Yamaha HTR-6160B vs Marantz SR4002 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Frameboy · 2008-06-11, 08:17 PM

Hey All,

So I had been planning to buy the Yamaha HTR-6160B, but the Home Theatre installer I am using suggested I get the Marantz SR4002 saying "It will just sound better."

Now, that could be true... but am I looking at apples to apples here? I think Yamaha sounds pretty good... and I wonder what I am giving up to get Marantz.

Any opinions on either of these? Does anybody have another option I should look at in this price range?

The critical factor is HDMI switching...

-Mike

JohnnyCanuck · 2008-06-11, 09:21 PM

In general, I have always preferred the sound of a Marantz product versus most of the other mainstream products. I have nothing against Yamaha or others that I have used (like Onkyo and Harman Kardon) over the years, but when it comes to listening to music I have always found that Marantz provides a better listening experience.

However, in your particular case, if you are looking for upconversion of analog sources, the Yamaha will outperform the Marantz. Further, if you're looking for next gen audio decoding for a Blu-ray (or HD DVD) source, the Yamaha has TrueHD and dts-HD Master Audio making it a much better choice except that it is limited to two HDMI inputs. Not sure how many HDMI sources you have but HD STBs, newer Xbox 360s, all Blu-ray and HD DVD players, and most upconverting DVD players are all HDMI. Cable boxes and 360s can certainly be run via component cables but one of the advantages of HDMI is one cable instead of four (three video, one audio).

Not sure of your price point, but I would look at the Yamaha 6180 for the extra HDMI input. In Marantz, I would not look at a current model below the SR7002 and that is significantly costlier. Other options include Onkyo's TX-SR605/606 or TX-SR705 (although be warned that Onkyo receivers run very hot).

Frameboy · 2008-06-12, 08:24 PM

Wow!

I couldn't have asked for better info... Thanks Johnny.

-Mike

987654321 · 2008-06-13, 06:34 AM

When you start getting up to that price point, perhaps you should take a look at the Sherwood Newcastle R872 to be released in July.

Not only will it can deinterlace and scale any of its video inputs, analog or digital, to 720p, 1080i or 1080p and output them over HDMI; but it also outputs all inputs, analog & digital, to zone 2 - which most AVRs cannot do.

It decodes DTS Master Audio HD and Dolby Tru HD

http://sherwoodusa.com/prod_r872.html

kev604 · 2008-06-13, 08:53 AM

MSRP on the Sherwood Newcastle R872 is $1199. The receivers suggested to OP can be had for less then half that price.

Frameboy · 2008-06-13, 02:53 PM

I bought the HTR-6180, which happened to come on sale at Fshop and BB.

The 6180 also has various imputs that output to HDMI, which is very important to me.

Thanks for all the feedback.

2008-06-11, 08:17 PM	#1
Frameboy Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 129	Yamaha HTR-6160B vs Marantz SR4002 Hey All, So I had been planning to buy the Yamaha HTR-6160B, but the Home Theatre installer I am using suggested I get the Marantz SR4002 saying "It will just sound better." Now, that could be true... but am I looking at apples to apples here? I think Yamaha sounds pretty good... and I wonder what I am giving up to get Marantz. Any opinions on either of these? Does anybody have another option I should look at in this price range? The critical factor is HDMI switching... -Mike

2008-06-13, 08:53 AM	#5
kev604 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Burnaby,BC--Sharp LC-37D43U,Pioneer 1018AH,PS3,Toshiba HD-A2,Celestion AVP-301,Jamo SW-1008,DCT3416 Posts: 1,192	MSRP on the Sherwood Newcastle R872 is $1199. The receivers suggested to OP can be had for less then half that price. __________________ Panasonic TH-50PX60U,Pioneer VSX-1018AH,Sony BDP-S350,Toshiba HD-A3,Energy RC Mini Speakers,Klipsch Sub-10,H880,DCT3416

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2008-06-11, 09:21 PM	#2
JohnnyCanuck Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 4,645	In general, I have always preferred the sound of a Marantz product versus most of the other mainstream products. I have nothing against Yamaha or others that I have used (like Onkyo and Harman Kardon) over the years, but when it comes to listening to music I have always found that Marantz provides a better listening experience. However, in your particular case, if you are looking for upconversion of analog sources, the Yamaha will outperform the Marantz. Further, if you're looking for next gen audio decoding for a Blu-ray (or HD DVD) source, the Yamaha has TrueHD and dts-HD Master Audio making it a much better choice except that it is limited to two HDMI inputs. Not sure how many HDMI sources you have but HD STBs, newer Xbox 360s, all Blu-ray and HD DVD players, and most upconverting DVD players are all HDMI. Cable boxes and 360s can certainly be run via component cables but one of the advantages of HDMI is one cable instead of four (three video, one audio). Not sure of your price point, but I would look at the Yamaha 6180 for the extra HDMI input. In Marantz, I would not look at a current model below the SR7002 and that is significantly costlier. Other options include Onkyo's TX-SR605/606 or TX-SR705 (although be warned that Onkyo receivers run very hot).

2008-06-12, 08:24 PM	#3
Frameboy Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 129	Wow! I couldn't have asked for better info... Thanks Johnny. -Mike

2008-06-13, 06:34 AM	#4
987654321 Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,060	When you start getting up to that price point, perhaps you should take a look at the Sherwood Newcastle R872 to be released in July. Not only will it can deinterlace and scale any of its video inputs, analog or digital, to 720p, 1080i or 1080p and output them over HDMI; but it also outputs all inputs, analog & digital, to zone 2 - which most AVRs cannot do. It decodes DTS Master Audio HD and Dolby Tru HD http://sherwoodusa.com/prod_r872.html

2008-06-13, 02:53 PM	#6
Frameboy Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 129	I bought the HTR-6180, which happened to come on sale at Fshop and BB. The 6180 also has various imputs that output to HDMI, which is very important to me. Thanks for all the feedback.