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  1. #1
    AR Newbie Registered Member
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    Unhappy Denon, Yamaha or Marantz Receiver

    First I wanted to get some cheap DVD surround solution but in time I decided to invest in something better. I`m seraching for the match with B&W DM602 S3 speakers. I have in mind few receivers: Denon 1803, Yamaha RX-V440(RX-V540) and Marantz SR4300 (SR5300). What is the best solution for both stereo and surround? All salesman voted for Yamaha ( best value/performace/complain ratio). Please help!

  2. #2
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    Well personaly I run a Marantz SR7200 and could not be more happier with it. The Marantz SR4300 is not beatable for its price in my opinion. The quality that goes into every Marantz Product is top notch. I had many Receivers Onkyo Integra, Denon, Bell, and 1 Yamaha. The Marantz made the best impression and i will enjoy it for years to come.

    1 Vote for Marantz
    2 Channel:
    Magnepan MG .5 QR Special Edition Cambridge Audio C500 Pre Amp,
    Cambridge Audio P500 Power Amp,
    Marantz CD56 CD-Player.

    Cable between electronics are Wireworld Sonata and Wireworld Terra to the Speakers.

    Home Theater is a Marantz SR7200 Marantz DV4300 DVD Player and Onkyo THX Ultra HT Setup

  3. #3
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    I'll put in a vote for the Denon. Denon makes very good units at all price ranges.

  4. #4
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    If you listen to Jazz or softer Pop music then you will be better off with the Marantz or Denon. If you like Rock music you will like the Yamaha. The Yamaha is a lot brighter than the other two. I personally like the warmth of the Marantz.
    My System:
    Receiver: Marantz SR7300
    DVD Audio/SACD: Pioneer DV-563AS
    DVD Player: Panasonic DVD-RP62K
    CD Changer: Sony DVP-C650D
    TV: Mitsubishi WS-48511
    Sat: Echcostar HD 6000U
    Remote: Sony AV3000
    Cables: Monster and Acoustic Research

    Speakers:
    Center: CSW Center Stage
    Fronts: CSW Tower II (Bi-wired)
    Rears: CSW Surround 5.1
    Back Center: CSW Newton MC300
    Sub: JBL PB-10
    Speacker Wire: CSW 16 ga. white

    my website:
    http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1mkhw/index.html

  5. #5
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    The advice you've received so far - while well-intentioned I'm sure, is NOT right. The salesmen who recommended Yamaha over the other two were quite correct. If you value reliability, this one's a no-brainer! Go read the thread below with the subject title of "Losses at Denon and Marantz" for more info on the subject.

    This is a classic case of people having good luck with a certain brand and translating that into thinking that that brand will ALWAYS be as good as the one they bought years ago ... which is not always the case. The prime example of this is SONY, RCA and Zenith - three stalwarts in the TV biz, who now rely on their past reputation to sell their products today. You couldn't sell ME a TV set from any one of the three at any price today! Caveat emptor and all that jazz ...
    woodman

    I plan to live forever ..... so far, so good!
    Steven Wright

  6. #6
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    So are you saying Yamaha is impervious to the current marketing trend of building everything cheaper? I'm not buying that.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by grampi
    So are you saying Yamaha is impervious to the current marketing trend of building everything cheaper? I'm not buying that.
    No, I'm not saying that Yamaha is somehow impervious to anything - but I am saying that today they are building the BEST products in terms of value/performance/reliability available in the marketplace ... period. I wouldn't consider for even a minute buying an A/V receiver from any other company today ... especially Denon or Marantz! No contest.
    woodman

    I plan to live forever ..... so far, so good!
    Steven Wright

  8. #8
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    Bullcrap! Denons are every bit as good as Yamahas.

  9. #9
    Forum Regular DaveHK's Avatar
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    Age old battle...

    Don't listen to ANYONE on here. No one will be able to tell you what to buy, all they can tell you is personal experience. Listen in the store to what you like best and take it home, if you don't like it, take it back and get something else. Asking that sort of question will only start a flame war and you won't get a straight answer. trust your ears and don't feel that you are locked into a purchase once you walk out the door. That is the best advice you will get on this topic.


    Dave

    "Common sense is all it takes"

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by grampi
    Bullcrap! Denons are every bit as good as Yamahas.
    .........no there NOT!.........and another thing.......glad there's no bias on this site.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by zapr
    .........no there NOT!.........and another thing.......glad there's no bias on this site.
    Man, are you brainwashed! I'm not biased. I happen to think Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, H/K, and Marantz are all equally very good units, separated by personal preference of features and price. I fail to see how the Yamahas are clearly superior to the others. They're just as good, but not any better.

  12. #12
    Forum Regular Woochifer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by grampi
    Man, are you brainwashed! I'm not biased. I happen to think Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, H/K, and Marantz are all equally very good units, separated by personal preference of features and price. I fail to see how the Yamahas are clearly superior to the others. They're just as good, but not any better.
    They are all good units, but the reliability factor in favor of Yamaha is something I've heard from friends of mine who've worked AV sales over the years. It's not that they're incapable of building a defective unit or that the others can't build a stellar unit, it's just that Yamaha's had a more consistent track record over the years.

    With all the outsourcing that's going on in the industry right now, Yamaha's one of the few companies out there that does almost all of its own manufacturing. (And they're the only one that makes their own processors and other ICs) Denon, Marantz, and h/k, among others, outsource some of their receiver models, and that's where Marantz and h/k have run into major problems on some production runs. Denon's also shifted around their outsourcing facilities the past couple of years, but I haven't heard of any problems on the order of what Marantz and h/k have encountered.

  13. #13
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    Now Wooch, you're just winding Grampi up

    You know Woodman is right, and basing his statements on his hands on experience. I know he's right, based on my years of hands on experience. Other people that service this stuff know he's right, based on their years of experience. That doesn't make his opinon any less valid...no wait a minute. Grampi is allowed to have any opinion he wants. It's a free country. Now give him his Metamucil, and if he behaves for the next couple of days, let him have a Viagra.

    It would really hack him off if I said the Yamahas sound better too, wouldn't it. I better not go there.

    Stay out of trouble Wooch

    Space

  14. #14
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    Naw, I wouldn't be hacked. The difference in SQ is perceived, not real. IOW, it's a fig newton of your imagination.

  15. #15
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    Then its a great case of mass delusion

    Everyone I've ever done a comparison to has picked the Yamaha. Saw a Yamaha rep do that once at a dealer's grand opening. $800 Yamaha against top of the line Denon, 5700 or 5800..I remember the Yamaha was RXV800 since it was $800.

    I've tried it over the years since, and it always seems to work. Yamahas consistently have bigger soundstage, more open mids, and tighter bass with better definition. Even with the Denon playing noticably louder. Playing louder doesn't increase the size of the soundstage or improve imaging. If someone is around, I'll ask them what they think. They always agree. After a couple of dozen times I think it becomes a distinct possibility I may be right.

    It has kind of become my "man on the street" bit if I've got time to kill in an audio store. I keep trying to get someone to tell me otherwise, but haven't had it happen yet. They don't know what is playing, and often think I'm changing speakers. This audio stuff is in my blood.

    Space

    Grampi, its okay if you don't agree with me. My wife doesn't very often either...I'm used to it.

  16. #16
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    Maybe I'm going tone deaf, but I don't hear the difference.

  17. #17
    Forum Regular 46minaudio's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by FAIELLO
    If you listen to Jazz or softer Pop music then you will be better off with the Marantz or Denon. If you like Rock music you will like the Yamaha. The Yamaha is a lot brighter than the other two. I personally like the warmth of the Marantz.
    Faiello when you compared the Yamaha receivers to Marantz and Denon did you level match to within .5dbs.were these test done single blind or double blind..I have read about Yamaha being bright.Not one were tested under these conditions..This is funny, most were compared in different rooms on different days,and get this you will love this one, some made this comment using different speakers...It does make one laugh...Ive said this before find the receiver with the features,and power your speakers require,and also look at what brands have the least amount of quality control problems..

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by 46minaudio
    Faiello when you compared the Yamaha receivers to Marantz and Denon did you level match to within .5dbs.were these test done single blind or double blind..I have read about Yamaha being bright.Not one were tested under these conditions..This is funny, most were compared in different rooms on different days,and get this you will love this one, some made this comment using different speakers...It does make one laugh...Ive said this before find the receiver with the features,and power your speakers require,and also look at what brands have the least amount of quality control problems..
    I was only able to compare the Denon in the same room, on the same day, with the same speakers to the Yamaha. The Marantz was located at a different merchant. I did play with the bass management a little but not being familiar with the equipment and not having the manual in front of me, I had to depend on the salesperson to help me. I when with the Marantz for three reasons, the good reviews I have seen here and at other fourms, I was able to hear it in the showroom with my speakers, and the price was very good and had more of the features that I was looking for than the others in this price range.

    I compared the, Yamaha RXV2300, Denon 3803, and the Marantz SR7300
    My System:
    Receiver: Marantz SR7300
    DVD Audio/SACD: Pioneer DV-563AS
    DVD Player: Panasonic DVD-RP62K
    CD Changer: Sony DVP-C650D
    TV: Mitsubishi WS-48511
    Sat: Echcostar HD 6000U
    Remote: Sony AV3000
    Cables: Monster and Acoustic Research

    Speakers:
    Center: CSW Center Stage
    Fronts: CSW Tower II (Bi-wired)
    Rears: CSW Surround 5.1
    Back Center: CSW Newton MC300
    Sub: JBL PB-10
    Speacker Wire: CSW 16 ga. white

    my website:
    http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1mkhw/index.html

  19. #19
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    I'm new to this whole Audio/Video deal. Just bought B&W 604 S3, B&W center, B&W Sub and Mirage rears. The dealer sold Yamaha, Marantz, Pioneer Elite and a couple other brands I do not rememeber. He told me for my price range (under $1000.00) you can't beat a Yamaha Receiver. He said when you jump to the $1500.00 and > range there are better receivers out there than Yamaha. I don't really know the real deal; I guess you just have to listen and decide what YOU like. I see a lot of people bash the B&W Line of speakers. I think they sound pretty damn good....Paul

  20. #20
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    Talking

    After so many friendly advices I decided, after all, to believe my own ears. After weeks spend in listening rooms with all kinds of eq.(and price range) my personal conclusion is this. All receivers sounded good but Marantz, NAD and Rotel were ahead of others in music. Best HT device is Yamaha but for stereo its not that good as three above. My only advice to all confused people here is -listen. Take a holiday if you need but be patient bother salesmans (its their job to answer question and connect speakers) and bring your CDs. High price doesnt mean good sound and oposite. Back to the point: Rotel (RSX 1055) could be good choise but the price is insane, NAD (752) is incredible performer but its design (sorry nad fans) is failure and I heard some complains about quality check. Marantz SR5300 is the winner in my quest. Built like brick s@#*t house with superb sound and timeless design (gold aluminum finish). Besides music and HT, I wanted to enjoy every time I look at it for the years to come. My second pick would be Yamaha (RX-V740 or RX-v1400). Ther is no trace of bright sound (with B&Ws though), sound is clean and clear but missing some component that I noticed when I compared it with others.

  21. #21
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    denon,marantz or yamaha

    Here is my 2 cents worth-

    each manufacturer's receiver sounds better or worse with a given set of speakers.

    For instance, I had a Yamaha RX-V890 that sounded very good with my
    Paradigm monitor 9's. I now have a Denon Avr-4800 that sounds good with my Snell E-5's. BUT when I switched Snells to Yamaha, and Monitor 9 to Denon, they did not sound so good.

    Don't really know why ??? Both Denon and Yamaha were great units.

    WAK

  22. #22
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    I think that speakers like the DM602s are only avarage units. At this level all the recievers you mentioned will go well. If you're more for movies maybe Yamaha. If more for music Marantz. But if you care for the music, the DM602s are not enough. The SR5400 is a "different unit" if you hook up a pair of 703s. And the same SR5400 maybe again "another unit" if you drive a pair of N804s.

  23. #23
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    I listened to the Denon 1804 and Yamaha rx-v740 side by side in the same room, same speakers and everything, couldn't detect much difference at all. The Yamaha rx-vX40 models and beyond supposedly are not as bright as older Yamahas. I also listened Marantz although not in the same room. It was a little more musical sounding to me than both the yamaha and the denon (could have been the room though). I really liked the Marantz 7400...but it didn't really fit my needs. I ended up just getting the rx-v740 online because it sounded decent to me on my speakers (paradigm studio40s) and it will be a decent reciever for me to figure out which features I really want, and which ones I don't use. Eventually I see mysefl upgrading my system as a stereo unit that can be used for HT, but is primarily situated for music. I think when I can afford it I'll go with separate pre/pro and amp...but the yammie will more than suffice for the next year and a half or so while I live in an apartment where I don't have a dedicated listening room.
    Honestly though, I really don't think you can go wrong with denon, yamaha, or marantz...not to mention HK, those are some nice recievers too. It all comes down to what works best with your system to your ears...and how much of that dsp bs and what not that you do or don't want to mess around with. people talk about preouts and all, but I don't hear of too many people running decent power amps off of a $500 mid-fi a/v reciever

  24. #24
    cam
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    Alot of people go shopping for a certain sound that they think they can live with. When I went shopping I already knew the sound that I could not live with. I was using a Technics sadx 1050 which was their top model at that time. It did the job for awhile but then it became hard on the ears, I lived with it for 2 years and during those 2 years I went from watching my movies at almost reference levels to not even being able to stand it at medium volume, then to not even wanting to use the amp anymore. I had gone completely tired of that sort of sound. I was lucky enough to be able to hear the yamaha 740 with the denon 1803 side by side with energy speakers at A&B sound. I used some of my favorite cd's and dvd's and right away I found that the yammy had that same sound that I knew I just could not live with again. The denon was softer on my ears and as the volume increased it stayed just as soothing on my ears. When we cranked up the 740 I just wanted it to be turned down right away. I ended up buying the 1804 a month later. Reliability issues aside, find your budget and the sound you can live with. It was easy for me because I knew the sound I could not.

  25. #25
    RGA
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    Look, until anyone can post me statistical provable facts that any of these is reliably superior to the others to such a degree it would make a notable difference that would interest me. Otherwise it doesn't mean a whole lot. What would matter more is the customer serivice. Looking inside the 4300 and it's competitors from Yamah and Denon the Marantz had the biggest power transformwer the heaviest unit and easily the most superior in build construction...now whether the thing will fall apart is another matter.

    Now I admit Yamaha has a good rep for build no question - amongst receiver makers. But In Canada anyway Marantz has the longest warranty of any receiver sold in the country. 3 years intead of 1 or 2 the others offer.

    In the price range the 4300 is the only one that allows for an upgrade of the power amp section - which at least for my needs would be a very valuable option without it would completely have it crossed from my list.

    Marantz has had more issues from my personal knowledge of them in BC.

    But hey people buy American cars for some reason - it sure has nothing to do with reliability.

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