SR8002. I'm sure it's better quality than that Pioneer.

well, I would have to say Pioneer Elite series is very careful when it comes to the materials used in their products. "Quality" would be a tough fight against any brand.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Footloose301

but the Marantz has 2 HDMI outputs

This to me alone, is what puts the Marantz line above most of the rest.