Marantz SR5010 vs Denon X3200

[MrGrim999]

I'm finally going to order my new receiver today and narrowed it down to the Marantz SR5010 and Denon X3200. I'm leaning towards the Marantz because when I heard the same content through it, everything sounded a little better. I was just curious to hear some opinions....

 

[RearAdmiral]

What are your speakers and goals with the system?

 

[MrGrim999]

What are your speakers and goals with the system?

Going to be playing tv/blu rays and music. Right now have Klipsch Quintets but will be getting Def Tech 8020's floor speakers and Martin Logan Motion 8 center, haven't decided about rear surrounds, and have the SVS PB-1000 subwoofer.

 

[gus6464]

Going to be playing tv/blu rays and music. Right now have Klipsch Quintets but will be getting Def Tech 8020's floor speakers and Martin Logan Motion 8 center, haven't decided about rear surrounds, and have the SVS PB-1000 subwoofer.

Never use a mismatching center and fronts. You are better going phantom center. Either get the matching DT center or no center at all.

 

[MrGrim999]

Never use a mismatching center and fronts. You are better going phantom center. Either get the matching DT center or no center at all.

Really?? I'll probably get the center soon. Just out of curiosity, why is that? What could happen exactly?

 

[gus6464]

Really?? I'll probably get the center soon. Just out of curiosity, why is that? What could happen exactly?

Well for starters the tweeters on those speakers are completely different. A ribbon tweeter does not sound at all like a metal dome. This will cause the soundstage in the front to sound off when watching a movie.

I assume you are buying these speakers at best buy?

 

[gus6464]

Also get DT's from this guy on ebay. They are refurbished but look brand new.

http://stores.ebay.com/baja-waverunner?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

I just got the Marantz SR5010 from accessories4less refurb as well. Came with 3 year warranty. Receiver looked brand new when I took it out of the box. I am using it as a pre/pro though since all my speakers are connected to multiple Crown XLS 1500 which are in my equipment closet.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

avs forum didn't help?

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/90-re...s/2144602-denon-x3200w-vs-marantz-sr5010.html

I've been researching receivers and I'd have a hard time not going with Yamaha instead. I think Denon and Marantz (owned by the same company) are largely the same inside. Oh, Pioneer just got bought out by someone too, so avoid them for a few years.

 

[gus6464]

avs forum didn't help?

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/90-re...s/2144602-denon-x3200w-vs-marantz-sr5010.html

I've been researching receivers and I'd have a hard time not going with Yamaha instead. I think Denon and Marantz (owned by the same company) are largely the same inside. Oh, Pioneer just got bought out by someone too, so avoid them for a few years.

Marantz uses beefier capacitors than Denon which is the main reason the equivalent receiver is always more expensive.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Marantz uses beefier capacitors than Denon which is the main reason the equivalent receiver is always more expensive.

Can't imagine much else is different.

Did some quick reading. Marantz sacrifices featues in the low end models. Denon sacrifices sound quality in low end models. At the high end of both brands, they are very similar.

 

[gus6464]

Can't imagine much else is different.

Did some quick reading. Marantz sacrifices featues in the low end models. Denon sacrifices sound quality in low end models. At the high end of both brands, they are very similar.

The main feature my SR5010 is missing over the higher up models is amp assign. For example the SR6010 is actually a 9.2 receiver as you can run your fronts from a separate amp then assign the front amps to be front or rear heights for atmos. Since I can't do 5.2.4 I just went with 5.2.2. Other than that the 2016 models are very close in specs and the higher end stuff just adds XT32, more HDMI, etc. You get HDMI 2.0a, HDCP 2.2, HDR, etc. in all of them.

If you can afford it, IMO the best model on the lineup this year in terms of price/performance is the SR6010. I don't care for XT32 as I am using Dirac Live which is better.

 

[MrGrim999]

Thanks for all the info guys! I placed the order yesterday for the Marantz. I'm psyched to hear how much different my current Klipsch speakers will sound before I get the Def Techs.

 

[Pacfanweb]

I'm finally going to order my new receiver today and narrowed it down to the Marantz SR5010 and Denon X3200. I'm leaning towards the Marantz because when I heard the same content through it, everything sounded a little better. I was just curious to hear some opinions....

I'd personally go with Marantz. I've always thought Denons "colored" the sound a bit.

 

[smokinone]

Everything I read about the Marantz is they are more musical and not as "bright" as some of the other receivers.

I bought from accessories4less as well. 2 bad ones, I won't go for a 3rd, and they expect you to pay for the shipping if you go for a refund on broken received merchandise.

I did like a lot of the features and sound reproduction of the Marantz until it quit after a few hours. The second unit was bad out of the box. I did not get to test a lot of the features as both died prematurely.

I currently have a Denon AVR1909, which works really well but I wanted to upgrade to the newer technology because of my new Sony 65" TV with the 4.4k and the Klipsch speakers.

I ended up going for a new one although the price is more, but then you get the Marantz 3 year warranty and hopefully a working unit. I have not received the new unit yet for further comment.

It does worry me about a product made in China, but what's the option in the same price range? Most everything is made in a 3rd world country any more including the components to build or repair as well.

 

[gar655]

Basically the same AVR, from the same factory, with a different chassis. The only "color" the AVR adds to the sound is what the room correction software does.

Save a $100 and get the Denon.

 

[giantpandaman2]

It does worry me about a product made in China, but what's the option in the same price range? Most everything is made in a 3rd world country any more including the components to build or repair as well.

China is 3rd world? You do realize it's the second largest economy in the world, don't you?

As for quality, we're talking electronics here, not plastic toys.

Personally, I'd go with a Yamaha AVR to decode and use an Outlaw 5000 for my L/C/R.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I'd personally go with Marantz. I've always thought Denons "colored" the sound a bit.

Marantz is owned by Denon. Their guts are mostly the same. Marantz has a minor improvement in their amp stage at the sacrifice of some features. It comes down to wanting features or slightly better SQ for the same price. Most people are best off with a Denon.

To be frank, if you are getting Marantz these days, you are not buying super high quality stuff. Like Carver, they were bought and used to maximize the brand recognition.

 

[razel]

Really?? I'll probably get the center soon. Just out of curiosity, why is that? What could happen exactly?

To add what gus already mentioned... By going phantom center, you can spend more money on your mains. Additionally your power amplifier will also have more headroom since it's powering one less speaker.

Yes, there will be arguments about how technically most of the sound in movies is the center so that's one speaker, compared to phantom which become two. Which is true, the other argument is center speakers are generally horizontal and are often placed in a shelf which just castrates sound quality compared to two mains which are vertical and are often not in a shelf.

Again, we all don't have the same setup so it's up to you, but in general if you also use your HT to listen to music, DEFINATELY go without a center. You can spend all that money saved on better mains... OTOH, times have changed. I no longer spend money on a good stereo... getting fantastic sound from the headphone world is FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR cheaper.

Point being, don't spend too much chasing sound quality in a room. It gets expensive quickly.

 

[Eug]

1. I went with the Marantz SR5010 over the Denon AVR-X3200W. Both were CAD$700 (US$539) refurbs. The Denon had a few higher end features but the SR5010 had the mix of features I wanted. The slightly lower end Denon X2200W was cheaper than both though.

OTOH, I went with the CAD$400 (US$308) Denon AVR-S710W refurb for another room. It was the best bang for the buck vs Marantz in this price range.

2. For movie audio I really don't like phantom centre. If you don't sit in the right exact spot, it can sound quite bad, so much so that I prefer a mismatched centre channel vs mains, over phantom centre using just mains.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I've been reading a lot about receivers. I am pretty much set on a Denon 4200 or 6200. I'm waiting for next years models so I can get this years models on closeout. The 4200 supports 5.2.4 and the 6200 supports 7.2.4 with an external 2 channel amplifier. 7.2.4 would be hard for me to do in my layout but I might go for it. What sucks is the side channels will have to be much smaller speakers than the rest of my system. I'd also have to move all of my room to the right about 1-2 feet which would be a task full of suck.

Oh, this is why I want the 4200 or higher model:
Upgrading from the X3200W adds: the highest version of Audyssey MultEQ XT32 for much improved audio quality. From reading user experiences, they say that this auto tuning system is by far the best and it is night and day compared to what the 3200 gives you.

Also, join the Fry's mailing list. You can get some really good deals on Denon receivers every once in a while.

In the end I'm probably going to do the 7.2.4 setup.

Info on all Denon receivers arranged in a "what the next model gives you" summary:
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/90-re...series-avr-owner-s-thread-faq-hdcp-2-2-a.html

 

[Eug]

I looked at the Denon S4200W but it's just so damn expensive compared to the S3200W locally.

Same goes for the Marantz SR6010 (and SR7010) compared to the SR5010 locally.

 

[Eug]

Great clearance pricing on new units of the Denon AVR-X2200W in the US right now. I'm glad I got my B-Stock Marantz SR5010 when I did since they are now out of stock. I am quite pleased with it and IMO it just looks nicer than the Denons. However if I find an uber cheap clearance SR7010 or X6200W somewhere in the next few months I may pick one up and move the SR5010 to the secondary system currently running with a S710W.

The S710W is fine but I've already filled up all its rear HDMI ports.

 

[exar333]

Marantz is owned by Denon. Their guts are mostly the same. Marantz has a minor improvement in their amp stage at the sacrifice of some features. It comes down to wanting features or slightly better SQ for the same price. Most people are best off with a Denon.

To be frank, if you are getting Marantz these days, you are not buying super high quality stuff. Like Carver, they were bought and used to maximize the brand recognition.

Based on what?

Marantz makes some very competent receivers and pre/pro components. Sure, if you think $10k+ is 'needed' for your components it could be better, but for options <$2-3k they are FANTASTIC.

Also confused as to why you state this, and then later in the thread recommend Denon?

I will confirm that Marantz is a little more 'musical' and is a better fit for more music vs. movies compared to the Denon (I have listened to most 5xxx , 6xxx and 7xxx models since 2014) and the Denon equivalents. Both are very good options in the $1-2k ranges.

Personally, I am ok with forgoing some of the features that Denon includes and opting for Marantz due to better-quality caps and better customer service. Having been burned by a poor Denon receiver and sub-par service in the past, Maranatz is a better option here IMHO.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Based on what?

Marantz makes some very competent receivers and pre/pro components. Sure, if you think $10k+ is 'needed' for your components it could be better, but for options <$2-3k they are FANTASTIC.

Also confused as to why you state this, and then later in the thread recommend Denon?

I will confirm that Marantz is a little more 'musical' and is a better fit for more music vs. movies compared to the Denon (I have listened to most 5xxx , 6xxx and 7xxx models since 2014) and the Denon equivalents. Both are very good options in the $1-2k ranges.

Personally, I am ok with forgoing some of the features that Denon includes and opting for Marantz due to better-quality caps and better customer service. Having been burned by a poor Denon receiver and sub-par service in the past, Maranatz is a better option here IMHO.

I said what I said about Marantz because of what happens over and over again in the audio world. A company is well known for high quality sound (Marantz) thanks to their design (and pricing typically). Then a company buys the brand. The models that made the brand great in the past are abandoned. New models are introduced based on other brands the corporation owns (Denon) with slightly better amplifiers and have the newly purchased brand attached (Marantz instead of Denon). Even Porsche shares designs with VW now that they are under the same umbrella.

The internals of Marantz and Denon are nearly identical. The only differences for the price:
1) Denon has more features
2) Marantz have a SLIGHTLY better amplifier stage (thanks to the HDAM pre-amps)
3) Warranty: I think that you are correct that Marantz warranty is are slightly better than the Denon X series.

I recommend Denon typically because for most people, they are better off with the better feature set for movies and they want "good enough" sound quality. It literally comes down to:
1) Want the thing for movies? Get the Denon
2) Want this for music? get the Marantz

I hope you are not buying Marantz because they are more reliable than Denon. It's hard to fathom that that is the case if the internals are nearly identical.

 

[Eug]

The feature mix between the midrange Marantz and the midrange Denon receivers is somewhat different.

For example, the Denon X2200W and Marantz SR5010 are at a similar level in terms of commonly cited features, but the Marantz has more stuff like pre-ins and what not that most people don't use. And it has a slightly better amp.

But then the Denon X3200W leapfrogs the Marantz SR5010 with other features at only a slightly higher price point, but is not in the same league as the higher end Marantz SR6010.

I could have gotten the X3200W and SR5010 for the same price. On paper the X3200W would have been the better value but I ended up taking the SR5010 because I liked the feature set and quite frankly I just thought it looked prettier. Oh and it happened to actually be in stock at the time. The internal improvements are probably slight as mentioned, and indeed, the first refurb SR5010 I got was defective. The defective part was an HDMI port, and I'm sure the hardware there is exactly the same between the two brands.