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Marantz NR1510 AVR Review

Rate this AVR:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 221 81.0%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 41 15.0%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 3 1.1%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 8 2.9%

  • Total voters
    273

GiBo61

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Marantz and Denon are really disappointing lately. I do not remember one positive ASR review of one of their products in the last year and a half.
 
OP
amirm

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@amirm : it would be nice if you can comment on the THD issue. I can see that the 1 kHz component disappears when I measure using laptop on battery. I am not convinced that your results represent the THD+noise figures when in practical use.
How would real-world involve a battery operated amplifier hooked up to pre-out???
 

Thomas_A

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How would real-world involve a battery operated amplifier hooked up to pre-out???
I don’t know. Do I have USB packet noise on my output? I can’t see that.
 

lecriquet

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If using the analog input -> analog output, how would the signal be degraded?
Is there an ADC/DAC conversion?
 

pma

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This is a horrible amplifier. How can they design such a thing in 2022? All the amplifier designers have already died? ;)
 

peng

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If using the analog input -> analog output, how would the signal be degraded?
Is there an ADC/DAC conversion?

If you are talking about the pre out, yes it will typically go through ADC/DAC unless you use direct/pure direct modes.
 

Thomas_A

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If using the analog input -> analog output, how would the signal be degraded?
Is there an ADC/DAC conversion?
See my previous graphs and links as well. I doubt there is much difference between NR1510 and NR1710. With pure direct it is quite clean but you loose bass management, Audyssey etc.
 

lecriquet

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See my previous graphs and links as well. I doubt there is much difference between NR1510 and NR1710. With pure direct it is quite clean but you loose bass management, Audyssey etc.

If you are talking about the pre out, yes it will typically go through ADC/DAC unless you use direct/pure direct modes.

Perfect.
I don't need Audyssey
 

Vacceo

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Some of you have considered that the low performance comes from a compromise in price. To be honest, I am not that sure looking at separates from Marantz that Amir has tested.

Is it really that expensive to release a 100 db or more SINAD AVR? With a separate processor it should be easier to archive that performance, but we see it every blue moon.

I'm sure reaching a 115 or more db SINAD device would be a feat of engineering due to the DSP's, but at least, it should be technically possible.
 

Thomas_A

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This is a horrible amplifier. How can they design such a thing in 2022? All the amplifier designers have already died? ;)
So what do you think about the 1 kHz overtones? Real THD figures or measurement issue?
 

pma

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So what do you think about the 1 kHz overtones? Real THD figures or measurement issue?
In case you speak about THD 1kHz spectrum in @amirm measurements in post #1, I am afraid the issue is the amplifier, not the measurements. It looks very realistic, like the poorly designed power amplifiers do behave. Harmonics are on behalf of the poor output stage, the lines near 1kHz (the “skirts”) are a modulation effect due to poor PSRR of the amplifier.
 

Thomas_A

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In case you speak about THD 1kHz spectrum in @amirm measurements in post #1, I am afraid the issue is the amplifier, not the measurements. It looks very realistic, like the poorly designed power amplifiers do behave. Harmonics are on behalf of the poor output stage, the lines near 1kHz (the “skirts”) are a modulation effect due to poor PSRR of the amplifier.
And I can replicate it but also make them disappear with battery powered laptop connection with the USB ADC. And no sign of such distortion in actual use.
 

GXAlan

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And I can replicate it but also make them disappear with battery powered laptop connection with the USB ADC. And no sign of such distortion in actual use.

How does your 1710 measure with your USB ADC when you run it with something like the Multitone tool? Even with a low-end ADC, it would be good to see your graphs?
 

Thomas_A

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GXAlan

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I may revisit with some measurements but not at the moment. Soon have some holidays with some spare time.

No worries. It's super-fast to run multiwave and can be helpful to fine tune systems. Takes you less than 5 minutes and all you need to do is play with the HDMI output volume and your NR1710 volume.

There's a real chance that the 1510 and 1710 are a bigger difference than would be expected based upon the specifications. The 1710 has a different video processor (component input, 4k upscaling) so it's more than just 2 extra amps. It's very possible some subtle cost savings for the 1510 translate into a big drop in measured performance. A lot of what I am hearing is that people are happy with the flagship slimline (for the intended purpose) and the NR1608 (which I no longer have) measured very respectably. When looking at 20-88kHz THD+N, it can beat the Topping PA-5 even.
 

Thomas_A

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No worries. It's super-fast to run multiwave and can be helpful to fine tune systems. Takes you less than 5 minutes and all you need to do is play with the HDMI output volume and your NR1710 volume.

There's a real chance that the 1510 and 1710 are a bigger difference than would be expected based upon the specifications. The 1710 has a different video processor (component input, 4k upscaling) so it's more than just 2 extra amps. It's very possible some subtle cost savings for the 1510 translate into a big drop in measured performance. A lot of what I am hearing is that people are happy with the flagship slimline (for the intended purpose) and the NR1608 (which I no longer have) measured very respectably. When looking at 20-88kHz THD+N, it can beat the Topping PA-5 even.
I have the NR1506 as well to measure on. I will see what time permits.
 

D700

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I’m building new home theater, beginning to think a Sonos Arc system is way to go then a nice dedicated 2.1 for music. Not sure I want to chase multichannel perfection.
 

Rottmannash

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I’m building new home theater, beginning to think a Sonos Arc system is way to go then a nice dedicated 2.1 for music. Not sure I want to chase multichannel perfection.
A buddy of mine went the separates way many years ago (at my insistence, as he was building a new house and wanted the best of everything), hated the system because he couldn't turn it on or do anything easily so boxed it all up and has had sound bars ever since. Last year he bought the best Sonos Arc soundbar, the sub and I gave him 2 wireless Sonos satellites for surround back duties and he loves it-he turns it on and it works. I have to admit it sounds pretty good for a sound bar + sub + 2 satellites.
 

Ken1951

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A buddy of mine went the separates way many years ago (at my insistence, as he was building a new house and wanted the best of everything), hated the system because he couldn't turn it on or do anything easily so boxed it all up and has had sound bars ever since. Last year he bought the best Sonos Arc soundbar, the sub and I gave him 2 wireless Sonos satellites for surround back duties and he loves it-he turns it on and it works. I have to admit it sounds pretty good for a sound bar + sub + 2 satellites.
Most, and by most I'm thinking the way better part of 90%, people want exactly this. Turn it on and watch. Nothing to fool around with. And I don;t blame them, as I lean this way myself for the most part.
 

DonR

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Most, and by most I'm thinking the way better part of 90%, people want exactly this. Turn it on and watch. Nothing to fool around with. And I don;t blame them, as I lean this way myself for the most part.
Took me some considerable effort to get everything to flow with CEC and a Harmony remote when I set things up 11 years ago. I am still loathe to change anything in the setup for fear of breaking it. :D There is definitely virtue in simplicity.
 
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