Price Paid:  $1300.00 from eBay

Summary:
I got this SR-14EX to replace my SR-19 which has been worth every penny since I owned it. Sound quality is similar in these receivers though the SR-14EX has more punch in the lower frequencies. One must own the SR-14EX in order to appreciate it - copper shields all around, anodized aluminum top and side panels, Marantz didn't hold back on anything in its design. Having two more channels of amplification is just not possible considering how full this 60-lb beast already is. I suppose it can be done but not without sacrifice.

The SR-14EX works very well with my Sony DVP-S9000ES DVD/CD/SACD player.

I love the sound of this Marantz and I am sure I will enjoy it for many more years to come.

Strengths:
Built like a tank; very heavy. Very good sounding receiver with all the features to enjoy today's music and movies.

Weaknesses:
Very heavy.

Similar Products Used:
Sony STR-DA50ES, Marantz SR-19, Marantz SR-7200

Tone

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1250.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
All the good things you have heard about the 2-channel sound quality produced by the SR-14EX receiver are correct. I have looked at almost every integrated surround amplifier available on the market but before I went to Sunfire separates I decided to try the SR-14EX because of all the good things I heard about it.

Context: My system is comprised of a very high end Sony cd player and 15 year old British made floor monitors (you know, the old school ones that produce sound images that literally "hang" in mid-air).

The stereo musicality of the SR-14EX is the best I have heard from any solid state integrated unit to date. By physically turning the volume dial to 8/10 I can't determine if it is the limitations of the receiver or my speakers that begin to lend to the deterioration of sound quality. This unit is definately not overrated at 140 watts RMS like so many others are.

I can't wait to hear what this receiver does with my top of the line B&W center channel in 5.1 or 7.1 surround configuration - but alas, all that stuff is packed away until the move is made and I can determine how I want to set up the new room everything will go into.

Strengths:
Musicality, overbuilt capacitors = excellect kick bass, overbuilt powersupply and output stage = silky smooth (almost dripping) sound imaging - for a non-tube unit anyway, and even then only a really nice tube unit would probably sound sweeter. Super value in today's market.

Weaknesses:
No saving settings feature if the power dies or if unplugged for a week. It's heavy (58lbs), mostly due to the robust transformer. Rather plain looking, in black anyway. The multi-room functioning is also difficult to understand. Only one sub output. The remote is heavy, awkward and dated compared to new aftermarket stuff. The volume dial doesn't have that silky smooth weighted feel of some other high quality units I have used.

Similar Products Used:
Listened to many A/V units, but only owned a DSP-A1.

Icehawk5

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
2.33 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1500.00 from ebay

Summary:
I just got this for a steal on e-bay. This thing is built like a tank (60lbs) and it reeks of quality construction. The unit was the flagship unit two years ago and was crammed full of audiophile upgrades. I was replacing 10 year old mid-fi equipment and the sound this thing produced told me just how little I knew about audio equipment. When I upgraded to my B&W speakers, I was that much more impressed. The sound is unbelievable, the remote is a bit daunting at first, but for anybody that has ever worked a computer, it won't produce a stroke. For now, I'm only using as a 5.1 system, but I have the option to upgrade to 7.1 with an external amp as the it has the outputs to support 7.1.

Strengths:
Sound quality, home theater experience. At two years old, you can get unbelievable quality at this price. I'm guessing you'll have trouble beating the sound at the price I paid. Tons of hookups and easy set-up.

Weaknesses:
For what I paid, not a one.

Similar Products Used:
Nakamichi AV-2

Price Paid:  $2300.00 from new at eBay

Summary:
Great sound. Powerful. Beautiful design. The sound is very, very clear, I was amazed about that. It lack a bit of bass with my paradigm Studio 80, but I'm getting a Velodyne sub to check if I can feel the empty the Paradigm's don't seam to fill. Of course the speakers are main towers not meant to deliver too much bass. Lots of connection options in the back panel. Chance to bypass the front amp, send it to the surround back and put your own monoblock for the main channel. Actually this is the recommended way to have a 7.1 system. Great and strong construction, this unit is really heavy. I don't liked too much the pre-programmed equalizations it provides, I really liked much better using tone controlled stereo. Don't tried too much source direct.

Strengths:
Powerful. Clear sound. Strong construction. I received the 5200 control, that's a big plus.

Weaknesses:
Little tick sound (almost inaudible) when changing volume during a very quite sound passage. A Little pricey.

Similar Products Used:
Never used personally an A/V receiver before. I owned a couple of legacy (70's) Marantz system, great products.

Price Paid:  $2400.00 from AllStar Audio

Summary:
Incredibly built product. No corners were cut here. Sure, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles that some more current models do, but what it does do, it does oh so well. Hooked up to my Paradigm 100 v2's the music washes ove listeners like velvet. So clean, crisp and unadulterated. Kick in the center channel and surrounds with LOTR cranked and the lights low, and the audio carries you away to middle earth. Hand-built with hand picked components. Marantz did good with this one. I bet there are a few more out there that can be had for a very good price. Oh, and the remote is a pure work of genius, though a bit hard to program at first.

Strengths:
High amperage, easily pushes the 100's to create an open and airy soundstage without breathing hard. So quiet that certain musical passages can scare the heck out of you if you're not expecting them.

Weaknesses:
No DD Prologic II, only 5 amplified channels. But that's all I need.

Similar Products Used:
JVC, Sony, Yamaha