JBL MA7100HP AV Receiver Review

[Doctors11]

How do you guys think this model compares with the Marantz Cinema 70s? I'm space limited in a small room. Mostly multi channel music...SACD etc.

 

[kyuu]

How do you guys think this model compares with the Marantz Cinema 70s? I'm space limited in a small room. Mostly multi channel music...SACD etc.

There's a review of the Marantz Cinema 70s. To me, looks like the amplifier section on the JBL MA7100HP is significantly better in just about every respect. Also, Dirac is an option on the JBL. Marantz is limited to Audyssey MultEQ.

 

[Doctors11]

There's a review of the Marantz Cinema 70s. To me, looks like the amplifier section on the JBL MA7100HP is significantly better in just about every respect. Also, Dirac is an option on the JBL. Marantz is limited to Audyssey MultEQ.

Thanks. If I don't spring for the Dirac how do you think the two room corrections compare.

 

[ryanmh1]

How do you guys think this model compares with the Marantz Cinema 70s? I'm space limited in a small room. Mostly multi channel music...SACD etc.

Neither is good. Get the Integra with preouts and free Dirac from Adorama for $700. Link is posted at the tail end of the NR7100 thread.

 

[tusc]

Thanks. If I don't spring for the Dirac how do you think the two room corrections compare.

EZ Set EQ on the JBL is very basic. The subwoofer isn't even tested independently from the other speakers. I did not care for the results. Dirac is leagues better.

 

[Doctors11]

Yeah, looks like it will be a lesser of two evils decision. Apparently on the JBL you can't adjust the trim levels on the fly while listening. That's important to me so it probably rules that one out. I can always add an 3-5 channel amp to the Marantz if absolutely necessary, plus I can limit the range of EQ with the app. Hmmm.

 

[kyuu]

Apparently on the JBL you can't adjust the trim levels on the fly while listening.

Where did you get that from? I could've sworn @SpoOokY said that he could change the trim for the individual channels with the content still playing.

 

[Doctors11]

Where did you get that from? I could've sworn @SpoOokY said that he could change the trim for the individual channels with the content still playing.

Good catch. I remember reading that, but.....I've also read a bunch of owner's saying it can't be done. Even Jon from Ripewave Audio said he couldn't find a way to do it in his deep dive video. I think the Marantz app makes it very easy.

 

[kyuu]

Good catch. I remember reading that, but.....I've also read a bunch of owner's saying it can't be done. Even Jon from Ripewave Audio said he couldn't find a way to do it in his deep dive video. I think the Marantz app makes it very easy.

Interesting. Something else for me to investigate when I get the unit back.

 

[Doctors11]

Interesting. Something else for me to investigate when I get the unit back.

Please do...and let us know. Thanks.

 

[jaakkopetteri]

Thanks. If I don't spring for the Dirac how do you think the two room corrections compare.

Audyssey One EVO should beat anything commonly available but Dirac

 

[Ajax]

Fair enough. Honestly, if it were possible to get a pre/pro of a reasonable size and pair that with a single multichannel amp while not spending much more than what this JBL costs, I'd be interested. That hasn't seemed possible from what I've seen, though perhaps I have overlooked something. Getting a giant-ass, older AVR (which I need my AVR to support HDMI 2.1 for 4k/120fps and VRR, btw) is not really what I have in mind when I consider a pre/pro.

It really seems like someone should be able to make a pre/pro that's the size of the smaller JBL MA-series (the 310, 510, and 710 are smaller than the 7100HP and 9100HP) and for, y'know, cheaper than an AVR that's also cramming in an amp section. That's not the reality of the market, however, from what I can see.

I don't understand why AV manufactures are failing to produce high performance gear at a reasonable price.

One reason could be is that they are trying to cram too much into one box. If a manufacture with the necessary expertise in DSP and codecs could produce a "slim" AV pre amp with DAC chips from the likes of ESS, AKM or Cirrus then you could take advantage of the huge leap in the power / cost ratio created by Hypex and a list of assemblers such as Buckeye.

I would have thought (guessing) a decent AV pre amp could be had for < 1k to which you could add 6 channels of power (assuming an active sub) for another 1-1.5k. Not cheap but it would be close to SOTA, and a lot less than Anthem or a top end Marantz AVR.

Edit: changed last word to "AVs"

 

[pogo]

I would have thought (guessing) a decent AV pre amp could be had for < 1k

Like a Nubert nuXinema preAV?

 

[kyuu]

I would have thought (guessing) a decent AV pre amp could be had for < 1k to which you could add 6 channels of power (assuming an active sub) for another 1-1.5k. Not cheap but it would be close to SOTA, and a lot less than Anthem and top end Marantz Aes.

I am not aware of any decent pre/pro that does everything an AVR does sans amps with great performance for under 1k. Checking into that NuXinema thing Pogo mentioned...

Edit: Correct mis-autocorrected "Number" to "NuXinema".

 

[Paffi]

I am not aware of any decent pre/pro that does everything an AVR does sans amps with great performance for under 1k. Checking into that Number thing Pogo mentioned...

Offered amir to send him the NuXinema Preav last december. Unfortunately, there seems to be no interest in it.

 

[Vacceo]

I am not aware of any decent pre/pro that does everything an AVR does sans amps with great performance for under 1k. Checking into that Number thing Pogo mentioned...

I´ll give this AVR a plus: if it helps to popularize Dirac (and other forms of room EQ) and make it a desireable and standard feature, that would be a success for all of us.

 

[jaakkopetteri]

Offered amir to send him the NuXinema Preav last december. Unfortunately, there seems to be no interest in it.

What the heck? Although I appreciate every review, I have a hard time seeing the point in reviewing the 100th portable DAC with the same chips and inaudibly high SINAD rather than a product pretty much in it's own category

 

[restorer-john]

Offered amir to send him the NuXinema Preav last december. Unfortunately, there seems to be no interest in it.

It would end up being tested as a two channel D/A converter, which wouldn't do justice to its actual purpose.

An interesting product for sure. How do you have yours set up and how is it working out?

 

[EJ3]

I don't understand why AV manufactures are failing to produce high performance gear at a reasonable price.

One reason could be is that they are trying to cram too much into one box. If a manufacture with the necessary expertise in DSP and codecs could produce a "slim" AV pre amp with DAC chips from the likes of ESS, AKM or Cirrus then you could take advantage of the huge leap in the power / cost ratio created by Hypex and a list of assemblers such as Buckeye.

I would have thought (guessing) a decent AV pre amp could be had for < 1k to which you could add 6 channels of power (assuming an active sub) for another 1-1.5k. Not cheap but it would be close to SOTA, and a lot less than Anthem and top end Marantz Aes.

I have duplicate 2 channel amps that are quite good. And I have 6 of them (NAD 2200's & 2 NAD 1100's), so I have potentially 14 channels of amplification.
In my current location I do not see myself using ATMOS. But I can see 4.2, 5.2, 7.2 being utilized where I am at.
And I understand that a good pre-pro is a low number of units sold deal, meaning a higher cost per unit. So I am willing to pay a bit of a premium for it.
But I do not want or need more capabilities than that. But every manufacturer seems to want to put every gee-gaw possible on what should be a relatively simple thing and charge 2 arms and a leg for it.

 

[TankTop]

Pretty neat they could get that sort of performance/appearance ratio without tubes.