Budget: 50-70K
Movies 80%, Music 20%
I am pretty much a novice in this domain.
1. How much will these cost in India (say in Delhi or Chennai)?
US prices w/o taxes are as follows:
Denon 3310: $1500 (7.1, 120 WPC, PLIIz, THD 0.05%, 8 Pre-amp outs, USB support)
Marantz 5004: $850 (7.1, 90 WPC, No PLIIz, THD 0.08%, 8 Pre-amp outs, No USB)
Marantz 6004: $1250 (7.1, 110 WPC, No PLIIz, THD 0.08%, 8 Pre-amp outs, USB)
Here are the links:
Marantz: http://store.audioholics.com/compare_products.php?xSec=69&compare[2697]=&compare[2698]=
Denon: Denon USA | AVR-3310CI
2.One criterion for my selection of AVRs is that it should have bi-amp and pre-amp outputs (might go for external amp in future). I like the integrated bi-amp that comes with Marantz 6004 and Denon 3310. Does Marantz 5004 has the bi-amp option?
3. How do I know the difference in effect with and w/o the bi-amp capability? I auditioned Denon 2310 (it has no bi-amp, I believe) vs Denon 3310 (has bi-amp) in "Direct" mode and did not find much difference. There was no external amp in the set up and the AVR was connected to only 2 front channel speakers. The salesman said for music you generally play in "Direct" mode instead of "Stereo" mode. I don't know what these modes mean.
4. Has anyone tried the USB feature on AVR. I mean can I connect a hard disk to the AVR via USB and will it be able to play movies/music from the disk? Marantz 6004 and Denon 3310 has USB support.
5. Suggestions for other AVRs?
Preferences: 7.1 WPC, Pre-outs option, THD < 0.1%, Sensitivity >= 86dB, Component/HDMI/Composite/VGA support, USB support (if it can play movies direct from hard disk), native 1080p, native 16:9, upconversion capable.
Movies 80%, Music 20%
I am pretty much a novice in this domain.
1. How much will these cost in India (say in Delhi or Chennai)?
US prices w/o taxes are as follows:
Denon 3310: $1500 (7.1, 120 WPC, PLIIz, THD 0.05%, 8 Pre-amp outs, USB support)
Marantz 5004: $850 (7.1, 90 WPC, No PLIIz, THD 0.08%, 8 Pre-amp outs, No USB)
Marantz 6004: $1250 (7.1, 110 WPC, No PLIIz, THD 0.08%, 8 Pre-amp outs, USB)
Here are the links:
Marantz: http://store.audioholics.com/compare_products.php?xSec=69&compare[2697]=&compare[2698]=
Denon: Denon USA | AVR-3310CI
2.One criterion for my selection of AVRs is that it should have bi-amp and pre-amp outputs (might go for external amp in future). I like the integrated bi-amp that comes with Marantz 6004 and Denon 3310. Does Marantz 5004 has the bi-amp option?
3. How do I know the difference in effect with and w/o the bi-amp capability? I auditioned Denon 2310 (it has no bi-amp, I believe) vs Denon 3310 (has bi-amp) in "Direct" mode and did not find much difference. There was no external amp in the set up and the AVR was connected to only 2 front channel speakers. The salesman said for music you generally play in "Direct" mode instead of "Stereo" mode. I don't know what these modes mean.
4. Has anyone tried the USB feature on AVR. I mean can I connect a hard disk to the AVR via USB and will it be able to play movies/music from the disk? Marantz 6004 and Denon 3310 has USB support.
5. Suggestions for other AVRs?
Preferences: 7.1 WPC, Pre-outs option, THD < 0.1%, Sensitivity >= 86dB, Component/HDMI/Composite/VGA support, USB support (if it can play movies direct from hard disk), native 1080p, native 16:9, upconversion capable.