HK avr635 and Marantz sr-8500

krabby5
krabby5 Posts: 923
edited February 2006 in Electronics
According to their respective websites, they both have an MSPR of $1299us

But I can get the HK for $647 shipped (im guessing refurb at 6th ave), but the cheapest I've seen for the Marantz is $999 + shipping for a refurb..

Is it because there are so many more HK's than Marantz?
Pioneer Elite VSX-53, Polk RT800i fronts, Polk CS400i center, FX500i surround, Velodyne sub
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  • adam2434
    adam2434 Posts: 995
    edited February 2006
    That has to be a refurb price, and it's a good one at that. Many folks get theirs direct from HK.
    http://www.harmanaudio.com/search_browse/default.asp?brand=HK&market=HOM&sp=S&cat=REC

    I'm sure the Marantz is nice, but that HK is such a good deal, I'd go for it. It would be my top reco right now for a friend or family member who had a $700 receiver budget.
    5.1 and 2.0 ch Basement Media Room: Outlaw 975/Emotiva DC-1/Rotel RB-1582 MKII/Rotel RB-1552/Audiosource Amp 3/Polk LS90, CS400i, FX500i/Outlaw X-12, LFM-1/JVD DLA-HD250/Da-Lite 100" HCCV/Sony ES BDP/Sonos Connect. DC-1/RB-1582 MKII/Sonos Connect also feed Polk 7C in garage or Dayton IO655 on patio.
    2.1 ch Basement Gym: Denon AVR-2807/Klipsch Forte I or NHT SB2/JBL SUB 550P x 2/Chromecast Audio.
    2.0 ch Living Room: Rotel RX-1052/Emotiva DC-1/Klipsch RF-7 III/Sony ES BDP/LG 65" LED.
    2.0 ch Semi-portable: Klipsch Powergate/NHT SB3/Chromecast Audio.
    Kitchen: Sonos Play5.
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  • 2+2
    2+2 Posts: 546
    edited February 2006
    Krabby, although the recommendation to go with what you like based on an audition, I will throw in the following...my recommendation is that if you have a relatively bright speaker, go with HK...if you have a laid back speaker, go with Marantz....preamp of the HK I have is really warm sounding so I dont think it is an optimal match with laid back speakers (it makes some recordings sound absolutely fantastic and others unlistenable)....Marantz, while considered by many to be warm sounding as well, is not as laid back as HK.
    System 1: Martin Logan Vantage, Rotel RC 1070, B&K Reference 200.2, Music Hall DAC 15.2, Yamaha 2300

    System 2: LSi15 w/db840, Marantz SR8400, Rotel 1080, RM6800 (C&S), Sony X2020ES

    System 3: LSi7, Yamaha SW215, Music Hall Maven, Music Hall MMF CD25 w/627opamps

    System 4: RTi100, Harman Kardon AVR 230, Panasonic DVD
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  • gregure
    gregure Posts: 871
    edited February 2006
    I would sing the praises of the Marantz SR8500 any day of the week. It's a superb sounding unit. Lots of power, a true torroidal transformer, and easily capable of driving lower impedance speakers with ease, and still sounding good. I tested a Denon AVR3806 on some 4 ohm speakers, and switching back and forth between that and the Marantz SR8500. The difference was literally night and day. The Denon sounded harsh, veiled, constricted and like a super-compressed MP3 recording. The Marantz immediately opened up the sound, sounding richer, warmer and with none of the constriction of the Denon. Granted, this is not an HK comparison, but the Marantz is a superb piece for music. There is only a $300 difference between the Marantz and the Denon (the Marantz actually normally retails for $1499-so $999 is also a great deal), but there was a huge audible difference. Comparatively, the SR8500 was only slightly inferior to the B&K AVR 507 S2 when comparing back and forth. That's a difference of $2000!!! Need I say more?
    Current System:

    Mitsubishi 30" LCD LT-3020 (for sale**)
    Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grand (Rosewood)-Mains (with Audioquest Mont Blanc cables)
    CSi5-Center (for sale**)
    FXi3-surrounds (for sale**)
    Martin Logan Depth-Sub
    B&K AVR 507
    Pimare CD21-CD Player
    Denon 1815-DVD Player
    Panamax M5500-EX-Line Conditioner
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