Help Me Pick a Surround Pre-Amp/Processor
 

So for 2021 I'll be looking to upgrade my Marantz AV8801. My TV and Oppo UDP-205 are 4K and would like to finish it off with a new AV Pre/Pro.

I very happy with my Marantz AV8801 so I'm leaning on sticking with the Marantz brand but I could be swayed.

The small list of contenders are the Marantz AV8806 (when it gets released) the Marantz AV7706 (it should sound and have better picture quality than my AV8801?) and finally the Yamaha AVENTAGE CX-A5200.

Please feel free to recommend others. The AV8806 would be at top of my budget but would love to keep it below.

Hi Paul,

I doubt that the AV7706 will sound better than your current Marantz. The video options (and streaming capabilities) will be better though.
From Kal's observations (in Stereophile), every generation of Marantz' top processors seems to improve slighty upon the previous one.
So the AV8806 will be probably be the better choice for you.

The Yamaha is a good option too (their devices are almost all good value).

Arcam also has processors, as does Anthem (their new ones coming out soon).

Thanks Bart!

I’m on a waiting list for the Anthem MRX-1140. Probably won’t ship out till late February.

I recently swapped out my AV8802A for the Anthem AVM60 - really big improvement even without room correction.

And Anthem Room Correction is better than Audyssey

I would be getting the Anthem AVM70. The AVM90 is better and will apparently have a free upgrade to HDMI 2.1 when it becomes available. The AVM70 is also upgradeable to HDMI 2.1 but it would be a paid upgrade

The AV8805 will be around for a while yet, the HDMI upgrade has been pushed off till summer off 2021 and my guess is later yet. I would go with the AV8805, and if bed get magically allowed Mx123.

I would not consider the lesser AV7706 or any of the other brands that just cause headaches.

Thanks RCD....I am leaning towards the AV8805. I was hoping to keep the budget under $3500 but I don’t see much at the price range that competes with the AV8805.

The MX123 would be a nice match with my MC207 but sadly way above budget. :tears:

For sound, I would also have a look at the Anthem AVM70. That would be getting an HDMI 2.1 upgrade board as well (along with the AVM90/MRX x40 AVRs)

But I remember the AVM60 was riddled with bugs when it first launched.. so if you want a more problem free unit, the AV8805 has been here for longer.

That said the AVM60 is very stable now and if they used the AVM60 platform as a basis for the 70, it might be stable too.

I moved from a Marantz AV8802A to a loan AVM60 and the sound quality is noticeably better. Much more precise channel steering and detail as sound moves from one speaker to the next. Both without room correction enabled.

Thanks.....the AVM 70 is in my budget. I'll give it a look! :thumbsup: