AV Processor Conundrum
Old guy here, new to posting, but always been a audio nerd. I have a Marantz 7706 with 7 channel amp for family/kitchen area and in ceiling speakers -(WAF). I am assembling a 25% listening, 75% TV/movie room in my study - (WAF is not a factor). In the study I currently have Parasound P7, A51 and A21 and OPPO 105. Great sound but interconnect and handshake with HDMI is not great. Base management is week with the two SVS SB4000's subs.
I want to do it right and go big on sound and musicality, but as a penny pinching engineer I go quickly down the rabbit hole. I had an ARCAM AVR long ago, but the issues with it always needing to go to the shop killed me. So no ARCAM for me - sorry.
Anthem AVM 70 or 90 worth it?
Get another Marantz 7706?
Is the Marantz 8805 that much better? I am pushing 60, ears are not perfect either.
Krell Foundation used or used Bryston ? They seem little antiquated.
Save the money get a marantz cinima 70 and use as a preamp and ugrade all the speakers?
I am leaning toward another 7706. But love to read all your comments and opinions. And no, I am not offended and love the humor too.
My experience with the recent crop of Anthem gear has been mixed. It doesn’t do Dolby Surround correctly, it has noisy outputs and lacks the ability to manually dial in EQ curves fully. Also, the room correction just doesn’t work that great for me. I get much better integration with miniDSP and some light EQ work. Based on what I’ve seen, get a Marantz that has the advanced features which let you dial in parametric EQ curves.
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When you are in full penny pinching mode 😁 & sound quality is a priority, you could try the Schiit SYN full analog surround processor. (400 dollars) It accepts analog outputs from any hifi DAC and is a full analog surround processor for music. You could also set something up based around a HTPC/usb or TV/toslink for tv/movies with this processor. https://www.schiit.com/products/syn
When you're in half penny pinching mode and sound quality is the priority, you could try the new Sony STR-AZ5000ES (or go higher up). 2100USD. This is the first model where you get full preouts for your amps, not that you will absolutely need it. Sony's new 360 reality spatial mapping is a notch above anything i've heard in object based audio. They don't have a prepro with this new ES line yet, unfortunately. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_158AZ5KES/Sony-ES-STR-AZ5000ES.html Since you already have a Marantz 7706, might not be a bad idea to try something new. It is not going to be much of a revelation as you ascend higher on the Marantz chain (from what you already have).
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i purchased an avm90 and i am extremely satisfied. coming from a top of the line yamaha, the difference is night and day. yes its worth it unfortunately you missed the holiday sale. they discounted it $1,200 the avm90 is arguably the best sounding processor for 2channel as well if your interested in using it as a dac/preamp. There are shootouts you can find on youtube where the anthem handily beats trinnov in 2channel |
