Marantz AV8003 vs 7005 processors sound quality

Thank you very much for the information. It definitely helps.
"Clear as a bell" is what I am looking for 8-)
I have played with fuses in a past as well. Amazing how things like that affect the sound.

If you have no intention to ever using EQ or Audyssey (a philosophy that I contend is foolishly archaic, especially for multichannel), I would advise you to consider using a player with outstanding DAC/output stages (e.g., Oppo 95) and a good all-analog multichannel preamp which is devoid of any on-chassis video and/or digital processing. You will experience greater "purity" from that than from any mid-market processor in any mode.

Kal

Thanks for the advise Kal. I am not opposed to EQ at all as I have used DEQ2496 in another system.

In my admittedly limited experience I have learned that although HT processing does improve many aspects, in the end it also affect dynamics and life in music and thats why many users just prefer to turn it off for music listening.
I have seen this being discussed here or on AA many times (often with your participation) but after experience with SC-55 I understand better where those opinions are coming from.

Imo opinion this may be related to digital attenuation which is necessary to apply EQ/processing and normalize it between all channels to present the whole as a coherent entity. Yes, in theory with 24 and 32 bit resoluton dacs it shouldn't matter that much (with all the processing power nobody truncates bits these days anyway) but I think it does.
The end result is often softer, less immediate or lively presentation which requires turning the volume up. This also is a reason for special modes like "night listening" or "dynamic volume control".

Perhaps it is a matter of implementation and price point. I have not heard Classe or Theta processors and I don't intend to as it is well beyond my budget.

I think it is reasonable to expect solid analog performance in a $2800 processor, certainly not Shindo-like purity but honest, clean and neutral sound with good dynamics. That plus some HMDI capability is what I am looking for. Does 8003 or 7005 offer that?

I have heard Oppo95 and did like it very much. Now, what do I need to get it properly preamplified?

Reviews suggest that 8003 compares favourably with pure analog Parasound mch preamp. Is there anything else in a 3k range that would do justice to 2ch and mch music?

I cannot help much. The Cary has wonderful analog bypass but it doesn't compete in most other aspects. The Marantz/Integra units are excellent in many ways but you might find the analog bypass unacceptable. I never use it and not because I find it inadequate but because I find the other routes preferable.

In my big system, the Meridian has no analog bypass at all but I do not miss it. I do have a Parasound JC-2 for that but it is used more for comparisons than for actual music listening.

Sprag, I was concerned about those same issues. And like you I am not going to spend more than a few $K on a pre/pro...things change too much albeit at a seemingly slower pace today than just a few years ago. Anyhow...my original plan was to continue using my two channel passive for music and the 7005 for HT duties. Then I popped in one of those hybrid SACD's and thought oh geez...now what (30 SACD's later). I have the Oppo 93 and considered pushing to the 95 via analog but cable cost alone would add another grand for multi channel (compared with one good HDMI). And frankly I'm plenty pleased with the dynamics the Marantz offers.

Still, I can't say I don't wonder sometimes what I'm missing but then I start thinking speaker upgrades, or a really good tube preamp...etc. So when I bought the 7005 I got it using AA's 30-day return offer. Honestly, I thought this thing was going to sound awful and dreaded the whole process. Plenty of FUD running through my mind.

As much as I value kal's opinion and appreciate him posting here, I find myself stuck bypassing all the Audessey stuff for music...it does feel like something is missing with it engaged. And I don't dismiss potential bias on my part.

I should have those last five fuses this week...the power supply fuses made a subtle change if that. I'm hoping for a little bit of magic from these. Good luck in your quest.