📌Considering the CINEMA 30? Find one here bit.ly/3TZpIWi and here bit.ly/3WJgDCu 🔌DON’T FORGET! Leave your questions in the comments to be featured on the next Unplugged! Catch up on all the latest UNPLUGGED episodes here bit.ly/43NnDkT 😀Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this video, please hit the 👍Like button! 🙏Please stay on topic and be respectful. 🚫Comments containing links, self-promotion, or personal info are automatically deleted.
Incredible how some people spend on highend gear then limit the sound quality with compressed Spotify. Instead, it's much better to use a lossless streaming source like Apple Music.
Another great breakdown. A question if I may. how does an AVR like this or the Onkyo RZ-70 compare to the Yamaha N2000a in 2-channel listening / TV viewing? since here in Australia they're all about the same price? cheers again.
Did a little happy dance at the M1 comparison seeing as I ordered mine yesterday after the livestream with the B&Ws. Thanks Andrew (and obviously Kristi) as you guys give the absolute best viewpoints on the more costly (comparatively) equipment. Not many folks' judgement can be trusted these days so you guys stand out in a great way and we appreciate that.
Seriously Andrew I wish you would do a TV show where you got to people's houses and see their set up and give them better options. Love your content and trust your reviews. Use to have a Martaz back in the 80 s . Miss it. Got Klipsch speakers with Yamaha receiver .Love my Klipsch.
Like Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares -- Robinson's Home Cinema Nightmares.. "look at the state of the wiring.. you've plugged your subwoofer into the TV audio out!" 🤭
Can we just agree that having 100 ish watts of class AB for all channels is actually highly impressive? In a fully integrated piece of equipment and not a dedicated amplifier? I mean, that’s awesome. Also, can we all agree Marantz is truly back to their glorious days? Every piece they’ve released recently, is awesome, the M1, the 40n, the AVRs? All damn good products. I wish we had that level of consistency from other manufacturers. And I agree that they seem to be going the route of Samsung and the Q900 series bars, that are awesome products, but kind of disappear because they haven’t changed visually or feature wise really got a while now. But at least, with the AVR you usually buy them for at least a few years without the worry of going obsolete and tuck them away a lot of time inside cabinets. Great review and video, as always! Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday!
I 100% agree! I think, and this is just my opinion, but in a lot of ways, as far as traditional AVRs go, we've reached peak receiver for now. What's more interesting, at least to me, is how some brands like Anthem are starting to rethink AVRs a la their SLM line, which we have in for review and will be bringing you soon. I like that AVRs could be going smaller, not larger, as the years progress.
@@Echo-jg8is well, Marantz guarantees us 70% power all channels driven? Based on the two channel power. In the review, Andrew states about 90-100watts give or take. Going off of that. And simple math. I don’t know all the ins and outs of the AVR construction and electronics inside. That’s a question for Marantz at this point. But thank you for the info.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews yes! I hope they figure out a way to make a decently powered (AB class preferably) AVR that’s also compact. Like the size of a larger DVD player maybe? Or even the AudioLab 9000? That would be awesome.
@@Echo-jg8is you'd never use all the channels and especially the heights - it's not like the old days but they can hit 100 watts x 5. Mine hits 120 but the difference is minimal. It's more for 2 channel and the bass thump from bi-amping.
I have the Cinema 40 and I'm very happy with it. Thanks for confirming I made the right choice and put the extra funds on a 3 channel Emotiva amp for my LCR in my 7.2.2 system.
Andrew, you always speak so well. Articulate and concise. I so appreciate this. You have only gotten better and better as you perfect your craft. Great reviews which are top in its class. Keep up the good work my friend.
Im a separates guy. Realistically, i dont think people who buy an 11plus channel receiver should expect it to be able to power thirsty speakers effectively. No matter how beefy the power supply is, you could be underwhelmed when pairing power hungry speakers with any receiver.. just my 2 cents. Great review. Glad to see sony 7000 still a powerhouse.
I disagree - I have the old 703s which many people pair with Rotel 300 watts and which has the B&W 3.9ohm issue. I bi-amped with 150 watts x 4 with a Marantz 8002. I can't complain - I didn't have a sub for 15 years and the speakers dropped to 20-30 in the room. The Marantz sounded as good as the 100lb 5803 and 75lb RZ1 that I auditioned.
@@techsamurai11 right on. That sounds like a knock out setup. I didnt really mean in all cases, either. Im no absolutist. I used receivers for years and was happy and content. But that was in the 5.1 and 7.1 era. With 9, 11, or 13 channels, im just saying, if all speakers are super power hungry, one could be disappointed. Its not a rule or a fact. Just my suspicion…
@@maxpower78-15 I actually agree with you about the separates being a better value because the 4800H is practically identical internally to the Cinema 40 and can be bought on sale making it a much better proposition. You can buy an external 5 channel amp to power your LCR bi-amping the usually full range towers which provide 70% of the sound. That's usually where the majority of power is used since the LCR can drop to lower frequencies which require more power than higher frequencies. I was merely pointing out that some AVRs can get the job done especially if you don't have a crazy number of channels or a Perlisten level system all around.
I would love to hear your opinion of the Marantz 30 and the Yamaha Aventage top two AVRs. I understand that Yamaha is an acquired taste but it is mine . Thank you, Andrew, and I look forward to Kristi's cutting criticisms, even if she questions my audacity for mentioning the Aventage A6A and A8A. Keep up the good work!
I owned the Marantz sr8015 for a little year. Great sounding machine. Worked flawlessly. Then I sold it and bought the JBL SDR35: what a great difference! Instantly movies sounded awesome like in a real cinema and the Center channel performance was absolutely fabulous. Even without Dirac. Music sounds much richer and bigger. The jbl had some hardware and software issues at the start. They are fixed now.
Play the intro to No Time To Die - it should leave you with your jaw hitting the floor at even 80-85db. I don't know if the 8015 can even do that but Marantz used to with the old 8000 series probably designed by Ken Ishiwata.
This sounds so familiar! As a retiree on a budget, sold my Sony STR-AZ5000ES (at a loss) and with the Marantz SR8015 at crazy low prices (after the Cinema 30 was announced) , picked the 8015 for under $2K, less than what I paid for the 5000. I am so happy! I did sell my RP-8000F and picked some Martin Logan Motion 60XTi also at a discount with the next gen of ML Motion speakers are now available. I completed my 5.1.4 with an EMOTIVA XPA-3 Gen 3 to drive my Martin front stage and I am a really happy listener. Thanks Andrew for all the honest reviews and Kristy for all the detailed descriptions and your down to earth comments on the videos!
@@kingtrance307In my opinion, the Sony STR-AZ5000ES doesn’t even come close to the Marantz SR8015. In my book, not even the 7000 is s match to the SR8015. And at $1,799, the SR8015 is the deal of the century! Send me a PM and I will be happy to provide details of all the issues I had with my 5000. Not good memories.
@@rafacq - I believe you sir. I have the Denon AVR-X 4500 and am a happy camper for now. The 360 Sony auto surround feature always intrigued me for movies and peaked my curiosity. At one time I had a Sony STR-5800es that I thought sounded great but I moved on to the Denon as I wanted Atmos. I don’t necessarily need Dirac because Audyssey sounds fine in my room. I liked the simplicity of Sonys auto EQ and that worked fine in my room as well. The Marantz SR 8015 certainly is a fine receiver! I would love one but don’t necessarily need all the extra channels in my 5.4.2 system. Yes I have 4 subwoofers… 😃
@@rafacq - And yes I had a couple HDMI glitches with my old Sony 5800. The receiver would randomly and intermittently cut off audio and switch back on when listening to music and watching movies. Never have had any of those issues with my Denon.
@@robertrichards3433 I think even at $3,000 it puts most to shame. I previously owned a Denon 6700 and Yamaha A8A and the RZ70 is noticeably better than both.
I was looking forward to your review of the Cinema 30 after watching you review all the other receivers i considered. The Sony is sadly not sold here in the EU :( so i had to look for a different one in the end i ended up buying a Cinema 30. Im also looking forward to what Kristi has to say about the Cinema 30 she had some interesting perspectives in the past. I had a Denon X4400h. Back when i bought it i first wanted to invest in Atmos and better front speakers. (i had Jamo S628's and one SVS PC2000 together with a SVS Ultra Center and Prime Bookshelfs for surround). Later i bought a second pair of Jamo S622's for the ATMOS and SVS Ultra bookshelfs to replace the Jamo Front's i also added a Second PC2000 so those handle the power bass. I used that setup for 3 years and the X4400h for 5 and a half year. i also tested the X7200W back then it sounded better on the Prime Bookshelfs but for the price difference it was atmos first. So 6 weeks back i bought a Cinema 30. i also tested it vs a A1H. I liked both a lot but when i switched to the Cinema 30 there was a spaciousness in the sound that was not there with the X4400h but also not with the A1H. The Denons are more forward, and bit more crystal clear at the high end (especially the A1H). But can also be a bit "harsh" compared to the C30. Both the C30 and A1H had a wider open sound compared to the X4400h but the C30 sounded even more spacious to me. i noticed the same thing with movies the channels blended even nicer together somehow. That was something i liked when i went to the C30 from the X4400h and i missed again when going to the A1H. So in the end i swiched back to the C30 and decided to keep that. It was 1100 euro less in my case (it was a used A1H) While it was a good deal i did not use the extra channels. If i will expand i will probably be front wides but thats also possible with the C30. Do note all this testing has been done with Audyssey One Evolution. i used that on all 3 receivers. After using that i dont want to go back to normal Audyssey anymore. I was already using Pure Direct on my X4400h for music because Audyssey ruins it somehow. After using A1E i know that does not need to be the case but Audyssey is not that great in correcting above 250Hz. A1E only does < 250Hz and what it does to the bass is o so good. Everything above 250 is only a calibration curve and the tonality of the speakers is left as is. The Jamo sound quite similar to the SVS tonality wise. So they match well and i dont need Audyssey to correct that. They are Atmos anyway so mostly effects. The more important speakers are all SVS so they match great. I plan to do a Dirac trial in the near future to compare A1E vs Dirac and see what i like more and if its worth the extra 799 euro. A1E already improves over standard Audyssey so much i wonder if its worth it. So far i really like the Cinema 30 its a nice upgrade over my X4400h and it did what i hoped it would do: 1 more detail, wider sound stage in stereo, more spacious sound and more power in high SLP movie scenes. I also liked the A1H a lot but somehow i did prefer the Cinema 30. Movies i tested: Mad Max Fury Road, Startrek 2009 & Into Darkness, Edge Of Tomorrow, Ready Player One, Passific Rim
Happy Sunday A&K. Excellent thorough review as always. While AVR's aren't my thing, I did find the 2-channel comparison with the M1 very interesting. That M1 is so intriguing, particularly as a lifestyle sized product that brings the goods performance wise for those looking for good quality stereo amplification in a compact form. Any reviews in the works for its Denon sibling Home Amp priced even more attractively? Very interested in the sound comparison between the two and if there's any difference. Thanks again for all the great content this week. 5 plus hours this week I believe!
In all honesty, I'd pick the RZ-70 and if I wanted more power, I'd add separate power amps. As a current RZ-50 owner, I would actually add power amps if I felt that need, since even this lower model has very capable pre-outs, which present no problem for virtually any power amp to reach its maximum output level before the pre-amp clipping. I'm running a mini DSP unit for the subs, which means independent volume and EQ up to 4 subwoofers (I'm only running two as of now). That's where my concept of "value" comes in, and prevents me from buying something like this Marantz. As good as it may be (and the price goes up even if you want the RZ-50 level of Dirac), all of these receivers will get dated by the natural evolution of technology, and when that happens and you want to upgrade them, they usually have a very poor resale value. If you put your money on good power amps, you can replace the receiver (without going near the flagship model), while still retaining a good part of your "investment" on power amps. If this Marantz was more "special", I could make a case for buying it. But it only feels like another Marantz receiver, with some small added performance here and there, which doesn't feel like a good value to me, personally speaking. I can see the value of the R11 Metas against speakers costing way less (including Kefs own R range). But not with this Marantz.
@@MrRocktuga - That was a very thoughtful analysis. I feel pretty much the same. I have an older Denon AVR-X 4500 paired with an OCD Nero 3200 amp to power my Martin Logans on the front LRC channels. Sounds great to me. The Onkyo RZ-50 sounds intriguing to me - if only to add Dirac on a budget. Did you find it was a night and day difference over Audyssey?
Basically the 30 is an sr8015 (which is still available)at a multiple of the price. Some might argue the sr8015 is superior, certainly the price is far better. Masimo’s mission is to raise the price of all of the old Sound United’s products. That’s what happens when you grossly overpay for an acquisition. Thanks for the great content. PS you should’ve covered mdax which is a differentiator between Marantz and their competition. No mention of heos????
Hi Andrew, great review. One question, how would you compare the Cinema 30 to its predecessor, the SR8015? Many of the specs seem to be the same so are there any meaningful differences?
I owned a Marantz Cinema 60 for a year and still loving it since day 1. The latest firmware update allows the support for Tidal connect directly instead of streaming through the HEOS app.
Your review is excellent and is in par with my assertion of Marantz not quite having that punch on certain scenes. I am an owner of the product, but I think is getting way expensive.
The RZ70 is looking pretty amazing right now and that's before you consider it is $3700aud compared marantz $7900aud before the Dirac upgrade. Buying the Marantz just feels like flushing money down the toilet.
Hi Andrew, how do you compare this new Marantz Cinema 30 with the Arcam AVR31 (especially for listen to music)? Do you plan to do a detailed review of the Arcam receivers one day? Thanks for all the great videos!
I think Arcam may be a little concerned about highlighting its non-existent user-friendliness units. Yeah, Arcam units sound fantastic. However, when it comes to getting the best out of them back and for emailing will become the norm. To be fair, Arcam, do say anything that may possibly diminish sound quality is unlikely to be implemented! One can either have features, functionalities, extra channels, and user friendliness. which, in my experience, equates more towards a digital sound! Or one can go with a unit that gives a little more breathing space to its components. Hence, a more convincing (realistic) analogue sounding unit. Perhaps one is unable to have best of both?
Thanks for the honest reviews. .. Will stick with the Sony str-az5000es that I purchased based on your reviews calling it Sony's sweet spot receiver. Thank you again😊😊
When Sony makes their high-end products... it's really hard to beat Sony, that including their top of the line headphones etc. I personally don't like Marantz - thick, laid-back warm sound....
I got the silver version in an open box sale (plus 10% member discount) in UK for £2700. I came from a Denon 3700 and am slowly noticing the big difference in control, balance and general quality of sound. Have only used the £20 app to change the range to 500hz across my 7 speakers but it's improved it even further. Dirac will come later but I'm going through my whole library in 'basic' Audessey setup first. Very happy with the purchase and the remote is heavy and lush just to cap it all off.
I just purchased and received the Cinema 30. Periodically it was experiencing video and sound blackouts for approximately 10 to 20 seconds and then it would recover. I have a 86 inch Bravia tv. I upgraded my HDMI cables to the Audioquest Forest 48 5ft. Support told me I needed to purchase a EDID emulator.I was told it was a known problem. I had to return the Cinema 30 as the last time it blacked out it did not recover. Is this a common issue with AVRs?
Reviews like this one just push me one step closer to ditching the 3.1 setup and migrating to a much simpler 2.1 using the Marantz M1 for audio only and eARC for its audio input. No more universal remotes to simplify multiple devices and it would seem much better sound for a setup that's used 80% music and 20% movies/TH-cam videos.
I've caught so much heat from people on my description of the Marantz sound which I describe as overly mellow (even dark with some speakers) with a premature roll-off in the high frequency that kills detail. I am proud to say that I have Andrew on my side. Thanks for the affirmation brother!
I recently got a Sony ES 5000 based on your recommendation and am very happy with it. I agree that the one shortcoming with the Sony is that it doesn't support DIRAC (or have an app like MultiEQ). I did buy RS5s to get 5.1 and so far, I have not had any issues with them.
With your comments about top and bottom end rolling off, I’m wondering if you changed Filter 1 to Filter 2 which turns off the Marantz ‘sound.’ I have the AV10/Amp-10 combo and doing that noticeably improved the sound quality (I’m running Dirac).
In your review of SVS's new Titan speakers, you mentioned that their center image is so good that you didn't really feel the need for a center speaker. But now that you have both their center and their small Nano speakers from the same series, allowing you to set up a 5.1 system (including the small KEF sub), will there be a full system review, or could you elaborate a bit more on whether you still hold the same opinion regarding using their center speaker together with the Titan? 🙂
One of my AVR brands is Anthem. I have had and liked their room correction in the past, as well as the overall quality. Any thoughts on how Anthem compares to Marantz?
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks for being such a great and genuine reviewer! I’m still trying to find the best room acoustics items since I have my HT in the basement. Rocking the magnats cinema ultra
Incredible how some people spend on highend gear then limit the sound quality with compressed Spotify. Instead, it's much better to use a lossless streaming source like Apple Music.
By the way, i know Kristie mentioned she didn’t love the “SVS” branding on your beautiful titans, I believe you could remove a couple of screws and turn around the donut looking metal thing with SVS on it and flip it over and have a more clean look 😊🥰
Great review! How does it compare to the Anthem MRX 1140. I noticed you didn’t include that at the end and was wondering if there was a reason why. Thanks for all the great work!
I really wanna see the anthem mrx 1140 in the review mix the 740 is amazing but the 1140 has the toroidal transformer and the 4 class d overhead channels it’s the best they have and I think their sound is so enormous I’d love for you to have a look at it
Great review, Andrew! You might be one of the only influencers/reviewers online with hands-on experience with all the flagship models, especially the Marantz lineup. In your A1H review, you mentioned issues with phantom center imaging and video processing when handled by the AVR. Is that still the case with the Cinema 30? It also sounds like you're a big fan of Dirac. Did you notice any differences between Dirac with the Onkyo compared to the Cinema 30, AV10, or Marantz separates? Once these units are outfitted with Dirac, is there still a noticeable distinction? Lastly, I've heard you rave about Sony's 360 Reality Audio calibration-do you believe it outperforms Dirac?
Me just getting into to home theater. I have a Vizio soundbar that me dad gave me. When I grow up me would like to get a box like this one and those cool speakers. I also would like to get a bass box like a sub when the money me made from cutting grass over the summer.
This review was good but no Mention of Dac 2 people think its just for bench testing it's not what Dac 2 deos is It gets rid of the Marantz in-house roll off and sounds more like a Denon , I watched a video on it by masimo
What bothers me about these receivers with apps like Pandora, XM Radio, Spotify, etc., is that after a few years, they are obsolete. I have a previous Marantz with these apps, and they no longer function. I think they should continue to work as long as the services themselves are in business.
Andrew, thanks for being honest that the Sony AZ7000ES is still really the best sounding, save for bass management primarily. In your review of the A1H, you seemed to hold back and didn't want to say that the Sony really still sounds better.
Thanks as always! Sorry I can't catch you and Kristi live - I really hope you try out Audyssey one and compare it to Dirac and Sony Spatial Mapping. I for one will be all ears!
How does the 30 compare to the Emotiva MR1L? I know they are different price points, but Emotiva needs to be bought into more comparisons since you already have reviewed it.
You still cling to the Sony! Glad it works for you. I finally sold my 5000ES. Took advantage of the crazy discounted price on a Marantz SR8015 and simply LOVE IT! What a magnificent piece of equipment. So happy with the Marantz sound, I bought a Marantz Stereo 70s for my study 2 channel setup! Thanks for the video.
How about comparison with Yamaha A8A? The Marantz Cinema 30 costs here 4299€ and the Yamaha RXA-A8A costs 3299 €. Yamaha just seem to be a bit more powerful but it doesn't have the Dirac. I haven't heard any of the Cinema amplifiers so I'm curious which of these amps have a better sound quality?
Hey Andrew! Something I would hope to see in the future is you reviewing some finnish Genelecs! It would be awesome so hear your opinion to their monitors as they are highly respected in Finland :)
Great video Andrew. Have you considered evaluating car audio? Maybe build a lab/studio with a reference amp and just swap speakers during the review phase. I feel it would be a great value to your subscribers based on your amazing ability to articulate sound reviews and expertise on sound audio. Unfortunately there aren’t many great car audio folks out there. The ones that are ok are just car audio installers but lack the ability to communicate their sound quality feedback. Maybe have another channel for car audio “Andrew Robinsons Car Tunez” or something to that effect. Love your videos and many helped my purchase decisions. 👍🏾
Hope you guys are well . Really missed your videos alot while in for surgery ,bouts of .meds and rehabilitation to get some of .y strength back . Im so glad the last few months I was at a faculty that allowed me to enjoy Diana Krall on the RZ50 with my Focal Choras you both recommended to so many . Ill be playing catchup to see what I've missed from you 2 . Thank you both
Andrew, absolutely awesome critique as always. I love your white glove approach to your evaluations. Question in regards to your AVR comparison, you mentioned the three big heavyweights however can you provide me to the best of your recollection in regards to dynamic headroom of the RZ 70? any issues? Did it tend to roll off or is it OK? Again it’s been a while and if you don’t recollect that’s OK. Thank you so much.
Why is it so hard for Marantz, Denon, etc to state the power for all channels driven? Why not include all the power you would ever need for the channels the AVR offers to begin with? All AVR's manufactured today should publish the power rating for all channels driven. In my opinion if you spend the money on an AVR at this cost you should never need another amp period regardless of setup unless you expand your system beyond the AVR's channel capabilities.
When I utilised my Atmos Poweramp to my audiophile grade AVR for my front stage speakers (btw also happens to be a matching poweramp to the AVR) gave the setup the ability to enjoy content at low volumes, too. In fact, I was so impressed rather than disconnecting it, I ended up purchasing yet another one.
@@AmmarMalik Volume is a small part of the equation. The more power you have available contributes to the efficiency of your system when you need it as in hitting that punch for movie scenes or music when it is required and not sounding thin when underpowered. When all channels driven have ample power you will definitely notice the difference.
@@totalplonker824Thank you. My point is you should not have to have separate amps in the equation for the cost of this AVR to accomplish what you listed.
From watching your videos Im kinda sold on the Sony ES7000 but from a two- channel head to head comparison with the Marantz 30 or 40 which would you prefer. I know the Marantz adds some coloration but I wanted to know which one sounded more lively when listening to rap, jazz, classical? And as far as the 4 subwoofer outputs coming from the Marantz, does the Sony offer anything like that when it comes to directional subwoofer sound? Thanks love the channel by the way.
Thx for the review! Can you call out what settings you changed to passthrough / off that improved the sound? Im planning to get the cinema 30 and it would be great to have this upfront.
I think we are missing some comparison to the Athem 1140 8k, which is quite close in price, but also to it's direct sibling Denon X6800 (which I don't think you reviewed). Denon is interesting, since it is much cheaper, shares the same HDMI board it seems, and has the same power rating. Side note, since a couple of weeks, HEOS got updated and now supports Tidal Connect (but stereo only), with Roon-tested integration "coming soon". There were also talks about Dirac ART for Denon and Marantz, but nothing surfaced so far.
I don't know if you guys have any plans to do so, but it would be interesting to compare the Marantz Cinema 30 with the Denon 6800. They are nearly identical with the same features with the only difference being with the HDAM modules, power supply, looks, and cost. So, if using Dirac on the 6800 gets similar sound characteristics to the 30, then you can spend less for the 6800 and get what you want unless you really want the looks of the Marantz or the silver finish. I have the Cinema 40 which I bought before the 30 was released (and before they offered the silver option ☹). I'm a bit interested in the 30 because I used to have the Denon 6700 receiver, using it in a 7.1 (2 subs).6 configuration and with the 30 I can keep using my existing speaker configuration. With the Cinema 40, I have to choose either 5.1.6 or 7.1.4. However, It's not worth going through the hassle of selling my 40 (at a loss) and paying the extra for the 30. (though I'd consider doing that to get the silver 40) All in all, of all the offerings available from Denon and Marantz, I want the Denon A1H (or Marantz A10 in silver but I don't you can get it in that finish). I don't really need it, but I like all the features and flexibility you have with it. Fortunately, I guess, it's 6500 dollars. Too much to even try to buy.
Audyssey One is a gamechanger. I find it hard to believe that Dirac will have an improvement/cost ratio that justifies purchasing it over Audyssey One.
Hi, i would like to see a comparison on the Yamaha a8a. I have this receiver now for 3 months conected with Dali rubicon 6. Amazing sound but i have the feel that i mis something in some music. I listen mostly to movie soundtracks.
Yes, speakers of that calibre should, in my opinion, be driven with something a little more resolving. Even adding a power amp ain't gonna do Jack shit. Always start from solid.
Thank you, I think this is an important question, if the video and audio processing is the same or very similar, buying the Cinema 70 (used as a processor) with an Emotiva XBA amp and Direct Live is likely cheaper / better option!
Great review. I really appreciate the comparisons. Im content with my Sr8015 6.2.4. B&W 700 series for now. In the future Im interested in Arcam AV31 or Athem AV90 for sound but put off w the bugs some have experienced. Still i hope you review both of those .....not sure why they havent sent you their receivers. Maybe theyre scared. 🤔
📌Considering the CINEMA 30? Find one here bit.ly/3TZpIWi and here bit.ly/3WJgDCu
🔌DON’T FORGET! Leave your questions in the comments to be featured on the next Unplugged! Catch up on all the latest UNPLUGGED episodes here bit.ly/43NnDkT
😀Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this video, please hit the 👍Like button! 🙏Please stay on topic and be respectful.
🚫Comments containing links, self-promotion, or personal info are automatically deleted.
did you play with the filter settings?
Incredible how some people spend on highend gear then limit the sound quality with compressed Spotify.
Instead, it's much better to use a lossless streaming source like Apple Music.
Another great breakdown. A question if I may.
how does an AVR like this or the Onkyo RZ-70 compare to the Yamaha N2000a in 2-channel listening / TV viewing? since here in Australia they're all about the same price?
cheers again.
Did a little happy dance at the M1 comparison seeing as I ordered mine yesterday after the livestream with the B&Ws. Thanks Andrew (and obviously Kristi) as you guys give the absolute best viewpoints on the more costly (comparatively) equipment. Not many folks' judgement can be trusted these days so you guys stand out in a great way and we appreciate that.
So kind of you to say. Enjoy the M1, it's a sweet little amp!
Seriously Andrew I wish you would do a TV show where you got to people's houses and see their set up and give them better options. Love your content and trust your reviews. Use to have a Martaz back in the 80 s . Miss it. Got Klipsch speakers with Yamaha receiver .Love my Klipsch.
Like Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares -- Robinson's Home Cinema Nightmares.. "look at the state of the wiring.. you've plugged your subwoofer into the TV audio out!" 🤭
Can we just agree that having 100 ish watts of class AB for all channels is actually highly impressive? In a fully integrated piece of equipment and not a dedicated amplifier? I mean, that’s awesome.
Also, can we all agree Marantz is truly back to their glorious days? Every piece they’ve released recently, is awesome, the M1, the 40n, the AVRs? All damn good products. I wish we had that level of consistency from other manufacturers.
And I agree that they seem to be going the route of Samsung and the Q900 series bars, that are awesome products, but kind of disappear because they haven’t changed visually or feature wise really got a while now. But at least, with the AVR you usually buy them for at least a few years without the worry of going obsolete and tuck them away a lot of time inside cabinets.
Great review and video, as always! Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday!
I 100% agree! I think, and this is just my opinion, but in a lot of ways, as far as traditional AVRs go, we've reached peak receiver for now. What's more interesting, at least to me, is how some brands like Anthem are starting to rethink AVRs a la their SLM line, which we have in for review and will be bringing you soon. I like that AVRs could be going smaller, not larger, as the years progress.
@@Echo-jg8is well, Marantz guarantees us 70% power all channels driven? Based on the two channel power. In the review, Andrew states about 90-100watts give or take. Going off of that. And simple math. I don’t know all the ins and outs of the AVR construction and electronics inside. That’s a question for Marantz at this point. But thank you for the info.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews yes! I hope they figure out a way to make a decently powered (AB class preferably) AVR that’s also compact. Like the size of a larger DVD player maybe? Or even the AudioLab 9000? That would be awesome.
@@gavriushka The 70% guarantee is for 5 channels.
@@Echo-jg8is you'd never use all the channels and especially the heights - it's not like the old days but they can hit 100 watts x 5. Mine hits 120 but the difference is minimal. It's more for 2 channel and the bass thump from bi-amping.
I have the Cinema 40 and I'm very happy with it. Thanks for confirming I made the right choice and put the extra funds on a 3 channel Emotiva amp for my LCR in my 7.2.2 system.
Andrew, you always speak so well. Articulate and concise. I so appreciate this. You have only gotten better and better as you perfect your craft. Great reviews which are top in its class. Keep up the good work my friend.
Wow, thank you!
Im a separates guy. Realistically, i dont think people who buy an 11plus channel receiver should expect it to be able to power thirsty speakers effectively. No matter how beefy the power supply is, you could be underwhelmed when pairing power hungry speakers with any receiver.. just my 2 cents. Great review. Glad to see sony 7000 still a powerhouse.
Well said.
I disagree - I have the old 703s which many people pair with Rotel 300 watts and which has the B&W 3.9ohm issue. I bi-amped with 150 watts x 4 with a Marantz 8002. I can't complain - I didn't have a sub for 15 years and the speakers dropped to 20-30 in the room. The Marantz sounded as good as the 100lb 5803 and 75lb RZ1 that I auditioned.
@@techsamurai11 right on. That sounds like a knock out setup. I didnt really mean in all cases, either. Im no absolutist. I used receivers for years and was happy and content. But that was in the 5.1 and 7.1 era. With 9, 11, or 13 channels, im just saying, if all speakers are super power hungry, one could be disappointed. Its not a rule or a fact. Just my suspicion…
@@maxpower78-15 I actually agree with you about the separates being a better value because the 4800H is practically identical internally to the Cinema 40 and can be bought on sale making it a much better proposition. You can buy an external 5 channel amp to power your LCR bi-amping the usually full range towers which provide 70% of the sound. That's usually where the majority of power is used since the LCR can drop to lower frequencies which require more power than higher frequencies.
I was merely pointing out that some AVRs can get the job done especially if you don't have a crazy number of channels or a Perlisten level system all around.
I love checking my phone and realizing it’s a new Andrew/Kristi video drop day. Thanks for all that you do :D
Thank you so much for watching!
your reviews are always excellently done and fun to watch - thank you!
That's so kind of you. We appreciate your comment and the extra love. Have a great day!
Thank you so very much!
So glad the Sony AZ7000ES was included towards the end of the video. I might give the Sony a try with the B&W 702-S3. Thank you for this review. 🙏☕️
I would love to hear your opinion of the Marantz 30 and the Yamaha Aventage top two AVRs. I understand that Yamaha is an acquired taste but it is mine . Thank you, Andrew, and I look forward to Kristi's cutting criticisms, even if she questions my audacity for mentioning the Aventage A6A and A8A. Keep up the good work!
I owned the Marantz sr8015 for a little year. Great sounding machine. Worked flawlessly. Then I sold it and bought the JBL SDR35: what a great difference! Instantly movies sounded awesome like in a real cinema and the Center channel performance was absolutely fabulous. Even without Dirac. Music sounds much richer and bigger. The jbl had some hardware and software issues at the start. They are fixed now.
Play the intro to No Time To Die - it should leave you with your jaw hitting the floor at even 80-85db. I don't know if the 8015 can even do that but Marantz used to with the old 8000 series probably designed by Ken Ishiwata.
$800 is crazy for software, especially when some receivers like mine come with the base dirac software free!
Much cheaper options out there.
This sounds so familiar! As a retiree on a budget, sold my Sony STR-AZ5000ES (at a loss) and with the Marantz SR8015 at crazy low prices (after the Cinema 30 was announced) , picked the 8015 for under $2K, less than what I paid for the 5000. I am so happy!
I did sell my RP-8000F and picked some Martin Logan Motion 60XTi also at a discount with the next gen of ML Motion speakers are now available.
I completed my 5.1.4 with an EMOTIVA XPA-3 Gen 3 to drive my Martin front stage and I am a really happy listener.
Thanks Andrew for all the honest reviews and Kristy for all the detailed descriptions and your down to earth comments on the videos!
Can’t go wrong with the Motion 60’s… great choice! 👍
@@rafacq - Wanted to ask you if you prefer the sound of the Marantz SR8015 over the Sony STR-AZ5000ES? That Sony is a hell of a nice receiver…
@@kingtrance307In my opinion, the Sony STR-AZ5000ES doesn’t even come close to the Marantz SR8015. In my book, not even the 7000 is s match to the SR8015. And at $1,799, the SR8015 is the deal of the century!
Send me a PM and I will be happy to provide details of all the issues I had with my 5000. Not good memories.
@@rafacq - I believe you sir. I have the Denon AVR-X 4500 and am a happy camper for now. The 360 Sony auto surround feature always intrigued me for movies and peaked my curiosity. At one time I had a Sony STR-5800es that I thought sounded great but I moved on to the Denon as I wanted Atmos. I don’t necessarily need Dirac because Audyssey sounds fine in my room. I liked the simplicity of Sonys auto EQ and that worked fine in my room as well. The Marantz SR 8015 certainly is a fine receiver! I would love one but don’t necessarily need all the extra channels in my 5.4.2 system. Yes I have 4 subwoofers… 😃
@@rafacq - And yes I had a couple HDMI glitches with my old Sony 5800. The receiver would randomly and intermittently cut off audio and switch back on when listening to music and watching movies. Never have had any of those issues with my Denon.
Makes me feel even better about picking up the Onkyo RZ70. Such a beast.
Yeah, just bought one on sale at $1999. For the money, it crushes everybody right now.
Same here even though I haven’t powered up the RZ70 yet.
@@robertrichards3433 I think even at $3,000 it puts most to shame. I previously owned a Denon 6700 and Yamaha A8A and the RZ70 is noticeably better than both.
The Marantz Cinema 30 is impressive as hell. Great review from begining to end.
I was looking forward to your review of the Cinema 30 after watching you review all the other receivers i considered. The Sony is sadly not sold here in the EU :( so i had to look for a different one in the end i ended up buying a Cinema 30. Im also looking forward to what Kristi has to say about the Cinema 30 she had some interesting perspectives in the past.
I had a Denon X4400h. Back when i bought it i first wanted to invest in Atmos and better front speakers. (i had Jamo S628's and one SVS PC2000 together with a SVS Ultra Center and Prime Bookshelfs for surround).
Later i bought a second pair of Jamo S622's for the ATMOS and SVS Ultra bookshelfs to replace the Jamo Front's i also added a Second PC2000 so those handle the power bass.
I used that setup for 3 years and the X4400h for 5 and a half year. i also tested the X7200W back then it sounded better on the Prime Bookshelfs but for the price difference it was atmos first.
So 6 weeks back i bought a Cinema 30. i also tested it vs a A1H. I liked both a lot but when i switched to the Cinema 30 there was a spaciousness in the sound that was not there with the X4400h but also not with the A1H. The Denons are more forward, and bit more crystal clear at the high end (especially the A1H). But can also be a bit "harsh" compared to the C30. Both the C30 and A1H had a wider open sound compared to the X4400h but the C30 sounded even more spacious to me. i noticed the same thing with movies the channels blended even nicer together somehow. That was something i liked when i went to the C30 from the X4400h and i missed again when going to the A1H. So in the end i swiched back to the C30 and decided to keep that. It was 1100 euro less in my case (it was a used A1H) While it was a good deal i did not use the extra channels. If i will expand i will probably be front wides but thats also possible with the C30.
Do note all this testing has been done with Audyssey One Evolution. i used that on all 3 receivers. After using that i dont want to go back to normal Audyssey anymore. I was already using Pure Direct on my X4400h for music because Audyssey ruins it somehow. After using A1E i know that does not need to be the case but Audyssey is not that great in correcting above 250Hz. A1E only does < 250Hz and what it does to the bass is o so good. Everything above 250 is only a calibration curve and the tonality of the speakers is left as is. The Jamo sound quite similar to the SVS tonality wise. So they match well and i dont need Audyssey to correct that. They are Atmos anyway so mostly effects. The more important speakers are all SVS so they match great. I plan to do a Dirac trial in the near future to compare A1E vs Dirac and see what i like more and if its worth the extra 799 euro. A1E already improves over standard Audyssey so much i wonder if its worth it.
So far i really like the Cinema 30 its a nice upgrade over my X4400h and it did what i hoped it would do: 1 more detail, wider sound stage in stereo, more spacious sound and more power in high SLP movie scenes. I also liked the A1H a lot but somehow i did prefer the Cinema 30.
Movies i tested: Mad Max Fury Road, Startrek 2009 & Into Darkness, Edge Of Tomorrow, Ready Player One, Passific Rim
I'm also really excited about Audyssey On Evo. I use it with a Cinema 40!!!
Happy Sunday A&K. Excellent thorough review as always. While AVR's aren't my thing, I did find the 2-channel comparison with the M1 very interesting. That M1 is so intriguing, particularly as a lifestyle sized product that brings the goods performance wise for those looking for good quality stereo amplification in a compact form. Any reviews in the works for its Denon sibling Home Amp priced even more attractively? Very interested in the sound comparison between the two and if there's any difference. Thanks again for all the great content this week. 5 plus hours this week I believe!
In all honesty, I'd pick the RZ-70 and if I wanted more power, I'd add separate power amps.
As a current RZ-50 owner, I would actually add power amps if I felt that need, since even this lower model has very capable pre-outs, which present no problem for virtually any power amp to reach its maximum output level before the pre-amp clipping.
I'm running a mini DSP unit for the subs, which means independent volume and EQ up to 4 subwoofers (I'm only running two as of now).
That's where my concept of "value" comes in, and prevents me from buying something like this Marantz.
As good as it may be (and the price goes up even if you want the RZ-50 level of Dirac), all of these receivers will get dated by the natural evolution of technology, and when that happens and you want to upgrade them, they usually have a very poor resale value.
If you put your money on good power amps, you can replace the receiver (without going near the flagship model), while still retaining a good part of your "investment" on power amps.
If this Marantz was more "special", I could make a case for buying it.
But it only feels like another Marantz receiver, with some small added performance here and there, which doesn't feel like a good value to me, personally speaking.
I can see the value of the R11 Metas against speakers costing way less (including Kefs own R range).
But not with this Marantz.
@@MrRocktuga - That was a very thoughtful analysis. I feel pretty much the same. I have an older Denon AVR-X 4500 paired with an OCD Nero 3200 amp to power my Martin Logans on the front LRC channels. Sounds great to me. The Onkyo RZ-50 sounds intriguing to me - if only to add Dirac on a budget. Did you find it was a night and day difference over Audyssey?
Basically the 30 is an sr8015 (which is still available)at a multiple of the price. Some might argue the sr8015 is superior, certainly the price is far better. Masimo’s mission is to raise the price of all of the old Sound United’s products. That’s what happens when you grossly overpay for an acquisition. Thanks for the great content. PS you should’ve covered mdax which is a differentiator between Marantz and their competition. No mention of heos????
I went with the Sony es 3000 n it's awesome very happy with it even though it don't have preouts but it was what I could afford
Hi Andrew, great review. One question, how would you compare the Cinema 30 to its predecessor, the SR8015? Many of the specs seem to be the same so are there any meaningful differences?
Always appreciate your videos, even though I can’t afford any of the stuff 😊
Wow. I have a Sony 5000ES and it's good to hear it can run with the best!
I would love to hear your take on how the cinema 30 compares to the flagship separates, the a V 10/amp 10 combo that you reviewed previously
I owned a Marantz Cinema 60 for a year and still loving it since day 1. The latest firmware update allows the support for Tidal connect directly instead of streaming through the HEOS app.
Your review is excellent and is in par with my assertion of Marantz not quite having that punch on certain scenes. I am an owner of the product, but I think is getting way expensive.
Agree. $4500 is major money and probably doesn't even sound better (or even as good as) the Sony AZ5000ES, which is less than half the price.
The RZ70 is looking pretty amazing right now and that's before you consider it is $3700aud compared marantz $7900aud before the Dirac upgrade. Buying the Marantz just feels like flushing money down the toilet.
Thanks for the review Andrew, I'll be curious to hear what Kristi has to say on Friday.
Hi Andrew, how do you compare this new Marantz Cinema 30 with the Arcam AVR31 (especially for listen to music)? Do you plan to do a detailed review of the Arcam receivers one day? Thanks for all the great videos!
Got the AVR21+PA720 amp instead and i am also curious how Andrew would feel they compare, or any modern Arcam in general.
I think Arcam may be a little concerned about highlighting its non-existent user-friendliness units.
Yeah, Arcam units sound fantastic. However, when it comes to getting the best out of them back and for emailing will become the norm. To be fair, Arcam, do say anything that may possibly diminish sound quality is unlikely to be implemented! One can either have features, functionalities, extra channels, and user friendliness. which, in my experience, equates more towards a digital sound! Or one can go with a unit that gives a little more breathing space to its components. Hence, a more convincing (realistic) analogue sounding unit. Perhaps one is unable to have best of both?
Thanks for the honest reviews. .. Will stick with the Sony str-az5000es that I purchased based on your reviews calling it Sony's sweet spot receiver. Thank you again😊😊
When Sony makes their high-end products... it's really hard to beat Sony, that including their top of the line headphones etc. I personally don't like Marantz - thick, laid-back warm sound....
I got the silver version in an open box sale (plus 10% member discount) in UK for £2700. I came from a Denon 3700 and am slowly noticing the big difference in control, balance and general quality of sound. Have only used the £20 app to change the range to 500hz across my 7 speakers but it's improved it even further. Dirac will come later but I'm going through my whole library in 'basic' Audessey setup first. Very happy with the purchase and the remote is heavy and lush just to cap it all off.
There is a lot to be said for a nice remote that feels good in the hand! Flimsy, lightweight remotes just feel --- cheap.
Happy Sunday Kristi and Andrew 🤘
Same to you!
I always look forward to your Marantz reviews! Thank you for sharing this one.
Thanks for watching!
Kristy: "Are you watching Megan Fox again?"
Andrew: "It's for research" 😬
Awesome review! Missed having the wifey's input on this one.
Then you've been missing our weekly Unplugged videos for the past couple of months! You'll find me here every Friday morning: bit.ly/43NnDkT
great review .. I love my cinema 30 , i wanted the silver , so looks was part of it for me as well as audio . thank you for your hard work
I just purchased and received the Cinema 30. Periodically it was experiencing video and sound blackouts for approximately 10 to 20 seconds and then it would recover. I have a 86 inch Bravia tv. I upgraded my HDMI cables to the Audioquest Forest 48 5ft. Support told me I needed to purchase a EDID emulator.I was told it was a known problem. I had to return the Cinema 30 as the last time it blacked out it did not recover. Is this a common issue with AVRs?
Reviews like this one just push me one step closer to ditching the 3.1 setup and migrating to a much simpler 2.1 using the Marantz M1 for audio only and eARC for its audio input. No more universal remotes to simplify multiple devices and it would seem much better sound for a setup that's used 80% music and 20% movies/TH-cam videos.
Great review thank you Andrew and Kristie for all the work that you do. Both of you are simply awesome. Thanks again
Thank you for the kind comment.
I've caught so much heat from people on my description of the Marantz sound which I describe as overly mellow (even dark with some speakers) with a premature roll-off in the high frequency that kills detail. I am proud to say that I have Andrew on my side. Thanks for the affirmation brother!
Just switch to dac 2 on it and there's no marantz in house roll off
I recently got a Sony ES 5000 based on your recommendation and am very happy with it. I agree that the one shortcoming with the Sony is that it doesn't support DIRAC (or have an app like MultiEQ). I did buy RS5s to get 5.1 and so far, I have not had any issues with them.
Marantz is always on top of my list great products ..
And for good reason, I believe they've always delivered on their claims and reputation --at least over the past several years!
West Coast! It's been a while. Glad to see you back here. I hope all has been well.
Marantz has a house sound (good or bad) you’ve gotta give em that.
THANKS 🙏 ANDREW FOR SHARING THIS,AND I HOPE YOU AND KRISTI HAVE A GREAT DAY 🌞💚💚💚
Good morning!
Of course! Thanks for watching!
With your comments about top and bottom end rolling off, I’m wondering if you changed Filter 1 to Filter 2 which turns off the Marantz ‘sound.’ I have the AV10/Amp-10 combo and doing that noticeably improved the sound quality (I’m running Dirac).
Could you please review the ANTHEM AVM90, and compare it with other high end amplifiers?
In your review of SVS's new Titan speakers, you mentioned that their center image is so good that you didn't really feel the need for a center speaker. But now that you have both their center and their small Nano speakers from the same series, allowing you to set up a 5.1 system (including the small KEF sub), will there be a full system review, or could you elaborate a bit more on whether you still hold the same opinion regarding using their center speaker together with the Titan? 🙂
Ok. I have never seen one up close. I trust you that’s why I watch your reviews
And why isn't this guy the voice behind some Audio Books, a male Alexa, some Ai generated counselor? You get the point.
What about a comparison with the Yamaha a8a?
One of my AVR brands is Anthem. I have had and liked their room correction in the past, as well as the overall quality. Any thoughts on how Anthem compares to Marantz?
Rocking the sr8015. Won’t trade or upgrade anytime soon since it’s a beast of a avr
If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Thanks for tuning in all the same!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks for being such a great and genuine reviewer! I’m still trying to find the best room acoustics items since I have my HT in the basement. Rocking the magnats cinema ultra
SR8015 🤣🤣
Incredible how some people spend on highend gear then limit the sound quality with compressed Spotify.
Instead, it's much better to use a lossless streaming source like Apple Music.
By the way, i know Kristie mentioned she didn’t love the “SVS” branding on your beautiful titans, I believe you could remove a couple of screws and turn around the donut looking metal thing with SVS on it and flip it over and have a more clean look 😊🥰
Great review! How does it compare to the Anthem MRX 1140. I noticed you didn’t include that at the end and was wondering if there was a reason why. Thanks for all the great work!
We have not experienced the 1140. Tks for watching!
I really wanna see the anthem mrx 1140 in the review mix the 740 is amazing but the 1140 has the toroidal transformer and the 4 class d overhead channels it’s the best they have and I think their sound is so enormous I’d love for you to have a look at it
Noted. Will have to google that sku and see what's what.
I am enjoying my Marantz 30! Combined with an Apple TV 4K its the best in home entertainment for the money!
Great review, Andrew! You might be one of the only influencers/reviewers online with hands-on experience with all the flagship models, especially the Marantz lineup. In your A1H review, you mentioned issues with phantom center imaging and video processing when handled by the AVR. Is that still the case with the Cinema 30? It also sounds like you're a big fan of Dirac. Did you notice any differences between Dirac with the Onkyo compared to the Cinema 30, AV10, or Marantz separates? Once these units are outfitted with Dirac, is there still a noticeable distinction? Lastly, I've heard you rave about Sony's 360 Reality Audio calibration-do you believe it outperforms Dirac?
Me just getting into to home theater. I have a Vizio soundbar that me dad gave me. When I grow up me would like to get a box like this one and those cool speakers. I also would like to get a bass box like a sub when the money me made from cutting grass over the summer.
This review was good but no Mention of Dac 2 people think its just for bench testing it's not what Dac 2 deos is It gets rid of the Marantz in-house roll off and sounds more like a Denon , I watched a video on it by masimo
The RZ70 is currently $2k. Seems like a no brainer with the Dirac included.
What bothers me about these receivers with apps like Pandora, XM Radio, Spotify, etc., is that after a few years, they are obsolete. I have a previous Marantz with these apps, and they no longer function. I think they should continue to work as long as the services themselves are in business.
Use a reveiver as ... A receiver and get a media player for sources... as everybody does.
Andrew, thanks for being honest that the Sony AZ7000ES is still really the best sounding, save for bass management primarily. In your review of the A1H, you seemed to hold back and didn't want to say that the Sony really still sounds better.
My opinion on Marantz 40 and 50, its good for movies, but if you want better sound with more headroom go for Denon x4800h or above .
For the price of Dirac get you some SVS Sub and there goes your Sub control issue.
Thanks as always! Sorry I can't catch you and Kristi live - I really hope you try out Audyssey one and compare it to Dirac and Sony Spatial Mapping. I for one will be all ears!
Appreciate the support and noted on the comparison video.
How does the 30 compare to the Emotiva MR1L? I know they are different price points, but Emotiva needs to be bought into more comparisons since you already have reviewed it.
You still cling to the Sony! Glad it works for you. I finally sold my 5000ES.
Took advantage of the crazy discounted price on a Marantz SR8015 and simply LOVE IT! What a magnificent piece of equipment. So happy with the Marantz sound, I bought a Marantz Stereo 70s for my study 2 channel setup!
Thanks for the video.
How is the sound equality compering soney E and 8015?
@@Porchewaitombi After having both for 6 months, my choice is the Marantz SR8015 without a doubt! Thus why I sold the Sony at a loss!
Great review! I decided to go with the Denon 6800 instead, $1,000 less for pretty much the same thing (less a toroidal transformer). Love it!
Can you review anything from Anthem, receivers or processors.
vs Anthem MRX1140 :)
Another great review, per usual.
I noticed that you once again mentioned the Zidoo UHD8000. Are you planning a review of it, or is there one I missed?
Keep pounding LG for their QNED89T 98" ..
Really want your take on it being better than the X90L; with its "precision dimming" and the a8 vs the XR ..
How about comparison with Yamaha A8A? The Marantz Cinema 30 costs here 4299€ and the Yamaha RXA-A8A costs 3299 €. Yamaha just seem to be a bit more powerful but it doesn't have the Dirac. I haven't heard any of the Cinema amplifiers so I'm curious which of these amps have a better sound quality?
Alright!!! Here we go. Big Marantz fanboy here. Full disclosure!!🤣😂😝
Hi MaxP!
Well I hope the review was worth the wait!
@@KristiWright hey Kristi!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews always! Cheers
We all are. They’re awesome.
Thanks! I do love Marantz (7010 to 8015 progression), so good to know.
Awesome review, finally.
Did you try the 2 filters on the Cinema 30 that extends the frequency response? And also can you try bi-amping for music?
How would you compare the Cinema 30 to the Yamaha RX-A8A, since the later is now at firmware ver 2.03 ?
Hey Andrew! Something I would hope to see in the future is you reviewing some finnish Genelecs! It would be awesome so hear your opinion to their monitors as they are highly respected in Finland :)
Nice review
Long time waiting for your review of Arcam AVR -11/21/31 or AV-41
Great video Andrew. Have you considered evaluating car audio? Maybe build a lab/studio with a reference amp and just swap speakers during the review phase. I feel it would be a great value to your subscribers based on your amazing ability to articulate sound reviews and expertise on sound audio. Unfortunately there aren’t many great car audio folks out there. The ones that are ok are just car audio installers but lack the ability to communicate their sound quality feedback. Maybe have another channel for car audio “Andrew Robinsons Car Tunez” or something to that effect.
Love your videos and many helped my purchase decisions. 👍🏾
Hope you guys are well . Really missed your videos
alot while in for surgery ,bouts of .meds and rehabilitation to get some of .y strength back . Im so glad the last few months I was at a faculty that allowed me to enjoy Diana Krall on the RZ50 with my Focal Choras you both recommended to so many . Ill be playing catchup to see what I've missed from you 2 . Thank you both
Hope all is well soon, Mark. Glad you're back!
Andrew, absolutely awesome critique as always. I love your white glove approach to your evaluations. Question in regards to your AVR comparison, you mentioned the three big heavyweights however can you provide me to the best of your recollection in regards to dynamic headroom of the RZ 70? any issues? Did it tend to roll off or is it OK? Again it’s been a while and if you don’t recollect that’s OK. Thank you so much.
Why is it so hard for Marantz, Denon, etc to state the power for all channels driven? Why not include all the power you would ever need for the channels the AVR offers to begin with? All AVR's manufactured today should publish the power rating for all channels driven. In my opinion if you spend the money on an AVR at this cost you should never need another amp period regardless of setup unless you expand your system beyond the AVR's channel capabilities.
@@Cy_AV my guess is because that’s a situation you will never find yourself in, where all channels are being driven to the same volume
When I utilised my Atmos Poweramp to my audiophile grade AVR for my front stage speakers (btw also happens to be a matching poweramp to the AVR) gave the setup the ability to enjoy content at low volumes, too. In fact, I was so impressed rather than disconnecting it, I ended up purchasing yet another one.
@@AmmarMalik Volume is a small part of the equation. The more power you have available contributes to the efficiency of your system when you need it as in hitting that punch for movie scenes or music when it is required and not sounding thin when underpowered. When all channels driven have ample power you will definitely notice the difference.
@@totalplonker824Thank you. My point is you should not have to have separate amps in the equation for the cost of this AVR to accomplish what you listed.
Just want to clarify, I love the AVR in the review, I just think it should provide much more power to the consumer to justify it's cost.
From watching your videos Im kinda sold on the Sony ES7000 but from a two- channel head to head comparison with the Marantz 30 or 40 which would you prefer. I know the Marantz adds some coloration but I wanted to know which one sounded more lively when listening to rap, jazz, classical? And as far as the 4 subwoofer outputs coming from the Marantz, does the Sony offer anything like that when it comes to directional subwoofer sound? Thanks love the channel by the way.
Thx for the review! Can you call out what settings you changed to passthrough / off that improved the sound? Im planning to get the cinema 30 and it would be great to have this upfront.
I think we are missing some comparison to the Athem 1140 8k, which is quite close in price, but also to it's direct sibling Denon X6800 (which I don't think you reviewed). Denon is interesting, since it is much cheaper, shares the same HDMI board it seems, and has the same power rating.
Side note, since a couple of weeks, HEOS got updated and now supports Tidal Connect (but stereo only), with Roon-tested integration "coming soon". There were also talks about Dirac ART for Denon and Marantz, but nothing surfaced so far.
Yeah but….. how BOUT that Mac stack review 😁😁??
Great show. Thank you.
How does it compare to the Arcam AVR31?
I don't know if you guys have any plans to do so, but it would be interesting to compare the Marantz Cinema 30 with the Denon 6800. They are nearly identical with the same features with the only difference being with the HDAM modules, power supply, looks, and cost. So, if using Dirac on the 6800 gets similar sound characteristics to the 30, then you can spend less for the 6800 and get what you want unless you really want the looks of the Marantz or the silver finish.
I have the Cinema 40 which I bought before the 30 was released (and before they offered the silver option ☹). I'm a bit interested in the 30 because I used to have the Denon 6700 receiver, using it in a 7.1 (2 subs).6 configuration and with the 30 I can keep using my existing speaker configuration. With the Cinema 40, I have to choose either 5.1.6 or 7.1.4. However, It's not worth going through the hassle of selling my 40 (at a loss) and paying the extra for the 30. (though I'd consider doing that to get the silver 40)
All in all, of all the offerings available from Denon and Marantz, I want the Denon A1H (or Marantz A10 in silver but I don't you can get it in that finish). I don't really need it, but I like all the features and flexibility you have with it. Fortunately, I guess, it's 6500 dollars. Too much to even try to buy.
Would love to hear your thoughts on the Integra DRX-8.4 receiver in relation to this and other flagship receivers.
Audyssey One is a gamechanger. I find it hard to believe that Dirac will have an improvement/cost ratio that justifies purchasing it over Audyssey One.
Great Sunday everyone !!
Happy Sunday! Hopefully we can close out the week with a bit less drama 😂
Hi Afonso!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Cheers to a drama free week coming ahead!
@@KristiWright Hey Kristi!! How has the week been?
@@txerapng Oh you know, just a rollercoaster ride per the usz... 😂. I meant to ask about your new company. Can you share any details yet?
With the new SVS 17 subs they have some base management, what do you think of that!? Please review 😊😊😊
Thanks for the review.
Thanks so much for watching Craig! Always appreciated.
Did you disable Dolby Loudness Management? Marantz inexplicably sets this dynamic compression feature on by default
How was the phantom centre? Also did the C30 get hot?
Hi, i would like to see a comparison on the Yamaha a8a. I have this receiver now for 3 months conected with Dali rubicon 6. Amazing sound but i have the feel that i mis something in some music. I listen mostly to movie soundtracks.
Yes, speakers of that calibre should, in my opinion, be driven with something a little more resolving. Even adding a power amp ain't gonna do Jack shit. Always start from solid.
How about the Cinema 70/Emotiva combo regarding sound comparison?
Flagging for Friday's Unplugged!
Thank you, I think this is an important question, if the video and audio processing is the same or very similar, buying the Cinema 70 (used as a processor) with an Emotiva XBA amp and Direct Live is likely cheaper / better option!
Great review. I really appreciate the comparisons. Im content with my Sr8015 6.2.4. B&W 700 series for now. In the future Im interested in Arcam AV31 or Athem AV90 for sound but put off w the bugs some have experienced. Still i hope you review both of those .....not sure why they havent sent you their receivers. Maybe theyre scared. 🤔