What's the real scoop with Marantz and Reliability/Build Quality? I keep seeing references to this in the threads without specific examples. I am about to become a custom install Marantz Dealer, but there's still time to escape! I'm looking for specific examples of field failure, not a friend of a friend's receiver did this or that.

As far as my personal experience, I have given the SR7500 a thorough listening and find it to be a quality mid-fi solution for theater. With a set of Atlantic Technologies speakers and sub, it really stands right up there with the Denons, and Integra's of the world IMHO. The 105-watt rails are THX Select certified, which having worked at THX, does actually mean something.

Give me some ammo, I'm about to pull the trigger!

Bill

No complaints about Mrantz here. A few years ago they had some DVD player issues, but haven't had any of htose lately. I'd say go for it.

THX Select............. Lol.... I can buy a Sticker to........


Marantz has been a Goto line for us. Some issues with basic DVD players, but Overall its an excelent product line. Receievrs have been solid and their video product looks great.

Marantz has been one of the more reliable brands we've sold.

We are also a Marantz custom dealer... a few points to consider:

1. As you know this product is now distributed by A***. This may or may not not be an issue depending on your rep's willingness to police the purchases.

2. Best Buy/Magnolia will be featuring Marantz heavily. Again, this may or may not be an issue in your market. It is not an issue in my small market as we are not likely to get a BB/Mag shop anytime soon.

3. Lastly, great product line - Audio to Video -- top to bottom

"THX Select............. Lol.... I can buy a Sticker to........"

THX select does mean something. Take it from me, after working at THX for a year on the bench. The "Select" certification means that specifications are at a certain standard to produce good, clean power at a dB level usable for smaller rooms. There are also other processing specifications that must be at a certain level. To ensure this (for both the "Select" and "Ultra2" certs) we mercilessly evaluated every input and mode on these receivers using known signals and scientifically verifiable testing methods. Many receivers that bear this "sticker" went through over 14 engineering samples to reach this level of build quality. The amp rails are pushed up close to the limit overnight and then tested again the next day for distortion, crosstalk, etc. Many receivers (ie anything with a "digital" amp and most of the entry level garbage) couldn't get anywhere near this spec.

If a company cares enough to go to this length to reach a standard with their products, it does mean something to me.

Now back to Marantz . . .

This message was edited by ChapmanAudio on 08/24/05 13:54 ET.

Discrete codes can be hit or miss. And I think the picture from the DV4500 dvd player is pretty bad. Otherwise, been pretty happy so far. They are known (or used to be at least) for their amp sections.

Really??? What makes you say that when they publish them in CCF (well... PCF now) on their website and include a full range of product discreets with the software download in their default file?

Thanks everyone! Great info. I heard the same thing about the DV4500, as well as alot of ambient noise . . . so I may have to stay away from that one. I'm spec'ing in the DV6500 Universal for this first Marantz job anyway, and I gave that a thorough test drive.

As far as RC codes including discrete, I know that they support the Pronto folks and even have thier own versions. I use all URC, but I can bring down codes to a pronto and get them where they need to be. One thing I heard about and experienced was the 7.1 input being on a different planet than the rest of the inputs on the SR7500/8500. When you switch to this input it takes the signal out of the loop of the other inputs and you have to jump through some hoops before going say from DVD-A to SAT. This is probably a good thing sonically and means that the 7.1 input is being processed separately, hopefully a more direct route to the amps. Probably just a funky macro away from being a non-issue.

We have been marantz dealers for a long time and it's really been a solid product line for us! The DVD issues of years ago are gone, they have discretes for everything (and they work). I don't care for their projectors as much as some other brands but their core product line is solid.

"faithful as a Magnavox" .....from a song I once heard
tjg

A PCF file does me no good with a HTM or RTI remote system. I have been able to cobble together the codes I need from different sources out there - even a discrete 7.1 on and off.

You can download the software to open the PCF/CCF files and then copy and paste the commands without having a Pronto. I do this all the time into the IR Manager and other things. Just a thought...

What do you mean Best Buy and Marantz? We purchase from AVAD and I know for a fact they police the territory very hard. Maybe it's just the manager at our branch. He was very clear on distribution polices.

Mike

Mike,

I assume you were referring to my message above.

Marantz is a featured brand within the "Magnolia Home Theater" stores now being built inside select Best Buys.

A*** has nothing to do with this arrangement.