Advice wanted: new Marantz 8802A or a 4 year old Anthem D2v?

[bart]

What would you do my friends?
Please post me your advice.

I had more or less decided to go for the Marantz, because at this moment, I don't want to spend more than 4K for a surround processor.

But... my dealer has a 4 year old Anthem flagship he would let for the same price.

I am not interested in 3D, nor Atmos/Auro and the likes.

Is the Anthem better as a surround preamp, and are the DACs still up-to-date?

I'm tempted...

[Yamaki]

The DAC is rated at 24/192 and it will process at that rate regardless of what input is used so that is the maximum rating for PCM sound file processing. No DSD, of course. The processor will upsample if you so desire.

The Anthem website does not list the DAC chipset utilized but it does have an interesting fact sheet on upsampling process used. It's worth a read if you want to learn a bit more about how the Anthem processes each digital signal (PCM, DTS or Dolby Digital) or analog-DSP input.

Maybe the dealer will let you audition it at your home? I'd try that because the only way you can tell if you like it or not is to listen to it.

[Antonmb]

I think I would lean towards the Marantz. An A/V pre pro is a complex bit of electronics, and if it were my money I would prefer new with a warranty. While the Anthem is, by all accounts, a great price of equipment, the Marantz also gets great reviews, including for its 2-channel performance.

[bart]

Michael, Tony, thank you for your input!

Tony, I thought the Anthem was more "high end" than the Marantz, but it is indeed an older model.

Michael, I would use it 80% for multi-channel music, 20% for movies/TV.
So no DSD could be a deal breaker, although I don't know how much you lose when you convert DSD to PCM in surround music.

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by bart

Michael, I would use it 80% for multi-channel music, 20% for movies/TV. So no DSD could be a deal breaker, although I don't know how much you lose when you convert DSD to PCM in surround music.

You lose no more nor less than when you do it in stereo. However, you might note that using EQ in any current device will require conversion to PCM and that the Marantz will limit it to 24/48 with Audyssey. So, do not obcess over maintaining "pure DSD" or avoiding EQ.

[bart]

Thank you Kal.
So what would be your choice?
The presumably better Anthem, or the more modern Marantz?
Your review of the Marantz made it my top contender, until today I got this offer...

[Kal Rubinson]

For movies/TV, the point goes to the Marantz. For mch music, it is a tough call as it will depend on what your sources are.

I use the Marantz for HT but use an external DAC for music played from my NAS.

[Yamaki]

I would agree with Kal's assessment.

Since I have a DAC I really like I could use either of the units but would include the use of that DAC for music playback.

For the HT, though, the Marantz will be a much better unit for that activity IMHO as the Marantz's ability to process the codecs used today will be superior to the Anthem's.

[Audiofan1]

As I type this I'm more than secure using the 8802 as an all in one source for my 2/ch,multi/ch sacd and movies it literally has replaced all my wants for an external dac , its been goose bump city which I can say hasn't happened nearly enough the resolution it has is just great.Great thing is if you have an external dac then rest assured in the improved analog section as its simply incredible. I love the new AKM4490 dac's even more so than the one's in the now sold Oppo 105, this along with the host of improvements Marantz has done have really brought it up to world class performance.

[bart]

Gentlemen, thanks a lot!
Very helpful.
Looks like the Marantz is the winner.