Excellent marketing hype, spin doctor approach! Not logical though..
It begs the following questions (surely more can be asked):
- Comparing the 8015 to 6700 they can claim 57 % shared parts, but if they compare the 7015 to 4700 and 6015 to 3700, the shared parts % will go way up, the only difference aside from the features related ones is really just the HDAMs, at least that can be seen just by comparing the schematics and BOMs of the 2016/17/18 models, unless they have made major changes to the 2020 models?
- If Marantz used HDAMs so that they can tune the sound, how do we the buy know they tuned it to our liking. So they expect the buyers to just either trust them or must visit a store and insist on a properly setup AB comparison between the 6015 to 3700 and 7015 to the 4700?
- What about the slimline series then, they don't have HDAMs, so do they sound the same as Denon?
- In the video, they talked about sound tuning using the HDAM's discrete components, yet they also claimed lowest possible distortions (not in exact words, but implied..), so why ASR's measurements show they have higher distortions?
- They claimed the use of current feedback improves dynamics, response time etc., yet they also concluded that Denon sounded more "punch". Also, I compared the power amp's schematics and I don't see any difference in feedback for the 2017/18 models, unless they referred again to the discrete HDAMs only. The HDAM sits right at the end of the preamp's audio signal path, whatever they do in terms of response time and dynamic is not going to be an improvement right? Its not like tone control, or eq, you can't gain back what you lost upstream! Not even in terms of gain because the HDAMs gain is "1" (unity gain) right?
As for the toroidal vs E-I core, I would love to hear a rebuttal from the Denon team. Let alone the fact that many expensive amps use E-I core transformers exclusively, such as Luxman's. The fact is, there are pros and cons in both toroidal and E-I, though as a general blanket statement it is fair to say all else being equal, toridal transformers would be more expensive, offers high VA per lb, and less leakage flux. Did they use toridal in all 2020 Marantz models now? I highly doubt that, but if not, then this particular claim would not apply to all other models except the SR8015 right?
Regardless, I'll give them the credit to finally make an attempt to explain what this Marantz musical sound is about, even though I consider the presentation just another marketing tool to help promote their product line that has a much higher profit margin. That is, to try and convince people to pay more for less, without knowing it, obviously..
