A Christmas Upgrade Advice-- AV Receiver- Please (1 Viewer)

[Greatestboss]

Hey everyone, I would highly appreciate your advice on upgrading my A/V Receiver as a Christmas Gift to myself

Current Setup:

• AV Receiver Onkyo TX-NR3030
• Panasonic DP-UB9000- 4K Player
• Denon DBT-3313UDCI - Blu-ray player
• Fronts: Paradigm Prestige 85F
• Center Paradigm Prestige 55C
• Surround: Definitive BPVX Powered
• Back Surround Definitive BPX
• 2 Pairs of Atmos Speakers SVS Prime Elevation Speaker placed on top of the fronts and surrounds,
• Subwoofer Definitive Technology SuperCube I
• Sony 85" TV Bravia 9
• Room Size 16 Feet X 15 Feet

My interests 4K Movies, Documentaries (Physical Discs Collection of 1,200 Discs), Football+ Sports 85% and Streaming 10%, Music 5% (CD's & Records)

I really like the Marantz Cinema 30 and I was wondering if replacing my 10+ years old Onkyo will make a difference. Any other recommendations are highly appreciated.

Happy Holidays

 

[John Dirk]

Welcome to HTF! Nice Springsteen pics!

I honestly think your best "bang for the buck" would be in considering a separate power amp for your front and center speakers. The Cinema 30 is nice for sure, but functionally, it only adds support for 8K, 2 additional Atmos speakers and HDMI 2.1. Your current setup wouldn't really benefit from these additions but a separate power amp will free the Onkyo from the "heavy lifting" and allow for better range and dynamics in your all-important LCR channels. You could always choose to upgrade the Onkyo at a later date but, as long as it's doing it's job, I'd keep it in service.

 

[Greatestboss]

Welcome to HTF! Nice Springsteen pics!

I honestly think your best "bang for the buck" would be in considering a separate power amp for your front and center speakers. The Cinema 30 is nice for sure, but functionally, it only adds support for 8K, 2 additional Atmos speakers and HDMI 2.1. Your current setup wouldn't really benefit from these additions but a separate power amp will free the Onkyo from the "heavy lifting" and allow for better range and dynamics in your all-important LCR channels. You could always choose to upgrade the Onkyo at a later date but, as long as it's doing it's job, I'd keep it in service.

Thanks for your advice, I'd have to find a space on the rack. Any recommendation for a separate power amp.

 

[John Dirk]

Thanks for your advice, I'd have to find a space on the rack. Any recommendation for a separate power amp.

Depends [mostly] on your budget but I'd also consider how serious you are about audio and how long you expect to keep whatever you buy. Amps tend to last a long time, so if you're in this hobby for decades to come, spend a little more up front to avoid premature replacement later on. Options include but are certainly not limited to:

Monolith:

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=15594

Great value option. I've reviewed some of their products here and have been generally impressed.

Outlaw:

Model 5000x 5-Channel Amplifier

Home theater growing? Need more power? You’ve come to the right place. The high-caliber Model 5000x 5-Channel Amplifier has plenty to offer: HONEST POWER: 5x120W into 8Ω, 5x180W into 4Ω [all channels driven]. BALANCED INS: Balanced input stage with Common Mode Rejection. NEUTRAL...

outlawaudio.com

More budget friendly but you'd be wasting channels. I've also not been thrilled with their after-sales support

D-Sonic:

Three Channel Amplifier | D Sonic

d-sonic.com

High-end "boutique" option. Great start to an awesome Class D separates system.

 

[Greatestboss]

Depends [mostly] on your budget but I'd also consider how serious you are about audio and how long you expect to keep whatever you buy. Amps tend to last a long time, so if you're in this hobby for decades to come, spend a little more up front to avoid premature replacement later on. Options include but are certainly not limited to:

Monolith:

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=15594

Great value option. I've reviewed some of their products here and have been generally impressed.

Outlaw:

Model 5000x 5-Channel Amplifier

Home theater growing? Need more power? You’ve come to the right place. The high-caliber Model 5000x 5-Channel Amplifier has plenty to offer: HONEST POWER: 5x120W into 8Ω, 5x180W into 4Ω [all channels driven]. BALANCED INS: Balanced input stage with Common Mode Rejection. NEUTRAL...

outlawaudio.com

More budget friendly but you'd be wasting channels. I've also not been thrilled with their after-sales support

D-Sonic:

Three Channel Amplifier | D Sonic

d-sonic.com

High-end "boutique" option. Great start to an awesome Class D separates system.

Thanks on the Springsteen compliment, I've had them since 1986, they were hand painted by a friend of mine on rice paper in Virginia.

Certainly I will continue my hobby of collecting 4K discs and hopefully 8K in the future. Definetly serious about Audio and I'm willing to spend on a high end power amp. Of all the three you suggested, it seems that D-sonic is the best choice.
I came across the Marantz MM8077, Marantz AV7706 and Marantz AV8805A for a really good price. Do you have any feedback on them.

 

[John Dirk]

I came across the Marantz MM8077, Marantz AV7706 and Marantz AV8805A for a really good price. Do you have any feedback on them.

I used the Marantz AV7702MKII for many years and was mostly quite happy with it. About a year ago the 12V triggers inexplicably stopped working. Since the one thing I didn't like about the 7702 was it's limited implementation of Audyssey room correction, when the new AV10 was announced with both enhanced Audysey support and [paid upgrade] Dirac Live, I jumped right on it. The AV10 also has a Class D power amp counterpart called the Amp 10 which might be worth a look.

I don't think you can go wrong with Marantz. Anything clearly superior costs many times more.

 

[Greatestboss]

I used the Marantz AV7702MKII for many years and was mostly quite happy with it. About a year ago the 12V triggers inexplicably stopped working. Since the one thing I didn't like about the 7702 was it's limited implementation of Audyssey room correction, when the new AV10 was announced with both enhanced Audysey support and [paid upgrade] Dirac Live, I jumped right on it. The AV10 also has a Class D power amp counterpart called the Amp 10 which might be worth a look.

I don't think you can go wrong with Marantz. Anything clearly superior costs many times more.

I found both the AV10 and AMP 10 for $6,385 each in here. if I get any of them then I should be able to keep my Onkyo, Right? I was also told that my Sub is the weakest link and needs to be replaced.

 

[Greatestboss]

Please note that I work in a tax free country, hence the Cinema 30 is priced at a net of $3,730

 

[Greatestboss]

Quick question. I went shopping for Subwoofer because mine is overdue a replacement based on several recommendations. I found the following

Paradigm Defiance X12
Paradigm Defiance X15
SVS SB 16
Which one is the best choice for my type of setup and room.

 

[John Dirk]

With the release of their new 17 R|Evolution series, SVS is aggressively pricing the older [yet still completely competent] 16's, so that would be a good choice. You might want to ask this question in the below thread, however, to attract a wider audience.

https://www.hometheaterforum.com/co...assistance-thread.347602/page-28#post-5215134

 

[Greatestboss]

With the release of their new 17 R|Evolution series, SVS is aggressively pricing the older [yet still completely competent] 16's, so that would be a good choice. You might want to ask this question in the below thread, however, to attract a wider audience.

https://www.hometheaterforum.com/co...assistance-thread.347602/page-28#post-5215134

Thank you

 

[Greatestboss]

I wanted to ask, so many people advised me against replacing the Onkyo TX-NR 3030 as it's more than sufficient for my setup. In it's heyday it was the Top of Onkyo range of AV Receivers. However some have asked if i can go the separate route. I have found the Marantz MM8077 7-Channel Power Amplifier for $1848 & the Marantz MM7055 5-Channel Power Amplifier for $975. Do you think I should get any one of these and hook it to my Onkyo 3030. Would I get better Audio instead of buying the Cinema 30.
Of course the Sub will be replaced too with the SB17 or Defiance X15 depending on availability. Hence it'll be a major upgrade on both fronts.
What do you think?

 

[Dave Moritz]

Uless I am wrong the Cinema 30 will also give you individual crossovers which I do not believe you get with the Onkyo. If you are just using a single subwoofer with no intent to run multiple subs then the separate crossovers will not be a plus for you. If your Onkyo has 4K HDMI then your good. Does the Onkyo have Atmos and X? If no do you plan to set up for Atmos and X? If yes another reason to go with the Marantz. Otherwise if it does everything you need and has 4K switching and your happy with the sound it puts out by all means I would stick with the Onkyo. I own a Marantz SR-8012 and use a Emotiva three channel power amp for my front three speakers. If you stick with the Onkyo you might consider also adding a power amplifier to your Onkyo for the front three speakers.

 

[Greatestboss]

Thanks for the Advice, I went ahead and bought the Cinema 30 last month and I'm really happy with it. The only disappointing issue is the with the eARC HDMI connection with my Cable box- TV and AV Receiver, the signal- Video and Audio kept on going on and off every few minutes and would disconnect for 2-3 seconds and then the picture and audio comes back. Apparently this is a common issue with Marantz.
In the end, I connected the HDMI Video out from the Cable box to the TV HDMI directly and instead of running Optical from the Cable box to the Cinema 30 Optical input, (as this way I lose the DD+ & Dolby Atmos as the Optical won't carry these.) Then I ran eARC from the TV to Cinema 30 eARC and it works perfect and I don't lose the DD & Dolby Atmos.

I ended up selling the Onkyo for a good price. I had Dolby Atmos but no DTS:X. No individual crossovers so it won't help when I buy the second SW like you've highlighted.

Uless I am wrong the Cinema 30 will also give you individual crossovers which I do not believe you get with the Onkyo. If you are just using a single subwoofer with no intent to run multiple subs then the separate crossovers will not be a plus for you. If your Onkyo has 4K HDMI then your good. Does the Onkyo have Atmos and X? If no do you plan to set up for Atmos and X? If yes another reason to go with the Marantz. Otherwise if it does everything you need and has 4K switching and your happy with the sound it puts out by all means I would stick with the Onkyo. I own a Marantz SR-8012 and use a Emotiva three channel power amp for my front three speakers. If you stick with the Onkyo you might consider also adding a power amplifier to your Onkyo for the front three speakers.

 

[Dave Moritz]

I am surprised there was an issue like that with the Marantz and good to know if I decide to upgrade my current SR-8012. Wonder what causes that issue and how many other sources do you have with HDMI that are not doing this? Glad your happy with the Cinema 30 other than that one issue and yes that is annoying. To bad you could not hold on to the Onkyo for a back up just incase or even use it in another room.

 

[Greatestboss]

I am surprised there was an issue like that with the Marantz and good to know if I decide to upgrade my current SR-8012. Wonder what causes that issue and how many other sources do you have with HDMI that are not doing this? Glad your happy with the Cinema 30 other than that one issue and yes that is annoying. To bad you could not hold on to the Onkyo for a back up just incase or even use it in another room.

I have the Panasonic DP-UB9000 4K Player, the Denon DBT-3313 Universal Blu-ray Player, PS3, Cassette Player, Phono connected tot the Cinema 30 with no issues. Only issue is with the Cable box.
I thought of keeping the Onkyo, it served me so well over the years however I bought the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max for the bedroom and it's more than enough. It's fantastic.
Hopefully the Cinema 30 will serve me well for so many upcoming years without issues.

 

[Dave Moritz]

I had only one issue with one piece of equipment hooked up to my SR-8012 and that was my Toshiba HD-DVD player.

Looks like you have a very nice system and hope you get many years of enjoyment.