Purchase a receiver or what? need your advice.

@meambler

Out of the two options that you listed above I agree with auxinput I would go with the Marantz SR8012.

If pure sound quality is your number one priority I would look into the flagship NAD T787 receiver ($4k), flagsip Rotel RAP-1580 ($3800), Arcam AVR550 ($3500) or AVR850 ($6k) receivers, Cambridge Audio CXR 200 ($2k). But all these receivers, with the exception of the Cambridge CXR200, retail for more than the Marantz SR8012. But the Rotel is very known for having HDMI switching issues and quite buggy. I highly recommend the NAD T787 receiver currently retails for $4k, which is $1k more than the Marantz SR8012 receiver. But the Marantz SR8012 has more up-to-date features and formats compatibility (4k with latest HDR Dolby Vision & HDMI version, Dolby Atmos, DTS-X, Auro 3D).

The Cambridge CXR200 ($2k) is a steal and is $1k cheaper than the Marantz SR8012 and will sound better than the Marantz SR8012 for stereo music playbacks. But the Cambridge CXR200 is not equipped with room correction, which is crucial for surround sound (home theater).

However, all that being said, your Polk RTi 12 speakers would require high current amplification in order to perform optimally. And most if not all AV receivers cannot provide that kind of current. As a result, the sound won’t be full and will be lean. I would highly suggest that you add a stereo power amp just to drive your front Polk RTi 12 speakers and have the AV receiver’s built-in amplifier power the rest of your speakers. For an external stereo power amp I highly recommend the Rotel RB-1590 ($3k) or the Rotel RB-1582 Mkll ($1600) to drive your front Polk RTi 12 speakers. The Polk RTi series are very forward and somewhat bright sounding with lean mid-range presentation. And these newer Rotel RB-1590 or the RB-1582 Mkll amps are more on the warmer side with rich tonal and smooth highs, full thick rich mid-range bloom and button end grunt which will compliment your Polk RTi 12 nicely IMO. You can connect the pre-out for front L/R on the AV receiver to the external power amp and run the speaker wires off the external power amp to your Polk RTi 12 speakers.

Just to let you know that the Rotel RB-1590 stereo power amp is massive and veey heavy (92 lbs) this is a dual mono configuration with 2 separate independent main toroidal transformer power supplies for each channel with separate windings. Even the Rotel RB-1582 Mkll power amp will be able to drive your speakers with ease. The RB-1582 Mkll stereo amp also has a huge oversized main toroidal transformer power supply with each independent separate windings for each channel. The build quality of these two amps are superb considering their modest asking prices and their performances and sound qualities are great especially for the money. These amps never run hot no matter how hard you drive them. They run cool the whole time. The RB-1590 has a lot more power than the RB-1582 Mkll and performs and sounds better too, more resolved than the RB-1582 Mkll.

@auxinput 

Out of curiosity, you mentioned above that recently you were able to test the latest Marantz processor in your system.
Were you referring to the AV8805? If so, how did it perform sonically in comparison to its prodecessor AV8802? 
Just curious. Cause I've heard from someone that the latest AV8805 has been slightly improved over the AV8802. 

On the video side of thing, I run the video from my Oppo 205 directly to my 4K display using video only HDMI out of the Oppo 205 and run the audio to my AV processor using the audio only HDMI out of the Oppo 205. The Oppo 205 is my only AV video source in my dedicated theater room. I did the same when I was still using the Classe SSP 800.

@auxinput

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the AV8805. Did you test it for surround movies (home theater)? I don’t like Audyssey in the Marantz and would prefer ARC2 way better IMO. Even the latest NAD av products no longer use Audyssey, they now use Dirac, which is superior to the Audyssey. Room Perfect is another top notch room correction calibration.

In my dedicated home theater room I’m now using the Lyngdorf MP-50 av processor which uses Room Perfect and its RP implementation is extraordinary. With Room Perfect properly calibrated the surround sound experiences from movies takes to a whole new level in comparison to the Classe SSP 800 that I previously had in my dedicated home theater room.
The RP in the Lyngdorf MP-50 makes huge difference for surround sound home theater application.
Not to mention that the SSP 800 cannot support Dolby Atmos, DTS-X & Auro 3D. Now with the Lyngdorf MP-50 my setup is 7.2.4 with 4 overhead height ceiling speakers for Atmos setup. 

@auxinput

Nicely put. I personally did not like auto room correction until recently when I was auditioning or demoing a new processor to replace my outdated Classe SSP 800.

I demoed both Datasat RS20i and Audio Control Maestro both have Dirac Live. I also had a chance to demo the Anthem AVM60 with its proprietary ARC2, the McIntosh MX160, Trinnov Altitude 18 and the Lyngdorf MP-50 all have Room Perfect. I ended up getting the Lyngdorf MP-50. The McIntosh MX160 & Lyngdorf MP-50 are pretty much very similar except the MX160 has analog audio inputs and the Lyngdorf MP-50 does not. I do not need analog audio inputs on my AV processor as it’s used strictly for surround sound (home theater). I’m only using HDMI input on my AV processor connected from the Oppo 205, which is my only AV source in my dedicated home theater room.

Anyways, my HT room is very well treated and was purposely built from scratch for that purpose. As you know that I’d been using the SSP 800 with no auto room correction for over 7 yrs with great results. I only used the Classe’s manual PEQ sparingly.

IMO, when properly calibrated using RP my new Lyngdorf MP-50 blew away the SSP 800 in clarity, resolution and the steering of the surround sound. Not to mention when playing Dolby Atmos & DTS-X materials from 4k UHD bluray discs off my Oppo 205, which the SSP 800 simply cannot support those formats. 

However, when RP was turned off basic sound quality of the Lyngdorf is still very good and I would say was quite on par with the SSP 800 with the Classe slightly wins over the Lyngdorf MP-50. I think the SSP 800 had more balanced sound across the boards with just the right amount of bites. Perhaps the SSP 800 had better synergy with the rest of my associated gears and speakers which consist of all Classe Delta series class AB amplifiers and all B&W 800 D3 speaker system, and therefore the SSP 800 is a better match for them? Highly possible.

Although I would never use my AV processor for stereo listening to music only sources but recently I briefly tested the Lyngdorf MP-50 stereo performance with RP turned off just for kicks. It was still decent in that regard and was quite on par with the stereo performance of the SSP 800 with the Classe slightly edges out the Lyngdorf. Again maybe it was due to better overall system synergy.

Auxinput, just wondering what power amps and speakers do you have in your dedicated home theater room? Do you also have the Oppo 205 or 105 as an AV source player?

I would never have any sort of room correction device in my dedicated two-channel listening room, which is also very well treated.

@auxinput

Nice setup! 

Just wondering why don’t you use a Parasound Halo A31 three-channel amp to power your center and surround speakers? It’s a great amp. Runs hot though as all other Halo amps such as your JC-1 monoblocks.

In regards to Bryston amps, did you get to listen to their newest amps? They have been improved over their older amps. The newer ones sound quite a bit better actually. Nothing like the older amps.

By the way, my buddy considers selling his Classe Delta CAM 600 monoblock amps. These are class AB amps. The CAM 600 monoblock amps are Classe’s top of the line amplifier within the Delta series class AB lineup. Don’t know if you might be interested in potentially purchasing them for your front B&W 805 D3. Not sure how much he’s going to sell them for. These CAM 600 monoblocks original retail price was $14k per pair and this model along with the other Delta series products have been discontinued last year.
I can ask him about the potential resale price value if he is really going to sell them for sure. I would imagine maybe around 7k to 8k or even way less since this model was discontinued last year. He got them brand new in 2014 and has all original accessories boxes, user manual, etc. He’s using these CAM 600 monoblocks to drive his B&W 800 D3. They sounded wonderful together. They have great synergy together. B&W 800 series D3 were voiced and tuned using Classe Delta series class AB amplifiers and electronics whereas the lower end B&W series eg 700 S2 & 600 series S2 were voiced and tuned using Rotel amplifications and electronics.

I’m sure these Classe CAM 600 monoblock amps will sound fantastic on your B&W 805 D3 as they were voiced together. I’m also using these same CAM 600 monoblocks to drive my front B&W 800 D3 speakers in my dedicated home theater room and they performed wonderful together. By the way, have you ever considered getting floorstanders for your front speakers?

He’s thinking to change speakers and switch to all tube gears. Now he’s already using a Lamm tube linestage preamp to pair with his Classe CAM 600 amps. He considers trading in his B&W 800 D3 for Sonus Faber but not sure which model possibly Homage. He’s thinking to get all tube gears (preamp & power amp) to pair with his potential future Sonus Faber down the road.

Do you plan on getting a 4K UHD bluray player such as the Oppo 203/205 and upgrade to a 4K display? Cause the availability of 4K UHD discs are increasing each day. In my dedicated home theater room I have an Oppo 205 with modded linear power supply for digital audio & video circuitry. It’s used only for bluray & 4K UHD disc playbacks via HDMI outs to my new Lyngdorf MP-50 processor.

Let me know if you might be interested in possibly purchasing my buddy’s Classe Delta CAM 600 monoblock class AB amps. I will ask him and find out how much he’s willing to sell his amps for and see if he’s really serious about selling them and switching to tube amps. He hasn’t listed his amps yet.

@auxinput

Wow! Your subs are massive 28" deep. What drivers are you using for your subs? I’m also using 2 subs in my dedicated theater room.
Are you also using subs when listening to stereo music?

Sony makes one of the best movie projector only bested by Runco.
When you go 4K route you should get the Oppo 203/205 in used markets but I suggest you wait a little longer cause it isn’t worth paying for the Oppo 205/203 for 3 times their original MSRP. That’s how much they are charging them for these days in after market ever since Oppo ceased productions and operations. Those people are just trying to take advantage or trying to rip people off.
Lucky me I have purchased the Oppo 205 late last year and only paid its original retail price of $1300.

I’ve heard that the new flagship Pioneer Elite 4K UHD bluray player is coming soon to North American market but I think they are going to retail for around $2500. Not sure. But heard rumors that the build quality and audio and video performances will be on par with the Oppo 205 or perhaps even better, dunno. I think they were already launched in Japan/Asia and Europe. Can’t remember the model.
Few people also told me that the somewhat new Sony ES 4K UHD bluray player (1000ES) is very good also and its audio & video qualities over HDMI are probably on par with the Oppo 203/205 but the Oppo 205 has superior DAC, analong audio stages & power supply.

As for a new pre pro that supports 4K and stuff, you can always run the audio only HDMI out from a 4K bluray player to your current pre pro and the video only HDMI out directly to a 4K display or a 4K Lumagen video processor. And if you have a 4K capable cable tv box or some sort down the road in the near future you can run the HDMI directly to a 4K display or a 4K Lumagen video processor for video only and run spdif or Toslink out to your current pre pro for audio only. I think you can keep your current Krell pre pro and no need to get a 4K capable processor.

But if you must get a new 4K capable processor the latest version of Krell Foundation series supports 4K but not sure if it supports the latest HDR and Dolby Vision and hdcp 2.2 necessary from a 4K UHD bluray player. I think the new Marantz AV8805 supports the very latest formats. The Lyngdorf MP-50 and the new latest NAD M17 v2 processors also support the latest formats. Even the Anthem AVM60 does not support Dolby Vision and latest HDR. So far I think the new Marantz AV8805, NAD M17 v2 & the Lyngdorf MP-50 are the only processors currently available on the market that support the very latest formats on the video side. The revised or latest version of Classe Sigma SSP Mk2 supports 4K, hdcp 2.2 but does not support HDR nor Dolby Vision. I think the new Bryston SP4 supports the latest formats too.

Not even sure if the Classe Sigma SSP Mk2 are still in production especially there are uncertainty with the brand after it was sold to Sound United early this year. Not sure if the Sigma series are still in production.

Many hifi reviewers claimed that the Krell Foundation, the Classe Sigma SSP and the NAD M17 are superior sounding to the Marantz AV8802 but don’t know how they would compare to the new AV8805. Last year I have personally compared my previous Classe SSP 800, Classe Sigma SSP & the Marantz AV8802 in my own home theater setup. For surround sound movies (home theater) via their HDMI inputs, the SSP 800 is the best, followed by the Sigma SSP and the Marantz AV8802. But when used as an analog stereo preamp for music playbacks in bypass mode, the Sigma SSP is number one, followed by the SSP 800 and then lastly the Marantz AV8802. But the difference between the Sigma SSP and the SSP 800 was subtle, they are pretty much on par. I found the Marantz 8802 to be lacking when used as an analog stereo preamp for listening to music in bypass mode.
Then lastly when I compared these 3 processors as stereo digital preamps for stereo music playbacks, the Sigma SSP, fed via its rear USB input, by far way outperformed the other two processors, then followed by the SSP 800, fed via its spdif, then lastly the Marantz 8802, fed via its USB & spdif. The SSP 800 does not have USB inputs. Its rear USB port is only for loading firmwares.
So the Sigma SSP is a king when used for stereo digital music playbacks fed via its USB input in comparison to the other 2 processors. The SSP 800 was pretty good too when fed via its spdif and even HDMI inputs for stereo music playbacks or when used as a digital stereo preamp. The Marantz 8802 could not quite compare to both Classe processors in this area. The DACs in both Classe are also superior to the Marantz 8802.
But when used for surround movies (via HDMI) the Marantz was very good especially for the money since its original MSRP was the cheapest compared to both Classe’s original MSRP. I could probably easily live with the Marantz 8802 when used strictly for home theater (surround movies) and it isn’t far behind than the Sigma SSP.

I have also also listened to the NAD M17 briefly at my local dealer in an unfamiliar setup so had no idea how the NAD M17 would compare to those 3 processors. But the M17 was very good.
I have not tried the Krell Foundation series processor but it was highly praised by some hifi reviewers.

In regards to the Classe Delta series amplifiers I really like the styling and color actually. I hate the CT series styling I think they are the ugliest amplifier I’ve ever seen.
But regarding the fan, they are pretty silent and almost inaudible depending on how far back you sit from the amplifiers and how big your room is. But the filter needs to be cleaned every once in a while. There’s a detector where the light flashes on it means that it tells you that it’s time to get it cleaned up.

If you like black or darker color amplifiers, Classe is probably going to finally launch the new replacements for the Delta series gears that were supposed to be launched summer of 2017 but since B&W Group decided to shut down Classe’s main facility in Montreal last fall so these new Delta series gears weren’t moving forward with productions. But I’ve heard a rumor earlier this year that Classe now under Sound United are going to launch these new Delta series products maybe next year. I have heard the pre-production run of these new Delta series gears at last year’s Music Matters at my local dealer. They consisted of a new Delta Pre stereo preamp/DAC to replace the recently discontinued CP 800 stereo preamp/DAC and the new Delta Mono monoblock amps run in class A mode at least for the first 50 watts or so and the remaining in class AB. They were very dark charcoal colors. They look different from the existing Delta series gears. They drove the B&W 800 D3 at the time and I found them to be better than the existing or recently discontinued Delta series combos, which are already pretty amazing epecially the CAM 600 monoblock amps. The new ones were better maybe due to class A operation. The expected retail price of the new Delta Pre stereo preamp/DAC was around $10k ish. And the expected retail price of the new Delta Mono monoblock amps was somewhere around $20k to $30k per pair. In comparison to the existing or recently discontinued Delta series combos the new Delta series gears sounded more liquid and fluid more refined and yet maintain high resolution, details, transparency. Overall they sounded more musical than the recently discontinued Delta series gears. They had better rhythmic drive and subtle dynamic shifts better midrange bloom and better body textures and volume than the existing Delta series combos. They sounded more natural and organic to me on those B&W 800 D3. They sounded spectacular together.