we spend much more time watching movies and TV than critically listening to musicUnder these circumstances I’d just get a good AVR and call it a day. I don’t think it’s worth the added hassle/expense of buying a prepro and separate amplification. If you’d appreciate a little more transparency, detail, and reliability I’d go with a Yamaha RX-A2080 or 3080, but if you like the warmer, fuller Marantz sound just stick with one of their AVRs. And you should definitely try the Nak preamp — could be very interesting.
Replacement for Marantz AV8801: another prepro or receiver?
My 2014-vintage Marantz AV8801 prepro lost its HDMI audio -- was able to get it back (posted that elsewhere) but likely temporarily.
Given that I'm planning an Atmos surround system, it's time for an upgrade, which is a shame because it's a great unit, but barely going for anything online and I wouldn't be comfortable in selling it or even donating it to Goodwill. So while it works, I'll try to figure out what to replace it with.
I currently only have a 3.0 system: I currently use the AV8801 to drive two B&W Nautilus 801s for the fronts via a recently acquired Parasound A21+ and a B&W HTM71S2 center with an old Nakamichi PA-7. Since I'm going to Atmos, the conundrum is whether to get another preprocessor: most likely an AV7706, which I'm assured has better processing and sound than the 8801; the 8805 doesn't support the latest standards without an upgrade that is not available and there's no 8806 on the horizon.
The alternative is a receiver like the Marantz SR8015 or Denon AVR-X6700H. All three came out within the last 6 months so they should support the latest standards. I like the idea of 11 channels of amplification to deploy as I see fit. If I go that way, I'd like to biamp the HTM71S2 center with two of the channels and use the rest for surrounds (exact configuration still to be determined).
What I'm wondering is whether the amplification in these receivers is good enough for the surrounds, or whether I should just get the preprocessor and some configurable amplification like Emotiva with a high-power module for the center and lower-power modules for the ceilings and surrounds.
Opinions?
Given that I'm planning an Atmos surround system, it's time for an upgrade, which is a shame because it's a great unit, but barely going for anything online and I wouldn't be comfortable in selling it or even donating it to Goodwill. So while it works, I'll try to figure out what to replace it with.
I currently only have a 3.0 system: I currently use the AV8801 to drive two B&W Nautilus 801s for the fronts via a recently acquired Parasound A21+ and a B&W HTM71S2 center with an old Nakamichi PA-7. Since I'm going to Atmos, the conundrum is whether to get another preprocessor: most likely an AV7706, which I'm assured has better processing and sound than the 8801; the 8805 doesn't support the latest standards without an upgrade that is not available and there's no 8806 on the horizon.
The alternative is a receiver like the Marantz SR8015 or Denon AVR-X6700H. All three came out within the last 6 months so they should support the latest standards. I like the idea of 11 channels of amplification to deploy as I see fit. If I go that way, I'd like to biamp the HTM71S2 center with two of the channels and use the rest for surrounds (exact configuration still to be determined).
What I'm wondering is whether the amplification in these receivers is good enough for the surrounds, or whether I should just get the preprocessor and some configurable amplification like Emotiva with a high-power module for the center and lower-power modules for the ceilings and surrounds.
Opinions?
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- 16 posts total
- 16 posts total