Hoping you can recommend a 2 or 3-zone receiver

[Theresse]

Hi there -

3 zone probably costs a fortune but I sometimes think about putting speakers in the back yard as a 3rd zone however it's not super important. The 2nd zone if for my kitchen.

I have an okay/decent enough receiver that's maybe 9 or 10 years old and I have surprisingly good-quality Canadian speakers in the living room (though just one pair!!). Eventually I'll probably get around to the full surround sound thing but right now those powerful mid-sized speakers sound pretty good when we watch movies on our new 46" screen. What matters most to me is music and I most definitely don't want that compromised for the sake of theater sound.

That said, if there's a good AV receiver on the market that lets a person switch from 5 or 7 speakers (for theater sound) to just the main speakers for music without it being lesser quality for doing so, I'd certainly be open to that. I've been wondering about the Marantz SR6006 as well as one of the Denons that had such good reviews about a year ago. However there were some reviewers that said the Denons were great for AV sound but not as good for music and that's got me nervous about them. I don't know what else is out there. I think I remember hearing Yamaha is big again?

I only want to spend between $600-1,200. It's been about a year since I last delved into this but I just found a list I'd made back then of features I might want. I'm running out of time now - I need to get it in the next couple of weeks. Here's that old list:

- It would be nice to be able to control the equalizer msyelf (no "rock" or "jazz" settings)
- powerful enough (at least 500 amps as is current stereo, unless that's an apples for oranges kind of thing)
- video conversion (single cable) - also known as HDMI conversion?
- high continuous power rating (often expressed as "watts RMS" or "watts continuous") for the ability to hold power longer
- multi-zone capable - and any abilities necessary, related (e.g. so I can just add a volume switch in the kitchen later)
- airplay
- a way to make MP3s sound better (D-Max? E.g. on the Marantz SR6006?)
- internet radio (?) - if it only states something about Serius radio, does that mean Pandora is out? If Blu-ray player offers Pandora, will the receiver make it sound good?
- a way to turn off location and all wi-fi if I should want to
- a way to hook up everything hardwire/cable (i.e. not wireless)
- good stereo sound w/ ability to turn off the 7-point system and bring it to just 2 (A/B switching?)
- HDMI hookups
- whatever's needed in the front (some things are most conveniently located in the front)
- remote that does it ALL
- has ability to turn records into cd's (would be a plus anyway)
- will be able to take vcr, blu-ray, record player (has phono input), tape player and CD player plus at least one other, e.g. ipod, so at least 6 things
- digital audio outputs for recording to digital recorder
- Easy interface a plus
- Would I need a pre-amplifier audio output for adding an external amp in the future? Ugh - can't remember why I wrote this. Why would I need it?!
- is ipod dock necessary? Maybe not a dock but a USB port or stereo jack or some way to plug in (while charging) an ipod that's easily accessible from the front.

Thanks so much!!

 

[Ajay Kamath]

3 zone probably costs a fortune but I sometimes think about putting speakers in the back yard as a 3rd zone however it's not super important. The 2nd zone if for my kitchen.

Yes, 3 zone will cost more because that's a feature found mostly in the higher end models. However you look like you have a handsome budget and you are looking for good quality sound, so you should get a good receiver anyway. Most people buy the high end receivers for good quality main zone performance and NOT using the multi-zone features because they do not have that requirement!

That said, if there's a good AV receiver on the market that lets a person switch from 5 or 7 speakers (for theater sound) to just the main speakers for music without it being lesser quality for doing so, I'd certainly be open to that.

Almost all receivers allow you to select between a surround mode and stereo direct on the fly.

I've been wondering about the Marantz SR6006 as well as one of the Denons that had such good reviews about a year ago. However there were some reviewers that said the Denons were great for AV sound but not as good for music and that's got me nervous about them. I don't know what else is out there. I think I remember hearing Yamaha is big again?

I love the sound and features on the 6006. I hate the fact that the display on the front panel is so small that you'd need a pair of binoculars to see what it says from 10' away. But since it has a decent OSD, I think that can be forgiven.

- It would be nice to be able to control the equalizer msyelf (no "rock" or "jazz" settings)
- video conversion (single cable) - also known as HDMI conversion?
- HDMI hookups
- will be able to take vcr, blu-ray, record player (has phono input), tape player and CD player plus at least one other, e.g. ipod, so at least 6 things
- whatever's needed in the front (some things are most conveniently located in the front)

You would find the above in most mid to high end receivers.

- digital audio outputs for recording to digital recorder

Not this.

- powerful enough (at least 500 amps as is current stereo, unless that's an apples for oranges kind of thing)
- high continuous power rating (often expressed as "watts RMS" or "watts continuous") for the ability to hold power longer

No idea what the reference to "500 amps" is. All manufacturers publish rated output in watts, rms at specific impedances, usually 6ohms. However most have different ways of measuring it.

- multi-zone capable - and any abilities necessary, related (e.g. so I can just add a volume switch in the kitchen later)

Additional volume controls are not receiver dependent. And multi-zone receiver doesn't mean that all zones are powered. You will need additional power amplifier(s) for 3rd and/ or 2nd zone depending on the amplifier/ number of channels in use in the main zone.

- airplay
- a way to make MP3s sound better (D-Max? E.g. on the Marantz SR6006?)
- internet radio (?) - if it only states something about Serius radio, does that mean Pandora is out? If Blu-ray player offers Pandora, will the receiver make it sound good?

Airplay is available on Marantz and Denons. Never tried it, but Pandora works from India? Internet radio is available on all the networked receivers.

- a way to turn off location and all wi-fi if I should want to

Turn network off from the receiver or power off the network switch or something. But why would you want to do that?

- a way to hook up everything hardwire/cable (i.e. not wireless)

No idea what you mean. Everything will HAVE to be hardwired except airplay bluetooth devices.

- good stereo sound w/ ability to turn off the 7-point system and bring it to just 2 (A/B switching?)

Change listening mode from whatever it is to Direct.

- remote that does it ALL

Buy a receiver capable of working as a universal remote, or buy a third party remote of the kind.

- has ability to turn records into cd's (would be a plus anyway)

No chance!

- is ipod dock necessary? Maybe not a dock but a USB port or stereo jack or some way to plug in (while charging) an ipod that's easily accessible from the front.

Most come with a USB port in the front that can charge and play iPod audio content.

 

[Theresse]

Thanks so much Ajay! Any other receivers you know of that are as good as the Marantz 6006? I saw one that had really good reviews that's a yamaha however I'm not very good at comparing models/features. Do you know of this one?:

Amazon.com: Yamaha RX-V671BL 7.1-Channel Network AV Receiver: Electronics

I'm wondering if it has a higher-end version.

Thanks again!

 

[Ajay Kamath]

Yup, Yamaha has their premium lineup called Aventage.

Also check out the likes of Onkyo 709, Denon 2312. Denon and Marantz will be the only ones with Airplay out of the box. But then its easy to just add an Airport Express.

 

[navin advani]

I've been wondering about the Marantz SR6006
I only want to spend between $600-1,200.
- powerful enough (at least 500 amps as is current stereo, unless that's an apples for oranges kind of thing)
- good stereo sound w/ ability

Yup, Yamaha has their premium lineup called Aventage..

If Sound Quality is important do also consider NAD. NAD's 748 does not have all the features the 6006 has but should be a little less forward.

If you can strech your budget the baby Arcam 400 (even if it does not have the bigger better power supply of the 600) or Anthem's 700 can be considered.

 

[manu2598]

If Sound Quality is important do also consider NAD. NAD's 748 does not have all the features the 6006 has but should be a little less forward.

++1. Nad is very good.