[asifakhtar]

Hi all. I've finally decided on purchasing the Monitor Audio RX8s for my AV set up but need some advice regarding which amp would go best with the speakers. I have a budget of up to 1.5k but obviously the less i can spend the better. I think the choice would be between Yamaha, Denon or Pioneer but i'm open to suggestions. Help please!!

[dante01]

Originally Posted by asifakhtar

Hi all. I've finally decided on purchasing the Monitor Audio RX8s for my AV set up but need some advice regarding which amp would go best with the speakers. I have a budget of up to 1.5k but obviously the less i can spend the better. I think the choice would be between Yamaha, Denon or Pioneer but i'm open to suggestions. Help please!!

I'd say yes to both Yamaha and Denon, but would say that the MA speakers would be too clinical for use with a Pioneer amp.

The Denon AVR3310, Yamaha RXV3900 or the Z7 all fall within your budget.

The Z7 would be my choice.

[dicklodge]

The new RX series speakers are reported to be smoother sounding than the outgoing RS series that they replace. This means that although Yamaha/Denon are still more than likely the best partners, it could be worth demoing and trying other amps, not normally associated with MA speakers.

Monitor Audio recently used a Onkyo amp to demo the RS8s at a recent exhibition.

One thing to bear in mind with this though, is that it was a very expensive Onkyo amp, and as was pointed out elsewhere, at an exhibition, a bright dynamic sound will bring in the audience ---- wheather that would be too much for prolonged listening, is another question.

Until there is more user feedback on RX8s/amp pairings, the general rule to demo (if you can) probably applies more so.

[quantumAV]

Consider the Yamaha Z7 and the Onkyo NR3007. Depends on your listening mix really for which one I would go for.

[bobbymax]

I have demo'd the pioneer sc-lx82 with the RX8 av package and I thought they sounded great with music and blu ray which is why I bought onebut obviously have a listen yourself

[asifakhtar]

Thanks everyone for the good advice. I will use the system to listen to music sometimes but 90% of the use will be movies. I guess any amplifier that can handle music well will be able to handle movies just as well.

[bobbymax]

[ I guess any amplifier that can handle music well will be able to handle movies just as well.[/QUOTE]

Excactly what I was advised when I Demoed

[dante01]

Theoretically musical ability would go some way when it comes to movies, but some AV amps have excellent musical abilities, but fall short of the mark when it comes to the processing required for multichannel cinema. Some care should be taken and it isn't a given that an amp that is good with two channel stereo will be as equally good with multichannel audio. You should audition an AV amp for both

[Don Dadda]

Have a look at the Marantz SR6003.

You might even get 1 on the cheap as it is being replaced by the SR6004. Why i dont know as it was only released earlier this year or late 2008 .
I had a play with the SR6003 and was well impessed by it sound quality, picture signal reproduction and other features it had to offer. It is a top dollar piece of kit. The 6004 should be of at least the same quality.
Like you i have a 763 and only a PS3 is connected to it via hdmi. I do have the sound from Sky+ and a Pioneer DV 400 connected via opitcal but since i not reach the stage of needing more hdmi ports, i have no intentions of replacing it as yet. However, If i were, (and especially after a demo) i would definity be looking at a SR6003.

[confused88]

Originally Posted by Don Dadda

Have a look at the Marantz SR6003.

You might even get 1 on the cheap as it is being replaced by the SR6004. Why i dont know as it was only released earlier this year or late 2008 .
I had a play with the SR6003 and was well impessed by it sound quality, picture signal reproduction and other features it had to offer. It is a top dollar piece of kit. The 6004 should be of at least the same quality.
Like you i have a 763 and only a PS3 is connected to it via hdmi. I do have the sound from Sky+ and a Pioneer DV 400 connected via opitcal but since i not reach the stage of needing more hdmi ports, i have no intentions of replacing it as yet. However, If i were, (and especially after a demo) i would definity be looking at a SR6003.

Why would the SR6003 offer better "picture signal reproduction" than other receivers ?
The SR6004 has an additional hdmi input and more Audyssey features than the SR6003 but the problem with decoding HD audio and Audyssey at the same time is still there.
I was quite impressed by the 5003 but the 6003 still seems somewhat expensive at 650-700 given that the Denon 2310 has now dropped to £700.

[Don Dadda]

Originally Posted by confused88

Why would the SR6003 offer better "picture signal reproduction" than other receivers ?
.

I didn't say it was better than any other receiver, i said i was impressed by it.
Yes it is expensive and yes i forgot about the 5003 which probably be more suitable price wise. But the 6003 has, as you pointed out, an additional input (which takes it to 4 inputs) and output than the 5003 for those who want a projector and tv connected. Seeing as it now is being replaced by the 6003 ( so is he 5003 being replaced by the 5004) you might get 1 at a decent bargin price - well here's hoping anyway.
I hear what you say about the 'issues' it may have and not disputing it, but for those who have the 6003, let their bdp do all the decoding which solves that problem. And they are extremely happy with it.
Please feel free to correct me if i'm wrong.
IMO - All receivers have their drawback in one way or another, It which drawback you can put up with and how much you are willing to pay. Thats why they make so many different models so that if you want the perfect AV, you are going to pay some serious money for it. I'm not saying the 6003 is perfect - far from it, but as well as a good av it is pretty dam good at stereo as well. Not so with alot of av's, so the components inside it to help reproduce the stereo sound is not going to come cheap. This is where i believe the expensive comes it to it. IMO it is a good allrounder. Cant say that about alot of av's out there, including my own. Its great at everything else but not so with music.

[dicklodge]

Originally Posted by Don Dadda

I hear what you say about the 'issues' it may have and not disputing it, but for those who have the 6003, let their bdp do all the decoding which solves that problem. And they are extremely happy with it.
Please feel free to correct me if i'm wrong.

One forum member has reported that the Sony S550, although it can decode all the HD formats to LPCM, if during the HDMI handshake, it determines that the AV amp can decode bitstreamed audio, that's all it will send; you can't force it to send LPCM. This means that you would have no Audessy equalisation applied.

How many other BR players have this limitation, I don't know. But why do Marantz have to do things differently to other AV recievers in this respect? As it's reported to be lack of processing power in the Marantz, is it cost cutting or bad/misguided design?

[asifakhtar]

Is the Marantz in the same league as the Yamaha Z7? I assume not given the price differential. I think i am leaning towards the Yamaha but i'll demo both the Yamaha and the Denon this week.

[confused88]

Originally Posted by asifakhtar

Is the Marantz in the same league as the Yamaha Z7? I assume not given the price differential. I think i am leaning towards the Yamaha but i'll demo both the Yamaha and the Denon this week.

Probably closer to the 3900 and the Denon 2310. Another member compared the three paired with the RX and went for the Denon.
Denon AVR-2310 or Yamaha RX-V3900 (Post 22)

[dante01]

Originally Posted by confused88

Probably closer to the 3900 and the Denon 2310. Another member compared the three paired with the RX and went for the Denon.
Denon AVR-2310 or Yamaha RX-V3900 (Post 22)

Actually, closer to the RXV1065 and the AVR2310 than the RXV3900

[Don Dadda]

Originally Posted by dicklodge

How many other BR players have this limitation, I don't know. But why do Marantz have to do things differently to other AV recievers in this respect?

Mate,

I really don't know and do agree with you about design in repect to the LPCM.
It may cut down your BR options abit and yes, some areas of build could of and should of had a bit more thought, but is that not case with most AV makers in certain areas of their design where you think they could of done better?

I still think its a v.good av and even tho the Z7 and 3310 are different beasts - thought it might be worth offering up as a suggestion which the op, might be open too while they are changing from the Denon to the Yammy at the demo -which he's not.

Maybe the SR7/8002 replacement will be more on par - if it ever get released.

Confused88: - that was an good & interesting read - by that post It seems the marantz and RX do not make a great pairing. I'd listen to the 6003 with B&W 803 and 805 and found it to be different than what they discribed.

[dicklodge]

Originally Posted by Don Dadda

I really don't know and do agree with you about design in repect to the LPCM.
It may cut down your BR options abit and yes, some areas of build could of and should of had a bit more thought, but is that not case with most AV makers in certain areas of their design where you think they could of done better?

The bitstream/EQ issue is basic current functionality though, not optional stuff.

Originally Posted by Don Dadda

I still think its a v.good av and even tho the Z7 and 3310 are different beasts - thought it might be worth offering up as a suggestion which the op, might be open too while they are changing from the Denon to the Yammy at the demo -which he's not.

Definitely worth offering up as an alternative as long as the glitches are mentioned at the same time. That's the kind of glitch you would never imagine would be there, so it's possible people would buy one and then discover it, when maybe it's too late to change the amp.

[asifakhtar]

Thanks guys. I'm pretty much set on the Yamaha Z7 which i will demo in the next few days. I was though wondering how much of a difference i would hear if i compared the Z7 and the Denon 2310. I know the price difference is significant but is the sound that much better? If it is then great but obviously i dont want to needlessly spend money when i dont need to.

With regards to the speakers i have ordered the RX8 fronts and RX centre (i did listen to the RX6 but was unimpressed) and will be using some B&W's speakers for the rears. The RX8s produce a lot of bass but i do want a good subwoofer to finish the package. Would you guys recommend the MA option or something else?

[dwhite]

Try the subwoofer forum , for sub ideas.

[Zorba_8]

Originally Posted by asifakhtar

With regards to the speakers i have ordered the RX8 fronts and RX centre (i did listen to the RX6 but was unimpressed) and will be using some B&W's speakers for the rears. The RX8s produce a lot of bass but i do want a good subwoofer to finish the package. Would you guys recommend the MA option or something else?

I'm suprised that you though that the RX8s were far superior to the RX6, the only difference is an extra bass driver and few extra litres in cabinet size. Apart from that the technology is identical.

What was it you didn't like? I'm guessing that will be the extra few Hz that the RX8s were able to reach down to??

EDIT: Apologies mods, I thought I was in the Speaker forum, sorry to take this even further off topic :D

[dicklodge]

Originally Posted by Zorba_8

I'm suprised that you though that the RX8s were far superior to the RX6, the only difference is an extra bass driver and few extra litres in cabinet size. Apart from that the technology is identical.

What was it you didn't like? I'm guessing that will be the extra few Hz that the RX8s were able to reach down to??

EDIT: Apologies mods, I thought I was in the Speaker forum, sorry to continue going off topic.

It's phrased slightly differently for the RX series in the brochure, but with regard to the RS series, the big advantage of the 8 over the 6 is that the extra speaker is a dedicated midrange driver, giving the potential of clearer midrange.

[Zorba_8]

Originally Posted by dicklodge

It's phrased slightly differently for the RX series in the brochure, but with regard to the RS series, the big advantage of the 8 over the 6 is that the extra speaker is a dedicated midrange driver, giving the potential of clearer midrange.

Ah, thank Dick, on first reading of the RX brouchure I thought it was dual 6” bass drivers and a single 6” bass/mid driver. I'll stick to talking about what I know, which isn't a great deal

[dicklodge]

Originally Posted by Zorba_8

Ah, thank Dick, on first reading of the RX brouchure I thought it was dual 6” bass drivers and a single 6” bass/mid driver. I'll stick to talking about what I know, which isn't a great deal

You're right, the RX brochure says that, wheras the RS brochure says the extra driver is for midrange.

Wheather they've changed the function for the extra driver between the RX and RS series, or they've just phrased it differently I don't know.

My fault; I should have explained the RS/RX brochure descriptive differences, with regard to the different drivers, more clearly!

[asifakhtar]

I auditioned the B&W 683, 684 and the MA RX6 & RX8 and i thought the RX8s were miles ahead of the others. The speakers had more presence and made the scenes come more alive than the others.

[mickatmian]

Originally Posted by asifakhtar

Thanks guys. I'm pretty much set on the Yamaha Z7 which i will demo in the next few days. I was though wondering how much of a difference i would hear if i compared the Z7 and the Denon 2310. I know the price difference is significant but is the sound that much better? If it is then great but obviously i dont want to needlessly spend money when i dont need to.

Having had a Denon 2310, a 3310 and Yamaha Z7 on loan, I can say that for me with my speakers (Anthony Gallo A'diva ti's) the Z7 is the best for both stereo and surround and well worth the extra money. As you may have gathered its the one I bought.

For info. my previous amp was a Denon 3806

As always when spending relatively large sums of money demo yourself, the internet may be cheaper than bricks and mortar but not so cheap if you get it wrong!

Mick

[confused88]

Originally Posted by asifakhtar

I auditioned the B&W 683, 684 and the MA RX6 & RX8 and i thought the RX8s were miles ahead of the others. The speakers had more presence and made the scenes come more alive than the others.

What did the RX6 compare to the B&W?

[asifakhtar]

I thought the RX6 performed similarly to the B&W 684. I found the 683 to be slightly better but to be honest i thought that the 685s were better than all the speakers i auditioned other than the RX8s. That's what my ears tell me anyway!

[dante01]

Beware the mid range of the B&W speakers. Mid tones can get a bit frisky at volume. Monitor Audio seem to fair better than B&W in this respect.

[asifakhtar]

I've just ordered the RX8 and the RX centre in gloss black, they look amazing. The Yamaha Z7 is on its way too!

[bobbymax]

Originally Posted by asifakhtar

I've just ordered the RX8 and the RX centre in gloss black, they look amazing. The Yamaha Z7 is on its way too!

Nice one
What rears did you order?