Which Amp is the best for my speakers?

So you just bought that speaker you always wanted, but now, it is set up in your living room, it does not sound like what it sounded at the showroom?

It must be sales trickery! Right?

Most people abandon the fact that the amplifier you use is one of the most important things you need when driving a speaker.

I am going to use an example:

I had a client coming in on a Sunday, eager to buy a Monitor Audio Bronze floorstander, but after hearing the Monitor Audio RX8, he committed to the superior Silver range from Monitor Audio. The demo was done on a Rotel Pre/Power 200watts combination, which blew him away. Upon asking what electronics he has, he assured me that his Yamaha will do the trick, as the speaker's rated 150watts is way below his Yamaha's "rated" 180 watts per channel. 

a Few days later, I got a call, the client says the speakers does not nearly sound as good as it did during the demonstration, can I help? So I jumped into the van, armed with the same Rotel Pre/Power combo, Audioquest Interconnects, Audioquest custom made speaker cables with banana plugs. Arriving at the client, I quickly added the Power Amp to the existing Yamaha's pre-outs. Magic happened, the client was ecstatic. I proceded by then using the Rotel Pre-amplifier and cabling, where the sound just opened up so much more. Needless to say, the client upgraded to the better, newer and more powerful system, and was happy.

SO, WHAT THE WATTS IS GOING ON?

So I am not going to bore you with the technical explanations, it is time-consuming, it is debatable, it is always being challenged, so here I will follow with the easiest way to explain it.

You have a Hyundai rated at 140kw, and a Mercedes rated at 140kw. Who will win the race? Same power right? But do we take into account weight, efficiencies, using more low-cost manufacturing components vs newer technology? Mercedes will always win, it just does it better, with the same rated power. You might add, the Mercedes has more torque...which makes for the next paragraph.

You never walk into an audio shop and asks for the most powerful Wattifier. You ask for an Amplifier, which produces amps, which is the actual electrical current driving the motors in your speakers, which produces watts.

Why the watts then?

Mostly marketing really! Thank you Sony PMPO.

So how do I choose?

There is no better way to choose the right amp for the right speakers, then going for an auditioning at your local showroom. Contact your local importer of the speaker brand you have, and ask them what they would recommend.

Example, KEF would most of the times recommend you look into Primare, which powers their speakers exceptionally well. Primare also powers most British speakers very well, including B&W and Monitor Audio.

Another example will be Yamaha driving Bowers and Wilkins very well, but not KEF as much, as KEF tends to be very sharp on the higher frequencies when coupled with a Yamaha, which is naturally a sharper sounding amplifier, which is once again neutralized by the B&W's warm sound.

You would find a Focal Speaker will not work at all with Primare or Class D amplifiers, yet, enjoys Class A and AB amplifiers from McIntosh and Marantz/Denon.

Go and audition, don't just read about it, it is much more fun!

Awards for Marantz SR6006

The Marantz SR6006 "creates a devastatingly convincing cinematic experience" in Sound Vision Install magazine (Dec 2011).

Marantz's new AV receiver, the SR6006, has received a terrific write up in the latest issue of Sound Vision Install magazine.

In this article the SR6006 is descirbed as a "powerful AVR which offers high-quality audio processing and creates a devastatingly convincing cinematic experience" (Dec 2011).​

Marantz Audio Visual Receiver

Intro


For a long time Marantz have been a leader on the HI-FI and Stereo front, with excellent Tuners, brilliant turn tables, probably the best CD Players ever to be made. Many have doubted that Marantz will effectively compete in the Home Theatre market against rivals Yamaha, NAD, Pioneer etc. 


With their newest series of Receivers they have shocked the market not only with exceptional great functionality and quality, but with a beautiful design which is futuristic, yet wife friendly.


All their receivers is available in Black and Silver


Marantz SR 1602 AV Receiver

Building on 2010’s hugely successful NR1601, this new 7.1-capable Receiver delivers room-filling quality sound thanks to the discrete built 7x 50 W RMS output stages. Obviously, the compact design is not at the expense of power, nor of features. On the video side, the four HDMI 1.4 inputs all support 3D video and Audio Return Channel (ARC), while all analogue video signals are converted to HDMI level including I/P conversion. The on-board Ethernet port allows for audio streaming from home networks or subscription-based web-services, and gives access to over 14,000 Internet radio stations worldwide.

Marantz’s NR1602 even has the hot AirPlay feature already built-in that lets you unleash your iTunes or iPhone/iPod touch/iPad music libraries to the AV Receiver. Thanks to the network connection, the AV Receiver can easily be controlled through a free Marantz Wizz App for Apples iDevices. Add a front USB input with digital iPod/iPhone playback, Audyssey MultEQ room calibration, Dynamic Volume and Dynamic EQ, as well as an easy setup guided by the multi-language Setup Wizard with on screen-display, and you realise this neat machine is not short on talent. It fits high-end performance into a beautifully compact chassis, hence satisfying the most demanding of interior designers. 

                                                               TECHNICAL DETAILS

• Low profile chassis
• 7x 50 Watts 8 ohms RMS
• Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD
• M-DAX2
• Audyssey MultEQ, Dynamic EQ and Dynamic Volume
• Easy setup program
• I/P scaling and video conversion from analogue to HDMI
• 4in / 1out HDMI1.4a (3D)
• DeepColor™
• LipSync
• iPod/iPhone compatible USB input
• Marantz M-XPort
• Front AUX input
• Marantz remote bus
• RC
• Available in Black & Silver/Gold
• Airplay

Marantz SR 5006 AV Receiver

The SR5006 also features the famous Marantz circular display, and it has the same networking facilities as his bigger brothers for audio streaming, Internet radio, and AirPlay from any iDevice. It also includes decoders for standard audio as well as for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. 

And, it comes with no less than six HDMI 1.4 inputs – making it immediately ready for 3D video and ARC (Audio Return Channel) from ARC-compatible TV sets. It easily handles the most demanding of scenes in action fi lms, as well as offering excellent-quality music playback, thanks to the latest Marantz audio technologies. To ensure you get the best possible audio with compressed fi les from iPod via USB, the SR5006 offers 7x 100W rms and incorporates the M-DAX2 – Marantz Dynamic Expander version2. This neat little addition also optimises the quality of MP3 fi les from either CD or the optional Bluetooth Receiver RX101. 

Everything sounds clearer, more detailed, and more alive. To fi nish off, the SR5006 comes with a whole range of convenience features such as: Setup Wizard, the “auto calibration” with Audyssey MultiEQ and Dynamic Volume Control; “Multi-Room” with multi-source fl exibility; “video-off” mode to ensure you enjoy your music and your movies in true dynamic Marantz style. It also has the specially developed Marantz Wizz App for bi-directional control via any iDevice. All of which makes the SR5006 a true combination of style, power and ease.

                                                              TECHNICAL DETAILS

• 7x 100 Watts 8 ohms RMS
• Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD
• Dolby Pro-Logic IIz
• M-DAX2
• Audyssey MultEQ, Dynamic EQ and Dynamic Volume
• Video scaling up to 1080p
• 6in / 1out HDMI 1.4a (3D)
• iPod/iPhone compatible USB input
• Marantz M-XPort
• Multi room/Multi source
• Marantz remote bus
• RS232C port
• Learnable RC
• Available in Black & Silver/Gold
• Airplay

Marantz SR 6006 AV Receiver

With the famous Marantz circular display, the new SR6006 looks a lot like

its big brother – the SR7005. But the resemblance doesn’t stop there. For example, it has the same networking facilities for audio streaming, Internet radio, and AirPlay from any iDevice. There’s also a highly convenient HDMI on the front, and two more on the rear for simultaneous output. And, also like its brother, it has an iPod-digital-compatible USB input and a Phono MM input for vinyl fans. But it’s not all about versatility, the SR6006 is also powerful: 7x 110W rms to be exact. And, because the digital audio signal (up to Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD) is fed via one of the seven 3D video-supporting HDMI 1.4 inputs, the resulting audio quality is utterly breath-taking.

Such high-quality audio processing also helps to create a world-class cinematic experience. An experience that is further enhanced by the system’s Dynamic Volume Control, which avoids the irritating increase in TV volume when a commercial interrupts. Also, the video up-scaling of analogue and digital video signals up to 1080p means you won’t need to select the TV input every time you use a different source: once it is set up, the SR6006 automatically makes the right connection. In addition, calibration and optimisation are also quick and easy with the Audyssey MultEQ XT, Setup Wizard and intuitive graphics. Pure enjoyment has never been easier.

click to enlarge

                                                               TECHNICAL DETAILS

• 7x 110 Watts 8 ohms RMS
• Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD
• Dolby Pro-Logic IIz
• M-DAX2
• Audyssey MultEQ, Dynamic EQ and Dynamic Volume
• Video scaling up to 1080p
• 7in / 2 out HDMI 1.4a (3D)
• iPod/iPhone compatible USB input
• GUI
• Marantz M-XPort
• Multi room/Multi source
• Marantz remote bus
• RS232C port
• Learnable RC with LCD display
• Available in Black & Silver/Gold
• Airplay

Marantz SR 7005 AV Receiver

The new SR7005 AV Receiver with 7x 125W into 8 ohms keeps cross channel contamination to an absolute minimum for ultra-precise signal processing. The “muscle” power of the system comes from the current feedback circuitry with Marantz HDAMs and an oversized low impedance transformer for rapid current supply.

 Not even extreme demands for power will pull the SR7005 off balance. The “brain” of the system is the latest 400Mhz Sharc DSP, which easily handles HD audio decoding including the Audyssey DSX and the MultEQ XT room calibration. 

The source signal can be either digital or analogue, and it can also be from a wide variety of inputs. First of all, via the six HDMI 1.4a inputs, one of which is hidden behind the front flap for easy access. For new media there is a iPod-digital-compatible USB input, while the RJ45 Network jack provides connection to vTuner Internet radio and music services such as Napster and last.fm. You can even access your music library stored on computer . 

Classical analogue signals will come from the built-in FM tuner or via either the analogue input jacks or the Phono equalizer: which is ideal for vinyls. Video signals are also treated with loving care by ABT2015 video processing, a host of video adjustment possibilities and two HDMI 1.4a outputs supporting 3D video. It’s all there, eager to please.

                                                               TECHNICAL DETAILS

• 7x 125 Watts 8 ohms RMS
• Network streaming for audio and photo
• Internet radio
• Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD, Audyssey DSX
• M-DAX2
• Video processing by Anchor Bay ABT2015
• 6in / 2out HDMI 1.4a (3D)
• GUI
• Multi room/Multi source
• iPod/iPhone compatible
• Phono MM input
• M-XPort
• remote bus
• RS232C port
• Learnable RC with LCD display
• Available in Black & Silver/Gold
• Airplay

REVIEWS!!!

I Quote from TECHRADAR.COM

"

Marantz SR7005 review

With the SR7005 Marantz is now a home cinema supremo

Our Score5

I should have known something was different the moment the SR7005's curvy-sided fascia came out of the box, like Angelina Jolie emerging from the lake in Beowulf.

Based on the successful styling of Marantz's high end hi-fi equipment, this multichannel receiver is utterly gorgeous. The curves are in all the right places, different fascia textures, brushed knobs and that unique circular display make our previous favourite super-models from Pioneer look as if they have had a good thrashing with the ugly stick...

...But the SR7005's best trick is actually its own disappearing act. With most movies you won't find yourself listening to the amp or even your speakers. Instead you will find yourself deep within the film, being immersed in the full cinematic effect as the director intended – and that is the best home cinema you can get!

Read more: HERE