2. home-theater
  3. 1330986947

Which Would You Choose?

All other things being equal, which of these two options would you choose? The goal is quality 2 channel listening with the ability to have a solid home theater experience. 5.1 surround sound is more than adequate with the primary focus being put on the mains.

Option 1
Marantz SR6006 - $1,200
110 wpc (x7) AVR

Option 2
Marantz NR1402 - $400
50 wpc (x5) AVR with 2.1 pre-outs
AND
Marantz MM7025 - $800
140 wpc stereo power amplifier

Would the power amplifier be expected to be a significant improvement in stereo sound quality?
mceljo
xxqq250
43 posts
 
Why Marantz for all 3 choices? I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with them but there is other equipment in that price range that is just as good and maybe better.
tom6897's avatar
tom6897
1,484 posts
 
Option #2, and Yes.
dtc's avatar
dtc
1,047 posts
 
What are you using for a source for 2 channel? If digital, you need to compare the DACs in the 2 receivers. If analog, there should be less of a difference in the two. But, an external power amp will probably make more difference than the DACs, depending on the speakers.
martykl
3,578 posts
 
None of the above.....(emphatically so, if you are using subwoofers in your set-up).

Audyssey Pro 32XT is --IMHO-- the dispositive difference maker among AVRs in this class. Integra, Denon and Onkyo all offer it, Marantz (as near as I can figure from the Marantz and Audyssey web sites) only offers an older iteration of Audyssey. Whatever other distinctions may (or may not) exist among these models are likely - IME - to be audibly less significant than the DRC software, particularly if that software is also generating the crossover function to integrate subwoofers.

Marty
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