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Absolute Sound Golden Ear Award '07, US "This remarkable speaker, which uses dynamic drivers in an open baffle, offers the openness and resistance to room problems of a dipole planar combined with a power, solidity, and bass extension that few planers can even dream of. Coherent, dynamic, extended in the bass (to 27Hz), very low in distortion, and tonally well balanced, and the R 909 does a positively spectacular job of reproducing the scope and power of large-scale music."
Home Studio, Holland • Easy to play loudspeaker • Great separation of high and low frequencies • Extremely stable sound • A very fascinating speaker • Crystal clear sound • Very precise
Australian Hi-Fi, Australia “What really frightened me after listening to these speakers is the thought that were it not for Henrik Mortensen's dedication and persistence, Jamo's R909s may never have seen light of day, which would have meant that the world would have missed out on a truly great loudspeaker, one that I predict will achieve immortality in the same way as Quad's original electrostatic.”
Hjemmekino, Norway “You won’t believe it before you hear it” •Surprisingly easy to integrate in the room • Awesome raw design • Excellent sound picture •
Sound & Image Award, Australia LOUDSPEAKER OF THE YEAR OVER $ 2,500 The revolutionary Jamo R909 Reference Loudspeaker has just taken out two major awards, back to back. Hot on the heals of coveted European Title ‘Best High-End Loudspeaker‘, the R909 is back on stage again, this time receiving Australian ‘Loudspeaker of the Year over $ 2,500’.
The Absolute Sound, US “The Jamos have glorious, full yet precise and extended bass, a bass undreamed of by any but truly enormous electrostatics. They are also free of the middle-bass “hole” that afflicts so many point source speakers. And as the symphony proceeded, the Jamos turned out to have a dynamic capacity beyond electrostatic realms. I was tempted to subtitle this review “the electrostatic perfected.” And while that might have been a bit mean-spirited it would not have been inappropriate, for the Jamos do have the same kind of low distortion, transparency, coherence, and smoothness ’stats have, but with a power and fullness that electrostatics can only dream of.” “The Jamo is not just superb at reproducing large-scale music. With its cost-no-object midrange and tweeter it does superbly well with the small-scaled music, too. The Water Lily recording of Arturo Delmoni playing solo violin was right on the mark as to tone, while the reverberant acoustics of the church where the recording was made were revealed naturally, with clarity but no exaggeration.”
HI-FI CHOICE, UK “In short, this is a speaker with personality. What you get here is an enormous sense of scale, far exceeding conventional speakers, even big ones like B&W´s larger 800 Series models. And yet somehow Jamo has conspired to deliver this scale without any obvious sins of overhang or “boom”. The sense of drama, of the physical presence of musical performers right there in the listening room, appears to be intrinsic, where more conventional speakers with a similar balance often sound overblown.” “From one point of view, the big easy and relaxed sound of this speaker is one of its greatest strengths, especially as it is achieved without loss of detail, and without sounding “blowsy” or out of control. And this is exactly what the R 909 does achieve. Sure, it is perceptibly warm, but the bass is unusually tuneful and well proportioned in its own right. Orchestral entries are well timed, with the kind of balance and weight you might well be looking for when seated, say, one third to one half of the way to the back of many concert halls; the kind of balance that allows a rich, yet complex sound from the cellos and double basses.” “Conclusion An individual take on the high-end loudspeaker, the R 909 is relatively easy to integrate into real world systems and rooms, and its proportions look just right (not a given at this end of the market), the shallow depth being especially striking.” Editor’s choice Overall score: 89%.
WHAT HI-FI?, UK "And the Jamos are very room-friendly: we had our largest room earmarked for them, but we were encouraged to try them in a smaller space, where they worked just fine on the end of our Naim/Krell reference system. Whatever you’ve heard about the problems of room interaction with dipole speakers like these, the R 909s just get on with the job, provided they have a metre or so of space behind them and a gentle toe-in toward the listening position. While these speakers can indubitably do ‘big’, with a rich, powerful and well-defined bass, their main characteristics is subtlety, whether with the finer details of voices or the way in which they reveal the recorded acoustic." "They slam, they deliver the rush of a full orchestra, they let you hear each breath a singer takes and, above all, they’re special." "Verdict: The new Jamos are as accomplished as they are daring, with a sound that more than lives up to their price: lovely!"
Stereo & Video, Russia “Key sonic features of R909 include a very spacious (almost natural-sized) soundstage, and a fantastically deep and powerful bass – which at the same time sounds absolutely true to life. Beyond any doubt, such an impeccable performance is an extremely rare treat even in the world of top-quality audio”. “The new Danish speakers scale up a musical event without distorting the delicately balanced proportions between the sound image elements. They create a vast soundstage with natural ambience and softly outlined borders, and enhance listeners’ emotional perception of music to a great extent. R909’s reproduction of symphonic and organ music is amazingly close to the original performance in a real concert hall or a gothic cathedral.” “The new Jamo speakers reveal the full potential of classical stereo reproduction. Their sound reproduction opportunities are really impressive and spacious. R909 is able to draw listeners’ attention to little-known music, and to cast fresh light on familiar records endowing them with surprising new quality.“
HiFi & Musik, Sweden “These speakers sound almost like no other speakers we have encountered. Their effortless and natural way of playing possesses such an obvious authority that almost everything else sounds boxed-in, smeared out and slow. “ “With Jamo you are again reminded how absolutely spellbinding "trivial" stereo listening actually can be.” “The bass is firm and majestic in a way that now and then almost cancels the law of gravitation.” “Despite its natural and realistic way of playing, it is perhaps the unmovable and firm musical grip through the entire frequency range that is the most distinct Jamo characteristic, the ever sought for feeling of actually being there, to put it simply.”
CINEenCASA, Spain “Treble (which I didn't expect problems with) is very correct, not aggressive nor too soft. The ScanSpeak unit used provides a very clean standard of reproduction. Same with midrange, which is in perfect harmony with the treble but with the necessary strength to give body to even to the most difficult instruments. The bass is of, quite honestly, spectacular quality. I really didn't think that a “cabinet” like this Jamo design could generate such a result. I'm stunned.” “Conclusion: The Jamo's R 909 are much more than a letter of intent. Their design removes several barriers to good listening and renews our faith in a loudspeaker concept that we always admired. There are no real caveats here and I can't imagine the R 909s failing to satisfy…. I fervently recommend listening to them. And if you do not feel satisfied, think instead about different partnering equipment, perhaps a bigger power amplifier or a larger listening rooms. One thing's for sure… it won't be the Jamo R 909s that are at fault…” “Verdict: 6 of 5 stars!”
Prestige Audio Video, France “The R 909 might usefully be combined with a very high-end cabinet bass-speaker (subwoofer). However, the most impressive aspect of the performance of these speakers is their incredible impact. We are miles away from the sensations delivered by even the best cabinet bass-speakers of conventional design. There is no perceptible ghosting, and the speakers delivers a clean, crisp and spirited clarity of attack. Likewise, there is not the slightest coloration of the sound output. Transparency and naturalness of restitution of this quality are rarely achieved. The tonal balance is perfect, and the total absence of ghosting lends a striking relief to the sound.” “In conclusion With the R 909, Jamo have tackled the challenge of the open baffle, much beloved of audiophiles. By considering each of the problems raised by this technology and delivering appropriate solutions based upon new design concepts, this manufacturer has produced a remarkable speaker with and impressive performance, providing and unforgettable experience for the listener whose primary concern is to enjoy an unconstrained sound space, with impressive levels of realism. Some ungenerous souls might find fault with the lack of weight in the extreme bass register, but is it really natural to hear a double bass snorting like a compressor on a building site?” |
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Marantz AV8003 Home Theatre Pre-Amplifier / Processor / Tuner:
Home Cinema Choice This is a stonkingly huge pre-power set-up for one-third the cost of Denon's flagship AVP & POA A1HD duo, and a cool five hundred quid less than Denon's AVC-A1HD integrated beastie. Sibling rivalry? More like all-out war. Of course, to hit this rather attractive price for a two-box system, surely features have been kept to a minimum and the build quality gone all Citroen. Er, no actually. ... the 8003 pair creates a simply huge soundstage with gin-clear detailing. The pre-amp is smooth and fast, with the power amp supplying an abundance of welly and grunt. Our Tech Labs measured 141W into 8 ohms across five channels, which is a very good performance; the fidelity firewall rating of 167W is equally impressive. But far from being a die-hard bass-and-effects monster, the Marantz 8003 duo is altogether more refined and subtle. Films immerse you without drowning you in LFE chaos or artificial surround sound fireworks, and dialogue is wholly natural rather than larger than life. In a head-to-head with the similarly-priced Denon AVC-A1HD integrated, the Marantz takes a sophisticated high ground to Denon's more shirt off and up-'n'-at-'em approach. It's a very close call. The 8003s create a wonderfully intense movie-watching experience that sires the urge to watch another movie, and another... Music fans are catered for, too. Put the AV8003 in Pure Direct mode and feed it a good-quality stereo analogue source and it does a frankly stunning impression of an audiophile stereo amplifier, with an equally lush, refined and detailed signature. The 8003 combo never missed an audio beat or film effect for the duration of the test and its sophisticated presentation is wholly addictive and immersive. The unit's M-DAX compressed audio enhancer is one of the best out there, the media streaming facilities point the way ahead and the sheer presence on the rack, and material value for money, is unbeatable. It also has plenty of useful features even if it is some way off the lunatic fringe levels of tweakery to be found in Pioneer's SC-LX90, Yamaha's Z11 or Denon's AVP & POA A1HD combo. But even drawing comparison to the latter pre-power marquee is praise in itself for the AV8003 and MM8003; for day-to-day home cinema and music entertainment the Marantz pair gets damn close in absolute performance to the Big D's reference standard – at less than one-third of the price. A genuine AV bargain that deserves considerable applause.
Home Theatre Magazine The AV8003 includes just about every feature you need and provides enough inputs and outputs to satisfy the vast majority of home theatre enthusiasts. It also includes many features that probably waste time, space, and money, such as composite video connections. Consumers expect improved build quality and meticulous circuit layout in separates, and Marantz does not disappoint. I was extremely pleased with what I heard after the Audyssey system configured my speakers for size, crossover frequency, and distance. It even checked individual speaker polarity and used the AV8003’s built-in nine-band equalizer to smooth out each speaker’s frequency response. If you choose, you can also manually adjust these parameters. But I didn’t, because in my opinion, the auto program was thorough, and the results sounded natural and seamless. Marantz decided to stick to basics, and the result is an uncluttered front panel. A hinged door offers easy access to every important feature and adjustment choice. An equally uncluttered fluorescent display provides important status information and lets you see it from a good distance. The AV8003 features large knobs on either side of the display for input selection and volume adjustment. For instance, if you want to listen to an SACD, you just scroll the input-selection knob until you get to 7.1-Channel Input. Nice! With some A/V receivers, you need to consult the manual each time to re-learn the multiple nested functions you’ll need to roll through to access the function. Unless you’re a control freak, you won’t miss the usual mess of buttons that clutter other A/V products. The sonic differences between the Denon receiver and the Marantz separates were significant. The combo produced the “off the surface of the speaker grille” phenomenon that’s familiar to audiophiles. (This could have occurred because this is a set of separates or because of Marantz’s amplifier expertise and sonic heritage.) In the two-channel world, better amplifiers present music that seems to float free of the speaker surface, while lesser amplifiers tend to paste the images to the grilles. The Marantz performed just as well with 5.1-channel material in this regard. In fact, its spatial presentation was far superior to the Denon’s. This also usually translates into superior microdynamics. And the Marantz separates proved far superior to the Denon receiver in this area as well. Microdynamics refers to low-level dynamic shifts as opposed to the large-scale, loud ones we usually associate with the term “dynamics.” Less than adequate microdynamic presentation reduces music’s breath, suppleness, and believability. It can make you feel the need to turn up the volume to add more punch. It also tends to reduce both dialogue believability and intelligibility. In the Denon review, I referred to “the power and punch that only a separate, more powerful bank of amplifiers can provide.” The Marantz MM8003 doesn’t produce significantly more power than the Denon, or my reference Lexicon RV-8 receiver, for that matter. But subjectively, it sounded more powerful, dynamic, and definitely more supple and nuanced than either of those receivers. Lowering the noise floor increases the dynamic range, produces better microdynamics, and improves low-level transparency. No wonder I could listen to David Gilmour: Remember That Night—Live at the Royal Albert Hall in Dolby TrueHD at very low SPLs and achieve full sonic satisfaction. The lazy ballad “Smile” features Gilmour’s acoustic strums and bottleneck guitars, a tactile pedal steel backdrop, and delicate drum brushwork. It’s fully realized through the Marantz at very low, wife-pleasing levels. Each instrument projected delicately, spatially, harmonically, and with transient clarity. Gilmour’s voice simply sounded more fleshed out and human, with more natural and delicate sibilant structure. When I used the Denon, I felt the need to play the Gilmour disc loud to get the sonic picture to set up and gel through the receiver. With the Marantz, this wasn’t the case. It was possible to look and feel deeply into the picture at very low SPLs. Turning it up increased the satisfaction in ways that increasing the volume usually does. But the overall presentation did not change all that much. The overall delicacy and the transient clarity remained remarkably consistent. Sometimes a volume increase can harden or flatten the sonic picture, but the Marantz combo did not do that. It maintained its sonic composure regardless of SPLs with the material I listened to. The amps in my Lexicon receiver produced more punch than the Denon’s, and the Marantz matched the Lexicon’s punch. It also easily won in every other department, especially high-frequency transient clarity, transparency, and resolution. The Marantz produced an airy, open, and extended yet sweet top end. It was far superior to the Denon’s top end, which was more reserved, closed in, and opaque. No wonder I often felt like turning the volume up to achieve greater sonic satisfaction—and the Denon is no sonic slouch. The Marantz combo produced complete sonic satisfaction at any volume I tried. It combined delicacy, detail, transparency, and a velvety overall sheen that never got in the way of grit when the material called for it. Although my Tannoy subwoofer is powered, the signal that the AV8003 sent resulted in bass that sounded more supple, subtle, better textured, and somewhat less mechanical than what the Denon receiver produced. The Marantz AV8003 preamp/processor doesn’t offer as many bells and whistles as the flagship Denon receiver. But when I used it with the MM8003 eight-channel amplifier, it produced significantly better-sounding bells, whistles, and everything else. The combo’s high-frequency air, transparency, delicacy, and transient clarity rival that of typical high-end two-channel amps. But that’s not surprising, given Marantz’s long-term mission statement and its use of circuitry similar to the kind the superb-sounding SM-11S1 amplifier uses. If the feature set meets your needs, you play a great deal of music (with or without picture) through your A/V system, and you aim to get truly superior sound, you should check out the Marantz. Assuming the video performance checks out satisfactorily and you’ve got room for two boxes instead of one, the Marantz combo is an excellent, easy-to-recommend choice. I doubt any receiver at any price can match its sonic performance.
Audio Video Revolution The AV8003 signals Marantz’s re-emergence into the ultra-competitive AV separates market. The AV8003 is one of the less expensive surround sound processors, positioned to attract those on the verge of buying separates or considering one of today’s uber-receivers, but who prioritize sound quality over bells and whistles. Utilizing a separate processor and amplifier allows the user to improve the quality of equipment over that offered by most receivers. An added benefit is that when the processing technologies change so much that a new processor is needed, you can still keep your amplifier. Despite the plethora of features, the intent of the AV8003 is not to be a feature showcase, but rather to provide class-beating performance. There are many other products out there with even more features – one has only to look at Marantz’s sister company Denon for such products – but features for features sake do not always mean benefits for the user. With the Marantz AV8003, the designers made many conscious decisions about what to include and what to dump. These decisions were primarily based upon performance. While I had some difficulty setting up the networking aspect of the AV8003, the rest of the set-up was straightforward. Marantz has achieved its intent with this piece. The AV8003 performed extremely well with both video and audio. One would likely have to spend multiples of the AV8003’s price in order to obtain significantly better performance.
High Points The Marantz AV8003 is easy to recommend to someone seeking better performance than what a receiver can offer, but who is not yet ready to invest $10,000 in a single component. The Marantz AV8003 has all the bells and whistles that today’s buyer is conditioned to look for, plus the features necessary to easily integrate it into a complex system. This, coupled with its solid performance across the board, from stereo to DTS HD Master Audio, make this piece an easy recommendation for anyone who needs today’s feature set but demands superior performance. The AV8003 doesn’t forget its main purpose. While watching movies or listening to music, it has been able to reproduce an involving and convincing sound field.
AV Guide I decided to review and compare two very good but conceptually dissimilar multichannel “front end” components. I gathered up the Parasound Halo P7 multichannel preamplifier, because Parasound Halo-series components enjoy a great reputation for delivering good sound at reasonable prices. I also obtained a Marantz AV8003 multichannel A/V controller because I wanted to see whether a full-on digital processor could play in direct comparison with some serious high-end audio big boys. I chose the Marantz because it pays attention to audio matters yet doesn’t break the bank. For comparison purposes I also brought along two very highly regarded, purist two-channel preamps that I own: the mbl 6010D (US$23,800) and the Audio Research LS26 (US$5,999). I conducted most of my listening in two-channel mode because I wanted to understand where, if anywhere, the multichannel gear gave ground to premium two-channel gear. The real shocker came when I pitted the Marantz against the mbl 6010D. Try as I might, I really couldn’t reliably say what the difference was. With the 6010D, trying multiple discs, about all I could say was that the mbl sounded a little more stable – in the sense that subliminal noise and distortion modulated the music less on the mbl. Another way of putting this is to say that the Marantz had the sense of a miniscule low frequency grain when compared to the mbl. This is a very subtle effect. Returning to the Marantz on the same test material, I got basically the same result with it as I did with the mbl, which is remarkable considering the price disparity between the products. Again, the differences were essentially inaudible, to me at least. My colleagues at Playback and The Absolute Sound have sometimes heard things that I didn’t notice immediately (and vice versa), so I wouldn’t take it to the bank that this $2600 A/V controller is basically the equal of a more or less handmade $24,000 preamp from Germany. But I would say for many of us that it is so darn close on the kind of material I used that the differences are meaningless (the paragraphs above should issue a further cautionary note about the importance of specific test material). And almost no one would view the value issue as debatable. BOTTOM LINE: Viewed simply as a preamp this controller is close to state-of-the-art; considering that you also get a full multi-channel decoder and Audyssey processor it is almost ideal for a mixed music and theatre system.
Audio Video Gallery The AV8003 signals Marantz’s re-emergence into the ultra-competitive AV separates market. The AV8003 is one of the less expensive surround sound processors, positioned to attract those on the verge of buying separates or considering one of today’s uber-receivers, but who prioritise sound quality over bells and whistles. Utilising a separate processor and amplifier allows the user to improve the quality of equipment over that offered by most receivers. An added benefit is that when the processing technologies change so much that a new processor is needed, you can still keep your amplifier. This theoretically reduces the cost and waste associated with upgrading your equipment. The AV8003 is feature-laden and can even be hooked up to your computer network to stream pictures, audio and video. This three-zone processor also has more of the features that one might expect to find in a new surround processor, including HDMI 1.3 support, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby True HD, HD radio tuner, Anchor Bay Technologies video scaling and Audyssey room correction, as well as being XM- and Sirius-ready. I’ve left out several features, as there are simply too many to list in this article. Trust me, this sucker is packed with technology. Despite the plethora of features, the intent of the AV8003 is not to be a feature showcase, but rather to provide class-beating performance. There are many other products out there with even more features – one has only to look at Marantz’s sister company Denon for such products – but features for features sake do not always mean benefits for the user. With the Marantz AV8003, the designers made many conscious decisions about what to include and what to dump. These decisions were primarily based upon performance. While I had some difficulty setting up the networking aspect of the AV8003, the rest of the set-up was straightforward. Marantz has achieved its intent with this piece. The AV8003 performed extremely well with both video and audio. One would likely have to spend multiples of the AV8003’s price in order to obtain significantly better performance. |
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Marantz MM8003 Home Theatre Power Amplifier:
Residential Systems - Best Power Amp Resi Awards 2008 When Marantz set about creating its MM8003 140-watt x 8 channel power amplifier, the company wanted to uphold its reputation for creating some of the best-sounding and best-looking components in the industry. The end result is an exquisitely designed, beautiful component that sounds as good as it looks, and is equally "at home" in a custom rack as it is on display in a living room.
Home Cinema Choice - 5 STAR BEST BUY This is a stonkingly huge pre-power set-up for one-third the cost of Denon's flagship AVP & POA A1HD duo, and a cool five hundred quid less than Denon's AVC-A1HD integrated beastie. Sibling rivalry? More like all-out war. Of course, to hit this rather attractive price for a two-box system, surely features have been kept to a minimum and the build quality gone all Citroen. Er, no actually. ... the 8003 pair creates a simply huge soundstage with gin-clear detailing. The pre-amp is smooth and fast, with the power amp supplying an abundance of welly and grunt. Our Tech Labs measured 141W into 8 ohms across five channels, which is a very good performance; the fidelity firewall rating of 167W is equally impressive. But far from being a die-hard bass-and-effects monster, the Marantz 8003 duo is altogether more refined and subtle. Films immerse you without drowning you in LFE chaos or artificial surround sound fireworks, and dialogue is wholly natural rather than larger than life. In a head-to-head with the similarly-priced Denon AVC-A1HD integrated, the Marantz takes a sophisticated high ground to Denon's more shirt off and up-'n'-at-'em approach. It's a very close call. The 8003s create a wonderfully intense movie-watching experience that sires the urge to watch another movie, and another... Music fans are catered for, too. Put the AV8003 in Pure Direct mode and feed it a good-quality stereo analogue source and it does a frankly stunning impression of an audiophile stereo amplifier, with an equally lush, refined and detailed signature. The 8003 combo never missed an audio beat or film effect for the duration of the test and its sophisticated presentation is wholly addictive and immersive. The unit's M-DAX compressed audio enhancer is one of the best out there, the media streaming facilities point the way ahead and the sheer presence on the rack, and material value for money, is unbeatable. It also has plenty of useful features even if it is some way off the lunatic fringe levels of tweakery to be found in Pioneer's SC-LX90, Yamaha's Z11 or Denon's AVP & POA A1HD combo. But even drawing comparison to the latter pre-power marquee is praise in itself for the AV8003 and MM8003; for day-to-day home cinema and music entertainment the Marantz pair gets damn close in absolute performance to the Big D's reference standard – at less than one-third of the price. A genuine AV bargain that deserves considerable applause.
Home Theatre Magazine Consumers expect improved build quality and meticulous circuit layout in separates, and Marantz does not disappoint. It features a massive toroidal transformer, custom filter capacitors, and hand-selected components. The MM8003 also includes a copper-plated chassis, power distribution via copper buss bars, and ultra-bandwidth current feedback technology. This is the same technology Marantz used in its superb-sounding SM-11S1 two-channel amplifier that I reviewed in the May 2008 issue of Stereophile. You can access it online at www.Stereophile.com for a more detailed description of the amplifier’s superb sonics and sophisticated, wideband circuitry. Why all the fuss over power supplies? Simply put, the music, dialogue, and sound effects you hear result when the signal modulates the power supply output. The sound can only be as good as the purity and consistency of the power supply output. The MM8003 is rated at 140 watts per channel into 6 ohms (also with two channels driven), so the power supply is reasonably robust. I was extremely pleased with what I heard after the Audyssey system configured my speakers for size, crossover frequency, and distance. It even checked individual speaker polarity and used the AV8003’s built-in nine-band equalizer to smooth out each speaker’s frequency response. If you choose, you can also manually adjust these parameters. But I didn’t, because in my opinion, the auto program was thorough, and the results sounded natural and seamless. The sonic differences between the Denon receiver and the Marantz separates were significant. The combo produced the “off the surface of the speaker grille” phenomenon that’s familiar to audiophiles. (This could have occurred because this is a set of separates or because of Marantz’s amplifier expertise and sonic heritage.) In the two-channel world, better amplifiers present music that seems to float free of the speaker surface, while lesser amplifiers tend to paste the images to the grilles. The Marantz performed just as well with 5.1-channel material in this regard. In fact, its spatial presentation was far superior to the Denon’s. This also usually translates into superior microdynamics. And the Marantz separates proved far superior to the Denon receiver in this area as well. Microdynamics refers to low-level dynamic shifts as opposed to the large-scale, loud ones we usually associate with the term “dynamics.” Less than adequate microdynamic presentation reduces music’s breath, suppleness, and believability. It can make you feel the need to turn up the volume to add more punch. It also tends to reduce both dialogue believability and intelligibility. In the Denon review, I referred to “the power and punch that only a separate, more powerful bank of amplifiers can provide.” The Marantz MM8003 doesn’t produce significantly more power than the Denon, or my reference Lexicon RV-8 receiver, for that matter. But subjectively, it sounded more powerful, dynamic, and definitely more supple and nuanced than either of those receivers. Lowering the noise floor increases the dynamic range, produces better microdynamics, and improves low-level transparency. No wonder I could listen to David Gilmour: Remember That Night—Live at the Royal Albert Hall in Dolby TrueHD at very low SPLs and achieve full sonic satisfaction. The lazy ballad “Smile” features Gilmour’s acoustic strums and bottleneck guitars, a tactile pedal steel backdrop, and delicate drum brushwork. It’s fully realized through the Marantz at very low, wife-pleasing levels. Each instrument projected delicately, spatially, harmonically, and with transient clarity. Gilmour’s voice simply sounded more fleshed out and human, with more natural and delicate sibilant structure. When I used the Denon, I felt the need to play the Gilmour disc loud to get the sonic picture to set up and gel through the receiver. With the Marantz, this wasn’t the case. It was possible to look and feel deeply into the picture at very low SPLs. Turning it up increased the satisfaction in ways that increasing the volume usually does. But the overall presentation did not change all that much. The overall delicacy and the transient clarity remained remarkably consistent. Sometimes a volume increase can harden or flatten the sonic picture, but the Marantz combo did not do that. It maintained its sonic composure regardless of SPLs with the material I listened to. The amps in my Lexicon receiver produced more punch than the Denon’s, and the Marantz matched the Lexicon’s punch. It also easily won in every other department, especially high-frequency transient clarity, transparency, and resolution. The Marantz produced an airy, open, and extended yet sweet top end. It was far superior to the Denon’s top end, which was more reserved, closed in, and opaque. No wonder I often felt like turning the volume up to achieve greater sonic satisfaction—and the Denon is no sonic slouch. The Marantz combo produced complete sonic satisfaction at any volume I tried. It combined delicacy, detail, transparency, and a velvety overall sheen that never got in the way of grit when the material called for it. Although my Tannoy subwoofer is powered, the signal that the AV8003 sent resulted in bass that sounded more supple, subtle, better textured, and somewhat less mechanical than what the Denon receiver produced. The Marantz AV8003 preamp/processor doesn’t offer as many bells and whistles as the flagship Denon receiver. But when I used it with the MM8003 eight-channel amplifier, it produced significantly better-sounding bells, whistles, and everything else. The combo’s high-frequency air, transparency, delicacy, and transient clarity rival that of typical high-end two-channel amps. But that’s not surprising, given Marantz’s long-term mission statement and its use of circuitry similar to the kind the superb-sounding SM-11S1 amplifier uses. If the feature set meets your needs, you play a great deal of music (with or without picture) through your A/V system, and you aim to get truly superior sound, you should check out the Marantz. Assuming the video performance checks out satisfactorily and you’ve got room for two boxes instead of one, the Marantz combo is an excellent, easy-to-recommend choice. I doubt any receiver at any price can match its sonic performance.
Audio Video Revolution The dynamics and sense of rhythm were good and sounded much better than the amplifier in any of the audio/video receivers I have heard recently, another point in favour of separates. While the eight times more expensive Halcro was better across the board, it should be. However, the Marantz was impressive as well. The Marantz was extremely clean and detailed throughout the frequency range with only the occasional slightest hint of solid state grain or glare. No weird harmonics, unusual harshness, distortion, etc. Multi-channel music was handled with equal aplomb by the Marantz without any shift in sonic character. The Marantz let Krall’s sultry voice shine through, the critical midrange had vocals that were warm and full with detailed and delicate backing instrumentals. The disc uses all five channels to reproduce the ambiance of the hall with good success. Listening to the album with the Marantz providing the power I had no problems closing my eyes and picturing myself there. The notes were all reproduced with great accuracy and detail, I could close my eyes and tell who was hitting what without difficulty. However, closing my eyes was difficult as I found myself feeling as though I was there and kept opening my eyes to make sure I wasn’t going to be trampled in the mosh pit, truly an involving experience with a heightened sense of realism. It wasn’t just that that powerful onstage notes were reproduced realistically, but that the rear channels provided sufficient detailed information to place me inside the concert hall. What more could I ask for from an amplifier? Finally, we get to movies. “I Am Legend” (Warner Home Entertainment, Blu-ray) provided many different sonic tests. There are many delicate nuances in this film, the way voices change when Will Smith’s character moves into different environments, such as inside to outside, the decay of the echo of rifle shots, etc. The MM8003 had no problem rendering any of this with ease. The mass evacuation scenes and the later interior fight scenes also provided the Marantz the opportunity to show off its resolving power in all channels yet with increased dynamics, again it was done with ease and good sense of involvement. Dynamics, the backbone of any action flick must also be reproduced well to keep the illusion real. Without giving away the plot, there are several scenes with explosions, animals and other dynamic sonic tracks, no matter how many channels were involved the Marantz had plenty of power to handle it while keeping the sounds discrete, detailed and realistic. Dogs, sounded like dogs, gunshots like gunshots, etc. No matter what I threw at this amplifier it was quick, detailed and neutral. Within the limits of its performance envelope, there is little to fault with the MM8003’s sonic abilities. It doesn’t have the same black background or level of nuanced detail as the world’s uber-amplifiers but it performed much better than I expected an amplifier to do at this price point. Like the recently reviewed AV8003, the MM8003 provides great bang-for the-buck. Like the last Marantz amplifiers I had the pleasure of listening to, the MA500 mono-blocks (discontinued for several years), the MM8003 continues the tradition of musicality and value. This amplifier may not be the end all when if comes to microdynamics (although detail is extremely good) or iron fisted bass at full volume, within its limits it performs extremely well and its limits should be broad enough to encompass most systems. What draws me most to this amplifier is its sense of involvement, it has a good sense of rhythm and pace while remaining neutral, reproducing vocals and instruments in an organic, non-mechanical way. The Marantz performed well with stereo sources and was outstanding on multi-channel material. No matter how hectic the soundtrack got, each channel was reproduced without compromise in performance. I have no reservations recommending this amplifier for theatre systems in small to moderately sized rooms (or larger rooms with 5.1 systems that have bi-ampable front speakers. |
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Marantz SR6004 Home Theatre Magazine (February 2010) - Top Pick: 4 1/2 star Performance, 4 star Features, 4 1/2 star ergonomics, 4 star Value. Audioholics Online A/V Magazine (24 February 2010) - 2009 Consumer Excellence Award Winner. Category: Receivers & Media Systems > A/V Receiver
Mordaunt-Short 309W Subwoofer:
Active Home
Avant Premiere Plus - Home Cinema
Avant Premiere Plus - Audioholics
Avant Premiere Plus - What Home Cinema
Avant Premiere Plus - Home Cinema Choice
MS309 - What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision |
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Ortofon 2M-Black Magnetic Cartridge
Winner of The Absolute Sound 2008 "Product of the Year" Award! "The flagship Ortofon 2M Black utilizes a Shibata stylus (usually not found on cartridges any where near this price). With a heavily upgraded generator and a proprietary body material, the 2M Black is exceedingly fast, detailed yet supremely musical. An excellent value and has earned our highest recommendation!" "The 2M Red is the entry level and 2M Black is the flagship. The 2M Black has a light, fast touch with good treble extension. Its greatest attribute is the way it provides a more transparent window on the world of micro-energies, permitting it to plumb the depths of soundstaging and dimensionality. Their performance is a fitting tribute to Ortofon and chief engineer Per Windfield!"
Winner of the Hi-Fi World Cartridge Award "...the Ortofon 2M is one of the most cohesive sounding moving magnets we've yet heard. It is natural and unforced in a way that makes listening a pleasure, bristling with fine detail and totally engaging on a musical level. A masterful design for anyone keen to get the best from LP, without moving up to the complexities, cost and delicacy of moving coils, it's a blistering first 'high end' cartridge and, as such, a worthy recipient of this year's Hi-Fi "World Award." |
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Sonos continues to garner rave reviews: here's just a sample. Check out the Sonos YouTube channel. This feature video is a collation of reviews of Sonos from US TV and Radio shows.
The Wall Street Journal
BusinessWeek.com
CNET
Engadget.com
AppAdvice.com
ZDNet Blogs
The Hartford Courant
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