Quote Originally Posted by Mr Peabody
That's right, the AV8003 processor and MM8003 multichannel power amp have hit the street.

http://us.marantz.com/products/2317.asp

I saw the complete package today, both pieces with the Marantz Blu-ray player BD8002. http://us.marantz.com/Products/2393.asp

They were driving all Martin Logan in-walls with one of their mongo subs. The bad thing about systems like this you can never really compare apples to apples. Even if you brought it home and went through the trouble of setting it up you'd still have to go from memory as to what your old system sounded like. I have to say the system was impressive and far beyond what an A/V receiver could ever do. From what I'm told the ML in-walls aren't the easiest speaker to drive and this MM8003 drove this system without the slightest trouble. We watched a bit of 10,000 BC and then a BR Jazz Legends sampler. The Jazz music was where I was the most impressed. The sound was audiophile like, not at all sounding like coming from an A/V system. From Marcus Miller's bass to Chic Corea, the sound was incredible. So one can assume that both pieces are over achievers. I'm convinced this gear will be a hot item and garner Marantz a new respect in making high quality audio gear. Actually, the first prediction is a bit of a fudge since Marantz has sold most of this gear as soon as it hit the street. I plan to place my order for the AV8003 and it will take a minimum of 3 weeks to get one. The BR player I understand is even more back ordered. You could possibly get lucky and find a dealer who had the money to bring in a larger inventory who might still have something. Once I get one and hook it up in my system I'll be able to tell more about it. I've had an Arcam and my current Primare, so the 8003 will have big shoes to fill.

The BR player has an impressive build quality and the picture was stunning but unfortunately they had nothing there to compare it to. With the build and Realto chip set it will have to still perform something more to warrant $2k, in my book anyway.

As a side note those wanting a Blu-ray movie to show your system off should buy 10,000 BC. My vision isn't good enough to give you a videophile critique but I can tell you on a good system when the Mammoths come your house will be shaking and quaking. On Lossless the bass is like nothing I've heard in a soundtrack to date. I could not find in the movie menu where to set the audio. We had to use the audio button on the remote to toggle through the choices. I thought that a bit odd.
Glad you enjoyed the Marantz combo... The features are spectacular... it is even a network music player (essentially a Squeezbox).... which is exactly the direction music is going now.... and should help to make it a big hit... Though it is still out of the reach of most mortals ($5K for the combo is not cheap, though knowing Marantz it's probably more than worth it)...

Also, even though Marantz doesn't get nearly enough amp reviews in North America... everytime they get one (that I've read anyway) it's a very favourable review... Marantz is probably my most admired brand, simply because I really like a brand that can cater to all price levels and somehow produce quality products at each price range... Check out the European reviews and you'll see that they get 5 out of 5 star reviews from their $600 Integrated amp all the way up to their $15K pair of monoblocks!!! How many companies can (or even would) produce high quality gear from $600 to $23,000??? Not to mention that they produce by 2 channel and HT.... Pretty impressive I think...