I have some questions to ask you folks. Also, are there any Canadian SR9600 owners in southern Ontario and/or the Greater Toronto area?

1) How is the digital signal detection? My SR14EX is slow enough that there is a dropout vs my older SR 8000.

2) How is the sound quality holding up for stereo, SACD, DVD-Audio etc etc vs older Marantz receivers like the SR14EX?

3) How much should I be willing to part with to snag a nice used SR9600?

Still looking. Anybody out there?

Being replaced soon by the SR7002 and SR8002

Interesting. Really eh? I haven't seen much about the SR8002. I wonder if it will have the same SA2 HDAM section for the pre-amps. I love my SR 14EX for it's killer sound quality, but I'm itching for new surround mode toys etc. Any idea when the SR 8002 will come out?

Anybody have the SR8002 and have you compared the sound quality with the SR9600?

Ordered mine - should be here first week of Jan. PM me in Jan if you have any questions.

Please post questions and answers on the forum so that everyone can benefit. Asking questions via PM is of little value to any other members who are interested in the unit.

Fair enough, Hugh. Yes, ask questions on here and I'll do my best to answer them. I bought my SR8002 from the US for a great price and the seller was very co-operative on how to get this item across the border for (hopefully) minimal extra costs.

I can't compare it to a SR9600, but will be comparing it to my older Onkyo DS797 - which has served me very well the last 8 years, but I have a lot of HDMI devices these days...

I picked up an SR9600 for a nice price, partly due to the low US dollar. I know the 9600 is missing some toys, but with it's awesome audio quality and decent features, I went for it. Now I am selling my SR 14EX.

Give it a good listen in two channel stereo (source direct or pure direct) and let me know your thoughts on the audio quality. Also, if you can try the HD audio decoding, give that a workout too. Luckily with HDMI 1.1 and my Toshiba A2 HD-DVD player, I can send my receiver decoded DD True HD and DD+ ala LPCM...so at least I'm ok there. I could also use an HD-DVD player wth analog outs, but this way I'm using the SR9600's DAC's.

I am wondering what will replace the SR9600. Will there be a 9002 or 9003? Or will Marantz replace the SR9600 with separates as some have mentioned?

Anyhow, play with that SR8002 like a kid with a new toy (not a stretch for us really)...and let me know how you like it.

Also, where abouts are you? I am in Pickering (a burb just east of Toronto)...and if you aren't far, you could bring the 8002 over here for a comparo. In fact, if I don't sell my SR 14EX before my friend in Toronto gets his SR9300, perhaps we could have a battle of the Marantz titans!
SR14EX vs SR9300 vs SR9600 vs SR8002! ... or maybe I should just sell my SR 14EX and get back to listening rather than comparing

P.S. If you are used to an Onkyo, you're in for a treat sound quality wise. Onkyo is good, no doubt, but the Marantz receivers have a sweet warm quality that makes many of us addicted...

I will definitely be giving the SR8002 a good listen in two channel stereo as I have a lot of vinyl. In fact, one of the things that put me off from purchasing the SR8002 was lack of phono input - but, I'll be purchasing a phone pre-amp separately for another $200...

I know Pickering as I used to live in Toronto, but I'm in Vancouver these days.

People have mentioned that the Marantz will sound very sweet when driving my Totem's. We'll see... hopefully soon...

I'll be in the market for a HD player in February, so won't be able to test the newer True HD, etc until then. The multi-channel inputs will be taken by a current Denon 2910. I have to say I am very much looking forward to hearing multi-channel DVD-Audio or SACD through the Marantz!

Sounds great. You should be pleasantly pleased with the 8002. I have heard good things about it. It should sound essentially similar to most of the best of the Marantz receivers over the years, as it does have the toroidal power supply etc, and on top of that, it is cram jam packed with the latest and greatest surround sound toys and features, but I guess you know that. What phono pre-amp are you going to grab? I may get a phono pre-amp and a turntable and play around with some records again too. Well, enjoy your new beast.

Creek OBH-18

Wow, that is nice. I may get a simple NAD photo pre-amp.

darcraver you haven't posted in awhile about the 8002 how are things going? Is it all you hoped for in an avr does it live up to the expectation that we all know and admire from Marantz? Can you tell us your likes and dislikes?

I've been posting in the $1500-$3500 thread