Marantz AV10 AV Processor Review

[peng]

Thanks. Is there any way to online ‘play’ with the interface, or do you know of a good YT video walking us through it?

Because it’s a big expense, and I wouldn’t want to get a system that doesn’t suit my needs…

By the way, I found the following MultEQ Editor app screenshot in my inventory.
It is just an example of what Ratbuddyssey (or similar 3rd UI) allows you to shape the target curve (as you said: push it up/down, except that in this case, you don't have to push the whole line at once) like you could with manual EQ such as Yamaha's PEQ feature. That is, you could push individual frequency points of your choice, as described by @dlaloum .

Without those 3rd party UI, you could try doing it with your finger of touch pen, I tried, and learned to give up lol...

 

[TimoJ]

With Dirac you can do, for example, a target curve like this:

 

[Newman]

It’s a bit like driving forwards by looking in your rear view mirror at someone in the back seat waving their hands frantically to indicate what’s going on in front of you.

 

[dlaloum]

It’s a bit like driving forwards by looking in your rear view mirror at someone in the back seat waving their hands frantically to indicate what’s going on in front of you.

There is definitely an absence of the immediate subjective feedback available from a tone control or graphic equaliser...

 

[tjcinnamon]

Someone expressed disappointment that Marantz didn't include manual PEQ, that Yamaha did.

In fact, AV10 can do PEQ, not exactly PEQ, but sort of. That is, with the $200 app one can manually import PEQs such as those done with REW to it and it will implement those PEQ parameters with the FIR filters, that should be more effective anyway.

There are no shortages of YT videos on the topic, aside from Audyssey's.

This is another method that leverages REWs new API.

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/audyssey-one-oca-does-it-again.3297198

Its nifty software

 

[Vacceo]

Can we sign a petition for Marantz to release a AV20 after this. 99% of us do not need this monstrous amount of inputs and pay $7000

With the recent releases from Marantz, I wonder it this will materialize. Phil Jones hinted in an Audioholics video that they intend to replace the lineup and they effectively have with the Cinema 30...

 

[peng]

With the recent releases from Marantz, I wonder it this will materialize. Phil Jones hinted in an Audioholics video that they intend to replace the lineup and they effectively have with the Cinema 30...

Agreed, the 7705/06 never make sense to me. They were great those willing to pay so much just to get the XLR outputs and prepared to take the Placebo effects that the so called "separates" might offer.

A AV20 would/could make sense if Marantz would remove the C30's amp section, with the 7706's PS, add XLR and sell it for at least $600 less than the C30.

That is, be a little more honest/upfront, don't be scam like...

 

[Oddball]

Unless there is a desire to dominate the AVP space, and it could be done relatively cheap in design and procurement, AV20 would cannibalise AV-10 and C30 sales for unknown market volume benefit. With D&M's status of being in the dog house aka "spun-off" it is questionable if that would be a wise or even possible move. In ideal world I could also see that AV30 with 11.4 would also make sense to some that don't need more channels but need/want AVP.

 

[peng]

Here's a typical example of how subjective reviewers get so obviously affected by Placebo effects:

He (nothing against him, as he's not the only reviewers who are the non technical type, so easily affected by Placebo) heard, more likely thought he heard how the AV7706 sounded so much better, and of course, much better separation (it's a "separate" right) etc., than the clearly better build, and much better measured SR8015. If he's in a group review sort of YT events, with the likes of Erin, and Gene, we would for see see no echoing of the hype from them. Actually iirc, I did see on such group sessions, and indeed Erin, along with someone else too, never participated in such subjective SQ related hypes.

Regardless, that's one reason Marantz might just come up with something like the highly expected lower line avp, namely AV20, as they know, an avp could command a much margin, than the C30 AVR. All we can hope for is, that they would have a change of strategy, and mark down the price instead of up like they did with the 7706. They just might, as the 7706 didn't seem to sell as well as the 7705, likely because by then, the best measured Marantz AVR/AVP, i.e. the SR8015 was out by then, and had great reviews by both Gene and Amir.

 

[peng]

Unless there is a desire to dominate the AVP space, and it could be done relatively cheap in design and procurement, AV20 would cannibalise AV-10 and C30 sales for unknown market volume benefit. With D&M's status of being in the dog house aka "spun-off" it is questionable if that would be a wise or even possible move. In ideal world I could also see that AV30 with 11.4 would also make sense to some that don't need more channels but need/want AVP.

True, but that may be why they would wait at least one, likely two full year before launching one, then as fewer people are buying the AV10 because of the much less affordable price and the model has aged somewhat already, enthusiasm would fade a little, then the AV20 could pick things up and fill the partial void. The 7706 didn't seem to work out, probably because they launch it a little late, had no better measured results on the bench (remember what Matthew said, and he never published the result either, one can speculate the reasons..), and the SR8015's built quality was great and visible, plus excellent measurements, including SINAD near 100, the rest was history. Surely Marantz marketing should have learnt the lesson well enough and be ready for another try, on the AV20 experiment, that is, if that would ever come.

 

[Oddball]

Lol, not sure if Marantz marketing will ever learn a lesson. Don't have link on hand but there is the famous pitch for AV-10 that involved warm sound signature and elven ears that designed it

BTW really sad that you gave your Brystons away. I really can't kick them out even after 20 years even if they did cause some slight drama. They are so precious and really grow on (into?) me .

 

[Vacceo]

Unless there is a desire to dominate the AVP space, and it could be done relatively cheap in design and procurement, AV20 would cannibalise AV-10 and C30 sales for unknown market volume benefit. With D&M's status of being in the dog house aka "spun-off" it is questionable if that would be a wise or even possible move. In ideal world I could also see that AV30 with 11.4 would also make sense to some that don't need more channels but need/want AVP.

I wonder how much the price of an AV10 can be lowered with an 11.4/13.4 device.

For the brother multichannel amp, I doubt it makes much sense to get something like the Amp10 but with less channels. You can always bridge channels or use them for zone 2 and 3

 

[peng]

Lol, not sure if Marantz marketing will ever learn a lesson. Don't have link on hand but there is the famous pitch for AV-10 that involved warm sound signature and elven ears that designed it

BTW really sad that you gave your Brystons away. I really can't kick them out even after 20 years even if they did cause some slight drama. They are so precious and really grow on (into?) me .

Also gave him my Halo A21.

 

[Oddball]

Also gave him my Halo A21.

Oh gee . U are much better in sharing that I ever will be. I will never part with my lesser Parasounds either. Once they die natural death, I will venture for D class for sure.

 

[dsd4life]

The best processor ever made

 

[GXAlan]

The best processor ever made

The Monolith HTP-1 gives it a run for the money if you only need 16 channels including your subs. Definitely a better value if you are budget constrained. Even if you can afford the AV10, the HTP-1 with fewer channels and better speakers will sound better

 

[dlaloum]

Of particular interest to me, is that the AV10 provides the ability to route LFE to ALL full range base speakers.

What it still lacks is the ability to apply a perceptual loudness feature when using Dirac rather than Audyssey (Audyssey as DEQ which provides this function).

This is a feature that the HTP-1 does have!

(I wonder whether the LFE routing to all base layer full range speakers, is a feature available on the more mainstream Xx800 AVR's...?)

In theory Dirac mentioned heading in that direction some years back with DLBC (ie: enabling bass both from base channels and from LFE to be routed to all bass capable speakers) - but seems to never have happened... and is also not present on ART....

 

[ban25]

Of particular interest to me, is that the AV10 provides the ability to route LFE to ALL full range base speakers.

What it still lacks is the ability to apply a perceptual loudness feature when using Dirac rather than Audyssey (Audyssey as DEQ which provides this function).

This is a feature that the HTP-1 does have!

(I wonder whether the LFE routing to all base layer full range speakers, is a feature available on the more mainstream Xx800 AVR's...?)

In theory Dirac mentioned heading in that direction some years back with DLBC (ie: enabling bass both from base channels and from LFE to be routed to all bass capable speakers) - but seems to never have happened... and is also not present on ART....

LFE Distribution is available on all Xx800 series products. It is *not* available when Dirac is in use.

 

[dsd4life]

The Monolith HTP-1 gives it a run for the money if you only need 16 channels including your subs. Definitely a better value if you are budget constrained. Even if you can afford the AV10, the HTP-1 with fewer channels and better speakers will sound better

Cope. The audiophile build quality alone is going to drive a 2 x channel system better.

HTP1 is old and dated tech, low quality HDMI ports etc.

 

[dlaloum]

LFE Distribution is available on all Xx800 series products. It is *not* available when Dirac is in use.

Yes... audyssey is mature and entering its dotage (no further real development)

Dirac is a spring chicken... lots of goals and objectives - does a bunch of things well, but definitely loads more to come.