PICK ONE... ONKYO 805 or MARANTZ 8001

Pdn
Thanks for the timely and thoughtful reply.

yes, both receivers are previous models. Accordingly both are quite well discounted. The Marantz is the more costly of the two.

the power thing I don't suspect as an issue being as both are over 100wpc. The Marantz statement of 70% power being driven into more than two ch is surprising to me and a bit unsettleing.

I'm inclined to think in terms of HT application first, and musical performance secondarily... as I have a fair to middling 2 ch system for those audio only ocassions.

Perhaps my querry here wasn't too clear... I should have asked perhaps, is the Marantz 8001 solidly a better performer all around than the Onkyo choice?

but that premise is too, too, subjective I think.

In the HT areana I'm far easier to please as well. My rusty, dusty Sony 444 es AV unit has served me very, very well indeed and now is in it's eighth year of trouble free operation... but is far behind the pack in current technological gains. hence My desire for a more up to date unit supportive of the higher res video and audio formats now available.

My understanding just now is the Marantz falls short of the Onkyo in the video area, but likely surpasses the Onkyo in pure musical benefit...

...and there's the rub. Video is not my real pursuit... only the technology for it's implementation.

I guess the real deal here for me is IF the marantz was hands down, way ahead, no contest, better flat out in the audio area, I'd pay the extra and buy it.

If the Marantz is only slightly better there, or subjectively better there, I'd opt for the Onkyo and be done and done.

the only other worrisome thought is the Marantz uses negative feedback in it's amplification.... a methodology I'm not thrilled with personally.

Ergonomics and support are also big considerations for me.

Thanks folks... thanks a lot.

I must be a numbers geek when I’m in any way doubtful on a project… that said, the Onkyo 805 supports more digital source material than does the Marantz 8001.

Onkyo does 1.3A HDMI….. the Marantz is but 1.2 HDMI… a minor deal at best as the difference is the replay of DSD & video upsampling non protected (encrypted), I think, via HDMI.

I do find it sort of funny that I’m worried about the video processing and/or up sampling… I sure can’t see it. haha

Can’t swing the TX SR875’s additional $600. i’ve other plans.

Between the MARANTZ & ONKYO… the price diff is about $160.00, the Marantz being the higher of the two.

The overall use will be quite intermittent and very, very seldom… perhaps 2hr – 6hr per week. Maybe more during the NFL season.

The express use will be for video applications. Movies. Some TV music specials. Austin city Limits, jazz channel, Crossroads, PBS, etc. The ultimate display will be a projector…down the road and surely a 1080P capable one. Now it will be a 720P/1080I 61” RP.

I’ll attain speakers with 90db or higher. Likely additional Silverlines though for rears only I’d think, and run a ghost center ch. So as to not muck up the landscape. Geography is at a premium hereabouts.

No additional amp will be purchased, if I can avoid it.

A sub will be employed.

Sources will be an Oppo HD DVD multi format player and an HD cable box… and maybe video tape.

Connections will be via HDMI as much as possible.

I’ve heard of the heat thing on the Onkyo… though not the noise issues.

I also agree with another poster here, that Marantz’s mid fi line up isn’t a hands down way ahead safe and clear bet. It/they are just another one in the mix.

As I’ve related here… I’ve been very happy with my Sony 444es AV 110wpc 5.1 gizmo for going on 8 years now. (with longer rear spkr wire runs however, higher eff speakers and heavier wire is required).

I’m thinking either of these two here are a nice step up from the es receiver. BTW the Sony ain’t the coolest running unit either.

Maybe I ought to just get the one that weighs the most.

Sogood51

Thanks much.... What you did is about what I'll be doing too... but different speakers & sub.

805 owners... the only in depth review I could find on either the 805 or 875 said they were bright up top... is that your experience?

They also mentioned the video delay not catching immediately and/or the consequent lag of audio via the HDMI path.

...and given the above, the Marantz becomes more attractive... hmm.

yes... it was the audio that did lag behind the video. sorry.

I had similar issues with an Anthem processor as well when switching to 'analog' channels from the digital ones, but not with the sony 444es receiver. both were using the same source too. In fact the Anthem was to blame in the end. Though it would only happen with certain types of cable/satelite boxes.

however it might not be an altogether terrible thing. naturally the caveat for me is I'm not hearing/seeing that behavior listed in reviews of other HT receivers.

with disc playback I'd think it a very minor issue indeed. Changing channels or sources though, well... Perhaps that'll disappear in '09 when all is, ah, uh, digital by decree.

Wireless200

Thank you for your thoughts.

Yes a direct connection is possible and I've done that in the past... though via that path lip sync issues arise sometimes.

Another concern is on the audio side, naturally. In the HD/BLUE ray discs, and likely to come, satellite and fiber optic cable providers there is the HD audio facet that is transmitted via the 1.3A HDMI interface using HD or BR discs. I find that very attractive.

This audio content, as I read it, is completely uncompressed information and possessive of remarkable presentations. Just think about the first time you heard 24/96 content on a nice DVD/audio setup... or better still, the higher res 24/192 (DVDA) & 32/105 (SACD), being the audio side of the movie, as good or better and in multi channel. That level of audio reproduction made even meager sounding systems sound pretty good.

I agree also I didn't care for Onkyo's sound either nearly 20 years ago. Nor have I heard a properly set up Denon receiver. the only Denon I heard was a 100wpc receiver driving a pair of Legacy Focus 20/20s. I wasn't impressed at all, and that was just 4 years ago.

As pedantic as I can be sometimes, I tend to overthing things. I am fast getting the impression however, that what I want overall is not to be had 100% in either of these two units...

I guess always when budgetary limits are in play, compromise, somewhere or somehow, is the rule.

I think I need to up the ante, or be OK with those features I find most attractive in either of these two units presently, and for the near future.

Sogood51

"Those sellers can only hope for buyers that don't research much."

Is there such a being currently using a personal confuser and buying upper end gear?

There’s a colloquialism I used to hear a lot, “If ya snooze, ya lose.”

Well I lost $100 by not getting off the dime earlier, though I did still save a little.

I bought the Onkyo SR 805B.

Thanks for the input everyone. I sincerely appreciate it. Consumer support and technology won out this go ‘round, sorry ‘bout that Marantz.

…geeezzz now I need wall mounted maple surrounds and a lot of speaker wire! Sheesh.

Oh, and a nice sub.

Mrmikesmail

Thank you. I usually follow up on my posts with some closure of sorts... it's only right I think to do so as other's have spent their time to assist me... and still others are curious too.

Check back in a couple of weeks and I will have something here on it.

Now I'm off for rears and a sub...

Update:

First thoughts ONKYO TX SR805...

I should have purchased an extended warranty. The OEM warranty will LIKELY expire before I figure out how to turn it on, and surely by the time I finish reading the owners manual.

One day everything will have MAC IDs. receivers will automatically see what's plugged into what, and users/owners will only have to select which device to use, press play, and perhaps, adjust the volume.

Dave
You're probably right on. I'm slowed a bit more than most with ancilliary challenges.

I got the radio to work last night and I'm quite pleased with the initial results in fact.

I'm not doing the Auto setup until my rear speakers show up later this week... AND I get stands, speaker wire, and decide on which sub (s). In the interim, whatever it's set itself to now is fine by me.

Does the thing stay on all the time? ...or in Standby?

The unit's remaining powered up bothers me some.

What power cord do you use with your's?

A dozen days later and greater insights abound. I do like it's sonic signature overall, and the tuner. Once I'm better versed with it perhaps I'll feel less awkward and begin to actually enjoy it. For now, it's like going back to school, re-learning a new receiver speak and terminologies.

My disappointment lays solely in the fact the second zone's useage relies upon those sources connected via RCA only. My present understanding is none of the digital decoding is output to either of the two remote zones. only the tuner output is allowed without the supplement of extra cabling. that's a real drag.

Further, there is scant little direct alteration of things without the implementation and use of the various menus... and it does possess many. Even minor tone adjustements are prerequisite of menus.

True, some menus are immediately accessible, and thus truncate the lengthy navigation sometimes necessary for making changes, but some greater auto functionality would seem in order. the defaults also can be managed and changed to suit preffs. I should think the main title information on the disc would be naturally selected initially by the receiver, and options, if available would then be listed or presented to the user so further choices might then be made if required. Rather than checking the menus to see other currently available formats for audio replay manually.

Overall, it's a work I'd not intended upon, though now faced with the task of organizing and choosing preffs, once done I believe all will be well.

After all, it's just for watching movies primarily, and a scant bit of TV now and then... For me, 2 ch remains the focus completley.

I sincerely, and do mean sincerely appreciate any and all efforts of those posters who shared their thoughts here.

thank you.

Once in a while one needs to stop... and take a look at what enterprize they are getting into... and just how deeply they want to follow the rabbit into the hole.

I said I'd not add amps to a receiver... I did. I said it's just for watching movies as this event wasn't going to be exploded into some other worldly high dollar event... it has or is becoming just that.. albeit, on a medium sort of high end level.

Sheesssh.

Anyhow, the Onkyo is run in on at least it's stereo preamp/proc outputs... and HDMI inputs. The HDMI inputs are a real eyeopening experience too... trying a few types revealed no major differences, so get in cheap there is my notion.

I do like the TX SR805's sound... I do not like it's menu oriented structure, but once aprised of it, the operation is pretty easy. The Set up is the biggest deal, and past that, it preforms very well indeed. Suprisingly so in fact.

It does have more finesse than my old stand by Sony 444es, but not the bass impact. Adding outborad amps is also a reallly big plus.. I'm presently sold on Odyseey for that solution. Together they are very pleasing, and most entertaining on a very high level.

I also found the ONkyo support team to be, by and large, most helpful... once you find someone there with a bit of experience of course.

Overall, for the under a grand price tag, not only can I not kick, I'm pretty happy.

Well, you're a mite late to this party, but thanks for the thoughtful input. IT'S ALWAYS SAGE ADVICE TO 'TRY FIRST'... when one can.

I can see why the Rotel and Revel match was not a bad one. The rotel amps are more forgiving than are the Revels.

True that! Matching a 'whatever' amp to the receiver and speakers is a bit of a task, but not terribly difficult... or I got real lucky. both the choice on receiver and outboard amp (s0, has been made now.

With the Sonata IIIs inplace as mains, perhaps it's an easier task than with some other types of speakers. Personally, I've never been to enthralled with Revel speakers in any event.

The one main caveat to your spot on note is this... it's the "Going to hear" the ??? thing. One can at times, be very limited in that respect. More so when wanting to hear it in your own rig & home, for that matter.

hence we ask questions, get to know others here, ascertain their tastes and ideas as best we can, and make our best guess or choices.... or install a revolving turnstile and do the Audiogone "buy & Try" shuffle.

The Odyssey Stratos SE is quite an acceptable amp to me, for HT & music. to the point where I'd as soon forgoe installing a revolving door. Cabling played a big part in that integration too. In fact I'm leaning towards getting another Odyssey amp of sorts down the road. Which one or which type or if at all is the question now. I could as easily just trade up with this one as I bought it newly built.

The jury's still out on that last bit.

"Not much for video my man!"

uh... me neither. hence the receiver, DIY screen, and 720P LCD FP.... Having the Sonata IIIs already though put me onto the path of outfitting the rest of the ch's with 'same same' speakers though. To be safe-er, adding the 2 ch amp gives versatility, and aids the HT rec... and I could use the SS amp for the rears, and my tube monos for the fronts for further WPC assistance, though I feel cohesiveness will suffer some.

Good luck on the upgrade mill.