You can't go wrong at all with the Marantz SR6003. New/refurbished with factory warranty.
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/MARSR6003/Marantz/Sr6003-Dolby-Truehd/Dts-hd-Master-Audio-Av-Receiver/1.html
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/content/marantz-sr6003-av-receiver
Plenty of muscle. It bench tests close to your requirements even in 7.1.
Bill |
I like my cambridge 540R v1 got it for about 235$ |
NAD products tend to have more of whats important and less of what is tinsel. |
Yes Marantz and NAD are excellent choices, also Rotel. Can't go wrong with these. Just keep in mind one important point about power ratings on AVRs. Marantz rates their per channel power based on 2 channels not all 5 or 7 even if it says 100w X 7, 20hz-20khz in to 8 ohms. So do many other AVR manufacturers. You have to see "All Channels Driven". Rotel and NAD will state this, Marantz does not. There is no industry standard requiring this to be stated (all channels driven). My very first AVR was a Marantz SR5600 and I loved it. It was rated at 90W/channel x 5. I learned later that this was based on 2 channels driven in to 8 ohms, 20hz-20khz. When all 5 are on, Marantz derates this to 70% of the stated power. They told me this directly after contacting them. Also another point, it's going to be difficult to find a "simple" AVR today because they all so many features and programming. Be prepared to sit down with the owners manual. |
Pdn,
What you have stated with most consumer level receivers is true. The link that I referenced for the Marantz SR6003 shows that it benches at 96w/ch with 7 channels driven and 111w/ch with 5 channnels driven. In stereo it benched at 130w/ch. Marantz rates it at 100w/ch in stereo. In this case, this receiver far exceeds it's stated power rating.
I just so happen to have a NAD T773 AVR that is rated at 110w/ch(all channels driven) that is the best sounding most powerful HT receiver I have ever heard. It is also very user friendly. I took a step down(in features only) when I swapped my midlevel HDMI receiver for the NAD.
Bill |
Willand:
That's interesting about the Marantz. How did you or where did you obtain that bench test data? Yes I believe that 70% derating value is conservative. My first real receiver back in the 1980s was NAD and it lasted for decades. NAD offers some of the best power supplies in the business for the money. Headroom has always been abundant. I've since switched over to Rotel, Marantz, and B&W as the primary brands in my sound system. Got the Rotel RMB-1075 multi-channel amp at 120 watts/ch/8 ohms/20hz-20khz conservatively. Potent to say the least. But you can't miss with NAD. Enjoy that T773. Helluva unit !! |
Who ever got it to test that way just solved the worlds energy
problems.Perhaps a perpetual power amp?It may have been tested
at 1khz only.The SR6003 only consumes up to 600 watts total, that includes thermal loss.They have a lot of loopholes for rating receivers to get by the FTC true RMS 20-20,000hz rating.Here is Marantz stating it only consumes 600 watts in the link.Not to many receivers meet the all channel 20-20,000 true rating.[http://us.marantz.com/Products/2515.asp] |
Marantz states 7x100 watts 20-20,000khz.I'd love to here why it consumes 600 watts.Oh,they did leave out continuous!Typical loophole they like to use.It may still be a good sounding receiver even though they don't give the real power rating.[http://us.marantz.com/SR6003_Spec_sheet_11182008.pdf] |
Denon
Marantz
Yamaha
NAD
would all be on my audition list |
What is a good AV receiver that has a class D amplifier section? |
There isn't a huge selection of choices for AVR's with all digital amplification. The one that comes to my mind is from Panasonic, model SA-XR57S. Which has had decent reviews. Personally, i like diferent AVR's for different reasons. My Cambridge Azur 640R is my reference receiver, but my Yamaha SA-XR57S has an excellent auto setup via microphone, as well as the ability to run pure signal, bypassing tone controls, etc. My old Denon AVR1802 5.1 receiver had an amazing pre-out that I hooked up to an Integra 2.1 receiver. It was the most detailed, nuetral pre out I've ever heard on an AVR. What I mainly look for now in an AVR is the ability to to up-convert analog video to 1080p HDMI. The newer Pioneers are well regarded in this area. |
Beecee,
When you are referring to your CA640 being your reference are you speaking of its sound? You also speak highly of your Denon1802. Which is better?
The reason I ask is I used to own the CA640 integrated amp and it was superb sounding. I temporarily use a Denon395 stereo receiver until I find the correct AVR for me. I'm quite fond of CA but have recently been surprised by Denon.
Ultimately, I like the idea of a AVR w/ a Class D amp, like the integrated amps by Cary, Bel Canto, and PS Audio w/ the B&O digital amp section. |
Pioneer uses Class D amps in their receivers and they are highly regarded. |
Rogmatic,
I thought they only used them in their 2 top of the line receivers, but I may be wrong. |
I think that is right - I believe the Pioneer class d amps are only in the SC-07 and SC-05. |
