Brand NameMarantz
Product Specifications
Technical Details
- 125 watts x 7 into 8 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) at 0.08% THD
- THX Surround EX, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, Dolby Digital EX
- Audyssey Laboratories' MultEQ six-point auto setup and room calibration system (microphone included)
- built-in HD Radio tuner with multi-casting reception
- XM Satellite Radio Ready with decoding for XM's HD Surround channels (requires XM subscription and optional XM Mini-Tuner package)
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
From the Manufacturer
From the Manufacturer
Let's begin with the obvious – THX® Select2 certification. It's your assurance that, in addition to the power you'll need to fill average-sized rooms with theater-quality sound (125 watts continuous from each of its seven amplifiers), other performance parameters like signal-to-noise and distortion are absolutely first class.
Power and Flexibility
Then there are the Marantz touches. A toroidal-based power supply. Current feedback amplification. An anti-interference copper plated chassis that's less than 16" deep so it will fit in more places easily. Adding to the audio flexibility is a 3rd Zone output (with an individually selectable source!) to make your SR8002 the center of a whole house distributed audio system.
Superior Audio and Video Technologies
On the A/V side, the SR8002 features HDMI switching (version 1.3a) for up to four sources and two display devices. And there's format conversion to HDMI with Time Base Correction so even your older video sources will look their best. If you're not quite ready for HDMI (or if your displays aren't), the SR8002 offers two assignable component outputs, too. One infrared receiver input and two IR outputs add enormous control flexibility as do two DC "trigger" outputs.
Dolby® TrueHD, Dolby® Digital Plus and dts-HD™ Master Audio are the next wave of high resolution sound and the SR8002 incorporates them all. The SR8002 is also one of the few receivers to feature Audyssey's unique auto calibration capability. This is a significant improvement over previous "room correction" strategies in that it improves the listening characteristics of your entire room rather than for just one or two seats.
Features for Your Entertainment System
The features of the SR8002 include 125 watts x 7 channels all discrete amplifier stage, current feedback amplification, HDMI v1.3a repeating/switching: 4-In/2-Out, Dolby® TrueHD, Dolby® Digital Plus, dts-HD™ Master Audio, Deep Color, xvYCC and SA-CD support by HDMI, up-conversion (w/TBC) to HDMI with 480i/480p converter, assignable dual component outputs, M-DAX (Marantz Dynamic Audio eXpander) for compressed audio, HD-Radio, XMHD surround by Neural THX® Technologies, Audyssey MultEQ, Direct-Set volume, tuner preset and XM preset commands, upgraded binding posts (Dielectric Protected), RS-232C control and IR flasher input, IR receiver input and x2 IR emitter outputs, x2 12V DC trigger output, 2nd zone audio/video output and 3rd zone audio output, stereo/mono switching for 2nd/3rd zone and RC8001SR main-room & RC-101M multi-room remotes included.
Marantz Quality and Design
In short, the Marantz SR8002 is simply a culmination of everything you've come to expect from us. Refined cosmetics. Sterling performance. Sophisticated, advanced to enhance your enjoyment. Let's put this even more succinctly – it's a Marantz!
The Marantz SR8002 Surround Receiver – For the Audiophile and Videophile in All of Us
Do you call the SR8002 an "audiophile's receiver" or a "videophile's receiver"? May we suggest that the answer is simply "Yes"? Here, you'll find the power, flexibility, and advanced performance you expect from Marantz. And a few surprises, too! All in a new chassis size that's more convenient than ever.
Let's begin with the obvious – THX® Select2 certification. It's your assurance that, in addition to the power you'll need to fill average-sized rooms with theater-quality sound (125 watts continuous from each of its seven amplifiers), other performance parameters like signal-to-noise and distortion are absolutely first class.
Power and Flexibility
Then there are the Marantz touches. A toroidal-based power supply. Current feedback amplification. An anti-interference copper plated chassis that's less than 16" deep so it will fit in more places easily. Adding to the audio flexibility is a 3rd Zone output (with an individually selectable source!) to make your SR8002 the center of a whole house distributed audio system.
Superior Audio and Video Technologies
On the A/V side, the SR8002 features HDMI switching (version 1.3a) for up to four sources and two display devices. And there's format conversion to HDMI with Time Base Correction so even your older video sources will look their best. If you're not quite ready for HDMI (or if your displays aren't), the SR8002 offers two assignable component outputs, too. One infrared receiver input and two IR outputs add enormous control flexibility as do two DC "trigger" outputs.
Dolby® TrueHD, Dolby® Digital Plus and dts-HD™ Master Audio are the next wave of high resolution sound and the SR8002 incorporates them all. The SR8002 is also one of the few receivers to feature Audyssey's unique auto calibration capability. This is a significant improvement over previous "room correction" strategies in that it improves the listening characteristics of your entire room rather than for just one or two seats.
Features for Your Entertainment System
The features of the SR8002 include 125 watts x 7 channels all discrete amplifier stage, current feedback amplification, HDMI v1.3a repeating/switching: 4-In/2-Out, Dolby® TrueHD, Dolby® Digital Plus, dts-HD™ Master Audio, Deep Color, xvYCC and SA-CD support by HDMI, up-conversion (w/TBC) to HDMI with 480i/480p converter, assignable dual component outputs, M-DAX (Marantz Dynamic Audio eXpander) for compressed audio, HD-Radio, XMHD surround by Neural THX® Technologies, Audyssey MultEQ, Direct-Set volume, tuner preset and XM preset commands, upgraded binding posts (Dielectric Protected), RS-232C control and IR flasher input, IR receiver input and x2 IR emitter outputs, x2 12V DC trigger output, 2nd zone audio/video output and 3rd zone audio output, stereo/mono switching for 2nd/3rd zone and RC8001SR main-room & RC-101M multi-room remotes included.
Marantz Quality and Design
In short, the Marantz SR8002 is simply a culmination of everything you've come to expect from us. Refined cosmetics. Sterling performance. Sophisticated, advanced to enhance your enjoyment. Let's put this even more succinctly – it's a Marantz!
Choose a Marantz Audio/Video Receiver that is Perfect for Your Entertainment System
Marantz offers several models of A/V receivers for your entertainment system, from the entry level Marantz SR4023 stereo receiver to the high level Marantz SR8002 surround receiver. Each A/V receiver has a different set of qualities so you can choose the one that is right for the sound you want. Here's a quick breakdown of the Marantz A/V receivers.
The Marantz SR8002 Surround Receiver. Do you call the SR8002 an "audiophile's receiver" or a "videophile's receiver"? May we suggest that the answer is simply "Yes"? 125 Watts x 7 Channels All Discrete Amplifier Stage. HDMI v1.3a Repeating/Switching: 4-In/2-Out. Up-Conversion (w/TBC) to HDMI with 480i/480p Converter. Assignable Dual Component Outputs. HD-Radio. XMHD Surround by Neural THX® Technologies. Upgraded Binding Posts (Dielectric Protected). IR Receiver Input and x2 IR Emitter Outputs. 2nd Zone Audio/Video Output and 3rd Zone Audio Output.
The Marantz SR7002 Surround Receiver. Here's a balanced combination of the performance you deserve and a price that will ease your way to the highest levels of home entertainment. 110 Watts x 7 Channel All Discrete Amplifier Stage. THX® Select2 Certified. HDMI v1.3a Repeating/Switching: 4-In/2-Out. Dual Component Outputs. XMHD Surround by Neural THX® Technologies. RS-232C control and IR Flasher Input. 2nd Zone Audio/Video Output.
The Marantz SR6003 Audio Video Receiver. From its sleek compound-curve front panel to the multiple control terminals, the SR6003 surround sound receiver contains a stunning array of technologies to increase your A/V enjoyment. Seven. 100 Watts x 7 Channel. HDMI v1.3a Repeating: 3-In/2-Out. 10bit Video converter to HDMI (interlaced to progressive and scaler). Dual HDMI and component video outputs. Analog and digital multi-zone outputs. In-line seven channel amplifiers/High definition audio design. Multiple radio system (AM/FM/XM/SIRIUS).
The Marantz SR5003 Audio Video Receiver. The SR5003 surround sound A/V receiver answers the needs of all but the most demanding audio- and videophiles. 90 Watts x 7 Channel. HDMI v1.3a Repeating: 3-In/1-Out. 10bit Video converter to HDMI (interlaced to progressive and scaler). Dual HDMI and component video outputs. Analog and digital multi-zone outputs. In-line seven channel amplifiers/High definition audio design. Multiple radio system (AM/FM/XM/SIRIUS).
The Marantz SR4003 Surround Receiver. Want a full-featured surround sound receiver – one that brings you as close to the A/V experience as possible while still leaving your "rainy day" bank balance untouched? 80 Watts x 7 Channels All Discrete Amplifier Stages. HDMI v1.3a Switching/ v1.1 Repeating: 3-In/1-Out. Multi-channel (7.1) LPCM via HDMI capability. M.R.A.C. Auto Calibration. S-Video to Component Video Up-Conversion. Assignable Component Inputs x3. IR Flasher Input. Front Key Lock function.
The Marantz SR4023 Stereo Receiver. Especially in this feature-laden world of multichannel sound, the SR4023 receiver is proof positive that Marantz hasn't forgotten its heritage of high quality stereo components. Simplified, non-intimidating operation. High quality discrete amplifier. Large EI core transformer. Pre-out/Main-in terminals. Speaker A/B switching. Low-pass preamp level Subwoofer output. MM Phono preamplifier. Composite video switching with monitor and recording outputs. RS-232C communications port. IR flasher input.
Product Description
AV Surround Receiver
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
85 of 88 people found the following review helpful
After 9 years, it was time to upgrade my former top-of-the-line Sony ES receiver (STR-DA 777ES) to take advantage of improved audio and high-definition video switching. After reading all the professional reviews, I settled on the Marantz SR8002. Three weeks after an extensive configuration and testing, I must say that I am pleased overall with my choice. However, several surprising configuration limitations keep me from giving it a full-on 5-star review.
Let me preface my review by stating that my home theater / audio configuration is on the higher-end of the scale: 3 KEF Reference speakers for the front 3 channels, Boston Acoustics rear surrounds and subwoofer, Sony ES SACD player (and yes, I have an SACD collection!), Bang & Olfusen turntable, Sony reference DVD player, AppleTV, Roku music server, JVC SVHS VCR, Mitsubishi HDTV monitor.
My first priority was in upgrading the audio quality, and I must say that in this respect, the Marantz SR8002 far exceeded my expectations. As a 7.1 channel amplifier, there are 7 x 125watt channels available, native decoding of the latest lossless HD digital audio on BluRay (DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD), Audyssey microphone and room equilazation, and THX Select 2 certification. For the ultimate audio experience, the Marantz SR8002 offers two "Pure Direct" modes - the first one bypasses the equalization and surround circuits, the second mode completely disables all video and display logic for even shorter audio output path. The SR8002 also provides a toroidal power transformer for extra headroom when needed, and in my setup the audio performance is dramatic.
I chose not to expand my current 5.1 speaker configuration to 7.1 channel. In this setup, the SR8002 gives you the option of taking the two unused channels and configuring them for a second amplified room/zone, or bi-amplification of your front speakers. I chose the latter, as my KEF Reference speakers support bi-amplified wiring, providing 250 watts per channel into Left and Right channels. Let me tell you - the pure stereo performance in this configuration will blow your socks off! Friends could not believe the sound in our fairly large family room was from 2-speakers only. And, the multi-channel modes (especially NEO6: Music) are quite outstanding even with a 2-channel source. Quite simply, the audio performance of the SR8002 is "7-star" on a 5-star scale.
My second priority was in upgrading to a receiver capable of decoding the high-resolution audio of BluRay, while providing high definition video switching (via HDMI and component). In this respect the receiver delivers, but with some surprising limitations. On paper, the Marantz SR8002 offers more connectors and options than you would ever need. You have 4 HDMI 1.3 connections + 2 HDMI 1.3 outputs (good!), 4 component HD connections + 2 component HD outputs (good!), 4 TOSlink digital audio (including front), 3 coax digital audio, and a plethora of S-video, composite video, and analog audio inputs.
But in reality, there are serious limitations...
First of all, it is inexcusable for a receiver of this cost to be missing a phonograph input. Yes, for $50 you can buy a phono preamp that gives you good performance and doesn't have the A/C hum of your $25 Radio Shack unit. But, come on.
Secondly, and more discouraging, despite the plethora of connections you only have 8 discrete settings that can be assigned. (The AM/FM tuner is another, nonassignable input, as is the optional XM radio input). This means that even if you could connect to all of the analog + digital inputs available you can only use 8 of them! This is quite a surprising and serious limitation. Even my Sony ES from 1999 had 12 discrete inputs!
The on-screen receiver setup lets you assign specific HDMI, component, and digital audio for your 8 choices. Each input can also be renamed. But you cannot use a single digital input for more than one setting. And you cannot reassign the analog video (S-Video/Composite) or analog audio inputs.
An example of this strange limitation is the analog input of the "AUX2" input also happens to be used as the Left and Right input channels for the 7.1 input. I had to reconfigure my setup to reassign the "AUX2" input to the digital CD input, which I also connected to the 5.1 (SACD) output from my CD player. Because there are only 8 input settings, I had to assign the "AUX1" (front) input to the digital audio and video inputs from my AppleTV. This means that the front AUX1 inputs are completely unusable, since all 8 inputs were assigned from rear input sources.
Another big surprise was the subwoofer speaker setting. By default, it is set to "mix"...all bass output is diverted to the subwoofer at an assignable crossover frequency. This works well for (and is recommended for) THX and multi-channel video sources. But strangely in "mix" setting, the SR8002 does NOT output the bass to the subwoofer for two-channel analog inputs AND it does not output the low frequencies to the front speakers. I spent about 3 hours trying to figure out why my new (required) phonograph preamp sounded so terrible before I discovered this problem. Setting the subwoofer to "BOTH" properly sends full-range audio to the front speakers. AND, it enables the subwoofer for the simulated modes such as NEO6. Not only does this not make sense, it is not documented anywhere in the manual.
There are other annoyances:
- FM / AM radio reception is below average. I was looking forward to trying the "HD radio" capability, but the tuner reception is so bad that it can never get a strong enough signal to use any of the HD radio broadcasts in my area. Compared with my 1999 Sony ES receiver using the same antenna configuration I can only tune half of the stations. My CLOCK RADIO gets much better radio reception than this $2000 receiver!
- the front of the receiver has two large controls for Source and Volume - each one has a bright blue LED indicator that does NOT move with the control. So, while you might think that the volume indicator would indicate the volume level it doesn't. The bright blue indicators are always at 12-o clock position. And the front input control does not have a positive feedback to let you know you have switched inputs.
- the remote control button/display backlight is ONLY activated when you press one of the two buttons on the bottom of the remote
- the remote does not offer discrete settings for all surround modes or settings (although thankfully there are discrete power on/off codes)
- the onscreen display is very primitive (think 1982 Apple ][+ 40x24 characters)
In summary, despite the outstanding audio performance of the Marantz SR8002 (once you figure out the subwoofer and other settings!), I cannot give this a full 5-star rating because of the serious limitations and limited inputs.
Let me preface my review by stating that my home theater / audio configuration is on the higher-end of the scale: 3 KEF Reference speakers for the front 3 channels, Boston Acoustics rear surrounds and subwoofer, Sony ES SACD player (and yes, I have an SACD collection!), Bang & Olfusen turntable, Sony reference DVD player, AppleTV, Roku music server, JVC SVHS VCR, Mitsubishi HDTV monitor.
My first priority was in upgrading the audio quality, and I must say that in this respect, the Marantz SR8002 far exceeded my expectations. As a 7.1 channel amplifier, there are 7 x 125watt channels available, native decoding of the latest lossless HD digital audio on BluRay (DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD), Audyssey microphone and room equilazation, and THX Select 2 certification. For the ultimate audio experience, the Marantz SR8002 offers two "Pure Direct" modes - the first one bypasses the equalization and surround circuits, the second mode completely disables all video and display logic for even shorter audio output path. The SR8002 also provides a toroidal power transformer for extra headroom when needed, and in my setup the audio performance is dramatic.
I chose not to expand my current 5.1 speaker configuration to 7.1 channel. In this setup, the SR8002 gives you the option of taking the two unused channels and configuring them for a second amplified room/zone, or bi-amplification of your front speakers. I chose the latter, as my KEF Reference speakers support bi-amplified wiring, providing 250 watts per channel into Left and Right channels. Let me tell you - the pure stereo performance in this configuration will blow your socks off! Friends could not believe the sound in our fairly large family room was from 2-speakers only. And, the multi-channel modes (especially NEO6: Music) are quite outstanding even with a 2-channel source. Quite simply, the audio performance of the SR8002 is "7-star" on a 5-star scale.
My second priority was in upgrading to a receiver capable of decoding the high-resolution audio of BluRay, while providing high definition video switching (via HDMI and component). In this respect the receiver delivers, but with some surprising limitations. On paper, the Marantz SR8002 offers more connectors and options than you would ever need. You have 4 HDMI 1.3 connections + 2 HDMI 1.3 outputs (good!), 4 component HD connections + 2 component HD outputs (good!), 4 TOSlink digital audio (including front), 3 coax digital audio, and a plethora of S-video, composite video, and analog audio inputs.
But in reality, there are serious limitations...
First of all, it is inexcusable for a receiver of this cost to be missing a phonograph input. Yes, for $50 you can buy a phono preamp that gives you good performance and doesn't have the A/C hum of your $25 Radio Shack unit. But, come on.
Secondly, and more discouraging, despite the plethora of connections you only have 8 discrete settings that can be assigned. (The AM/FM tuner is another, nonassignable input, as is the optional XM radio input). This means that even if you could connect to all of the analog + digital inputs available you can only use 8 of them! This is quite a surprising and serious limitation. Even my Sony ES from 1999 had 12 discrete inputs!
The on-screen receiver setup lets you assign specific HDMI, component, and digital audio for your 8 choices. Each input can also be renamed. But you cannot use a single digital input for more than one setting. And you cannot reassign the analog video (S-Video/Composite) or analog audio inputs.
An example of this strange limitation is the analog input of the "AUX2" input also happens to be used as the Left and Right input channels for the 7.1 input. I had to reconfigure my setup to reassign the "AUX2" input to the digital CD input, which I also connected to the 5.1 (SACD) output from my CD player. Because there are only 8 input settings, I had to assign the "AUX1" (front) input to the digital audio and video inputs from my AppleTV. This means that the front AUX1 inputs are completely unusable, since all 8 inputs were assigned from rear input sources.
Another big surprise was the subwoofer speaker setting. By default, it is set to "mix"...all bass output is diverted to the subwoofer at an assignable crossover frequency. This works well for (and is recommended for) THX and multi-channel video sources. But strangely in "mix" setting, the SR8002 does NOT output the bass to the subwoofer for two-channel analog inputs AND it does not output the low frequencies to the front speakers. I spent about 3 hours trying to figure out why my new (required) phonograph preamp sounded so terrible before I discovered this problem. Setting the subwoofer to "BOTH" properly sends full-range audio to the front speakers. AND, it enables the subwoofer for the simulated modes such as NEO6. Not only does this not make sense, it is not documented anywhere in the manual.
There are other annoyances:
- FM / AM radio reception is below average. I was looking forward to trying the "HD radio" capability, but the tuner reception is so bad that it can never get a strong enough signal to use any of the HD radio broadcasts in my area. Compared with my 1999 Sony ES receiver using the same antenna configuration I can only tune half of the stations. My CLOCK RADIO gets much better radio reception than this $2000 receiver!
- the front of the receiver has two large controls for Source and Volume - each one has a bright blue LED indicator that does NOT move with the control. So, while you might think that the volume indicator would indicate the volume level it doesn't. The bright blue indicators are always at 12-o clock position. And the front input control does not have a positive feedback to let you know you have switched inputs.
- the remote control button/display backlight is ONLY activated when you press one of the two buttons on the bottom of the remote
- the remote does not offer discrete settings for all surround modes or settings (although thankfully there are discrete power on/off codes)
- the onscreen display is very primitive (think 1982 Apple ][+ 40x24 characters)
In summary, despite the outstanding audio performance of the Marantz SR8002 (once you figure out the subwoofer and other settings!), I cannot give this a full 5-star rating because of the serious limitations and limited inputs.
47 of 49 people found the following review helpful
I purchased my Marantz SR8002 and thought I'd offer my review because Amazon had none. Mine is the 220v Korean version with no satellite radio available here, but everything else is the same. My color is gold, and it's gorgeous.
I have owned my unit for 4 days. It sounds quite excellent. I originally planned on going with Onkyo, but those are really expensive in Korea, and horror stories about some Onkyo models and "lip-flap" issues over HDMI scared me away from those this time around. My previous receiver was an Onkyo TXDS-575, and it had a ground-loop hiss which angered me 8 years ago when I bought it -- so in short, I decided to go with another brand this time around.
Now back to the Marantz. First of all, it looks great. It's a heavy 38 pounds, and comes double-boxed and well-packed. There are gold-plated RCA outs all through the rear, but I was disappointed there are no banana-plug posts for speakers (you have to hand-screw them). Come on ... this thing costs a lot ... we should at least get those!
This unit runs warm, but not hot. That's a plus. I was scared of the extreme heat/fire stories from some of the higher-end Onkyo models.
You get 2 remote controls with this unit. One is the main remote, which has a backlight, and can be used to "learn" other remotes from the rest of your entertainment center, or key codes can be entered from a list in the back of the manual. The second is an additional remote which has average bells/whistles, but can be used in a 2nd or 3rd room. My manual, by the way, has about 6 or 8 languages in it -- it's as thick as a book.
I bought this Marantz to take advantage of HD audio codecs from Bluray. My PS3 already decodes these codecs and sends them LPCM via HDMI cable, so the receiver only had to interpret the LCPM. It took me a good 10 minutes to figure out how to assign the HDMI port to the proper input (I used TV) but once I did, everything was just fine! It looks and sounds great. You can also change the digital names on the different inputs. I'll have to change one to "PS3" some day.
This receiver is very musical, and it is possible to bi-amp 6 or 8 ohm speakers for sure, using additional speaker outs and a switch on the back of the unit. It doesn't say you cannot bi-amp 4 ohm speakers, but does only mention 6 or 8 ohm in the manual. Bi-amping did improve my Paradigm Monitor 7 speakers slightly. The sound of this box really is nice.
This receiver is full 1080p, and will pass the "deep color" which makes it somewhat future-proof. I am pleased to announce that there is no "lip-flap" whatsoever, like the Onkyo's are having big problems with. Even still, this Marantz unit has some adjustments on their menu should there ever be any problem. I've never needed them.
The annoying thing about HDMI on any unit, and this one is no exception, is that "handshaking" when you change HDMI sources takes 3 to 10 seconds! Yeah, it's pretty horrible, but you can thank copy-protection for that! Audio starts quickly, but the changed video source can take up to 10 seconds or even a bit longer to show up. Other non-HDMI or analogue sources speed right along.
Another nice, but buggy feature, is the Audyssey EQ system. There is a known LFE bug (Low Frequency Extention) with the earlier versions of this unit. I heard that as of mid-April 2008, a new firmware upgrade is available from Marantz to fix this, but you have to ship it to a service center to get the upgrade if your unit is older. There are work-arounds to this annoying bug, although they are somewhat tedious. You can learn a lot more about this on the [...]
The Audyssey EQ feature provides a mic which is used to sample 6 or so listening areas to calculate your EQ settings for you. The "bug" causes the sub channel to lose a great deal of power after you use it, and sometimes settings numbers get screwed-up after you change from Large to Small speakers (another Audyssey bug is that it automatically resets all speakers to Large). I seem to lose my subwoofer almost entirely after running in Audyssey EQ mode. The output to the sub all but disappears, unless I raise the sub output level to dangerous levels, and crank up my sub. It's really scary, and my sub would almost explode in overdrive if I changed to another output on the receiver, so I decided to forget about Audyssey for a bit. No matter what I did, or what speaker setting I used (either large or small) to set my Audyssey settings, the sub just wasn't even close to correct. The Marantz fix of "just adding 9db" to the sub wasn't enough.
In the end, I tried copying down (channel by channel) all of the EQ and distance settings that Audyssey made, and saved those into the Preset EQ mode. When those EQ and distance numbers are put into that mode, everything sounded just great.
A side note -- many people don't bother with Audyssey or EQ anyway, so you might not even care about all of this.
Lastly, another bug that has surfaced is the "DTS-MA Bomb" that affects all manufacturers who used a certain Texas Instruments chip for processing. This model is effected, so if you plan on bitstreaming DTS-MA to the Marantz SR-8002, you will experience the loud pops on discs like The Golden Compass. Unfortunately for Marantz, they do not offer consumer-upgradable firmware fixes by internet. You have to ship your unit away to Marantz. Very, very inconvenient. If you are using LPCM then you will not experience this bug -- only happens over bitstreaming.
I've talked about a lot of negatives here, but don't get me wrong -- everything else works like it should, and sounds crystal-clear. I am really enjoying this receiver, and I feel it was a good investment. I really like the sound we're getting from the different settings for regular TV viewing, too!
I only give it 4 stars because of the Audyssey bug and somewhat slow HDMI switching, otherwise, it would be 5 stars.
I have owned my unit for 4 days. It sounds quite excellent. I originally planned on going with Onkyo, but those are really expensive in Korea, and horror stories about some Onkyo models and "lip-flap" issues over HDMI scared me away from those this time around. My previous receiver was an Onkyo TXDS-575, and it had a ground-loop hiss which angered me 8 years ago when I bought it -- so in short, I decided to go with another brand this time around.
Now back to the Marantz. First of all, it looks great. It's a heavy 38 pounds, and comes double-boxed and well-packed. There are gold-plated RCA outs all through the rear, but I was disappointed there are no banana-plug posts for speakers (you have to hand-screw them). Come on ... this thing costs a lot ... we should at least get those!
This unit runs warm, but not hot. That's a plus. I was scared of the extreme heat/fire stories from some of the higher-end Onkyo models.
You get 2 remote controls with this unit. One is the main remote, which has a backlight, and can be used to "learn" other remotes from the rest of your entertainment center, or key codes can be entered from a list in the back of the manual. The second is an additional remote which has average bells/whistles, but can be used in a 2nd or 3rd room. My manual, by the way, has about 6 or 8 languages in it -- it's as thick as a book.
I bought this Marantz to take advantage of HD audio codecs from Bluray. My PS3 already decodes these codecs and sends them LPCM via HDMI cable, so the receiver only had to interpret the LCPM. It took me a good 10 minutes to figure out how to assign the HDMI port to the proper input (I used TV) but once I did, everything was just fine! It looks and sounds great. You can also change the digital names on the different inputs. I'll have to change one to "PS3" some day.
This receiver is very musical, and it is possible to bi-amp 6 or 8 ohm speakers for sure, using additional speaker outs and a switch on the back of the unit. It doesn't say you cannot bi-amp 4 ohm speakers, but does only mention 6 or 8 ohm in the manual. Bi-amping did improve my Paradigm Monitor 7 speakers slightly. The sound of this box really is nice.
This receiver is full 1080p, and will pass the "deep color" which makes it somewhat future-proof. I am pleased to announce that there is no "lip-flap" whatsoever, like the Onkyo's are having big problems with. Even still, this Marantz unit has some adjustments on their menu should there ever be any problem. I've never needed them.
The annoying thing about HDMI on any unit, and this one is no exception, is that "handshaking" when you change HDMI sources takes 3 to 10 seconds! Yeah, it's pretty horrible, but you can thank copy-protection for that! Audio starts quickly, but the changed video source can take up to 10 seconds or even a bit longer to show up. Other non-HDMI or analogue sources speed right along.
Another nice, but buggy feature, is the Audyssey EQ system. There is a known LFE bug (Low Frequency Extention) with the earlier versions of this unit. I heard that as of mid-April 2008, a new firmware upgrade is available from Marantz to fix this, but you have to ship it to a service center to get the upgrade if your unit is older. There are work-arounds to this annoying bug, although they are somewhat tedious. You can learn a lot more about this on the [...]
The Audyssey EQ feature provides a mic which is used to sample 6 or so listening areas to calculate your EQ settings for you. The "bug" causes the sub channel to lose a great deal of power after you use it, and sometimes settings numbers get screwed-up after you change from Large to Small speakers (another Audyssey bug is that it automatically resets all speakers to Large). I seem to lose my subwoofer almost entirely after running in Audyssey EQ mode. The output to the sub all but disappears, unless I raise the sub output level to dangerous levels, and crank up my sub. It's really scary, and my sub would almost explode in overdrive if I changed to another output on the receiver, so I decided to forget about Audyssey for a bit. No matter what I did, or what speaker setting I used (either large or small) to set my Audyssey settings, the sub just wasn't even close to correct. The Marantz fix of "just adding 9db" to the sub wasn't enough.
In the end, I tried copying down (channel by channel) all of the EQ and distance settings that Audyssey made, and saved those into the Preset EQ mode. When those EQ and distance numbers are put into that mode, everything sounded just great.
A side note -- many people don't bother with Audyssey or EQ anyway, so you might not even care about all of this.
Lastly, another bug that has surfaced is the "DTS-MA Bomb" that affects all manufacturers who used a certain Texas Instruments chip for processing. This model is effected, so if you plan on bitstreaming DTS-MA to the Marantz SR-8002, you will experience the loud pops on discs like The Golden Compass. Unfortunately for Marantz, they do not offer consumer-upgradable firmware fixes by internet. You have to ship your unit away to Marantz. Very, very inconvenient. If you are using LPCM then you will not experience this bug -- only happens over bitstreaming.
I've talked about a lot of negatives here, but don't get me wrong -- everything else works like it should, and sounds crystal-clear. I am really enjoying this receiver, and I feel it was a good investment. I really like the sound we're getting from the different settings for regular TV viewing, too!
I only give it 4 stars because of the Audyssey bug and somewhat slow HDMI switching, otherwise, it would be 5 stars.
32 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Mr. Fichtner has made some inaccurate statements about Audyssey in the Marantz, that I need to clarify to prevent customers from getting the wrong impression.
1) Large and Small settings for speakers are not set by Audyssey. They are set by Marantz who uses 80 Hz as the criterion for determining Large and Small. Audyssey recommends setting speakers to Small manually
2) The 9 dB cut in the subwoofer level (not LFE as Mr. Fichtner states) was due to a Marantz firmware problem unrelated to Audyssey. It has been fixed in current products and Marantz dealers can update any unit that was purchased earlier.
Chris Kyriakakis
Audyssey Founder and CTO
1) Large and Small settings for speakers are not set by Audyssey. They are set by Marantz who uses 80 Hz as the criterion for determining Large and Small. Audyssey recommends setting speakers to Small manually
2) The 9 dB cut in the subwoofer level (not LFE as Mr. Fichtner states) was due to a Marantz firmware problem unrelated to Audyssey. It has been fixed in current products and Marantz dealers can update any unit that was purchased earlier.
Chris Kyriakakis
Audyssey Founder and CTO
Most Recent Customer Reviews
DOA
I think this unit arrived DOA. Can't get the HDMI to work on it. Called Marantz, they only want to sell me another product. I'm not happy.
Published 8 months ago by Willie Gee
marantz made in CHINA no quality
I purchased a Marantz receiver 2 1/2 years ago Right after having it for a touch over 2 years it dies. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mark Luzzi
Great AMP remote is a fail.
I will keep this short. The receiver is pretty awesome. The remote control totally sucks or maybe I just got a bad. one. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Joseph Jozwik
Marantz Rocks!
My first receiver was a Marantz back in 1976. Over the years it served me well. In the early 90's, I bought a JVC, and was quite happy with it, until I collected more upscale... Read more
Published 16 months ago by B. Deveau
Incredible!
This is an incredible piece of equipment.....especially for the price. Some people might be overwhelmed by all the bells and whistles. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Neil Ensign
Marantz es en rey de su genero..
Este receiver tiene todo lo que un aficionado y/o experto pensaria, es un poco dificil de configurar pero al aprenderlo se nota que tiene muchisimas opcioiones y cualidades, el... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Manuel Camilo Saldarriaga
super
I have been using Marantz tuner and receivers for a long time that is from late 1960s. This is no different from other marantz equipments. Read more
Published 18 months ago by super duper
World Class Sound
I upgraded to the Marantz SR8002 receiver to allow HDMI switching I was missing in my 6 year old Pioneer Elite receiver. Read more
Published 18 months ago by William
Awesome sound quality for Music and Movies. Period.
I recently upgrading my home theater system.
Got KEF IQ90 floor stands, KEF IQ60C center, KEF IQ30 surrounds and ps3. Read more
Got KEF IQ90 floor stands, KEF IQ60C center, KEF IQ30 surrounds and ps3. Read more
Published 18 months ago by M. M. Konakanchi
Opened the box and WOW!
I have just received (my replacement) SR8002 so I will update this review after I've had some time to play with it. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Max Power
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192250339_.gif){kind=small}
