Clean, easy to use, plenty of input/outputs

None yet

This is the first time I bought separate components. I loved my Yamaha DSP/A1, however as time went on I noticed how flat it sounded. The item that drove me crazy, you could only adjust the front speakers one of two ways: -10db or 0db, no adjustments. This made it difficult when going through test noise to get a true balance.

I spent the last two weekends with this new pre-amp, and its turning out to be an excellent investment. What's best of all is this Web site. I have e-mailed two different people in this site seeking advice and people have been really good about responding and helping out.

Other equipment:

Nakamichi CD Player
Nakamichi Cassette Deck LX-3
Toshiba MM782 VHS
Toshiba 3109 DVD player
Klipsch SS1 Surrounds
Klipsch SC5 Center
Klipsch KLF 30
Klipsch KSW 150 Sub
Marantz MM9000 Power Amp
Marantz AV9000 Pre amp
Audiocontrol Rialto equalizer

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha 2070, DSP/A1

I must agree with some of the earlier reviews of this unit. I auditioned this unit when I was still looking for a preamp. I was really impressed by all the features that this unit posessed. I also thought that home theater performance was very good, though not excellent. I was a little disappointed, however, with the lack of musicality of this preamp. At the time, I was doing an A/B comparison with B&K Reference...(I know a little bit different price range). It sounded very electronic and unnatural. This preamp is still a very good value though for its price range.
Value: 5
Music: 3
Movies: 4
Features/Ergonomics: 4

Sunfire Theater Grand
Paradigm Reference Actives (20s/CC-450/ADP-450s/Servo-15 subwoofer)
Toshiba SD-9000 DVD Player
Sony CDX88ES 200 CD changer
Sony AD4 DSS Receiver
Harmonic Tech Truthlink XLR/MIT Terminator XLR 330/XLO ER-4
Kimber PowerKord/Monster HTS3500 Power center

Versatile. THX certified. Good quality. Remote Control.

You are not going to get a review of this piece that describes "the warm botttom-end" or "how great a soundstage it has". I don't believe that preamps/processors have a "sound" except if it is a tweaky tube preamp or when it comes to DSP. What I wanted was a well made and versatile processor.

Because of the difficulty in measuring DSP performance, I placed a premium on THX Ultra certification. I felt this gave me a processor that met a reasonably high standard for DSP.

I looked at many different processors including: Rotel, B&K Sunfire, Denon and Parasound. While some of them are prettier and possibly better built, none of them offered the versatility plus THX certification. 4 Digital inputs, 2 digital outs, all 3 types of video in & out, a 6 channel output for future processing will give you more than you would ever need. It was also the least expensive despite having more features.

Another strength is the integration with the superb Marantz MA-700 amps (or the MA-500). The amps are controlled by the preamp via a cable; they are switched on with a slight delay when the processor is turned on. You can do this for as many amps as you have in your system. Pretty cool ! - no need for a separate $200+ surge protector which performs this function for only 2 amps.

Bult in demodulator for DD/AC3 Laser Discs! Plenty of inputs!

For the price it could have a ajustable high/low pass crossover, although this is not an issue w/my system.

I have had this unit for 5 weeks now, and my system sounds better than ever, these are the components I'm using it w/:
CARVER 705 THX Power Amp
MARANTZ DR7000 CD Player/Recorder
PIONEER DVL700 LD/DVD/CD Combo Player
MUSIC HALL Turntable w/GRADO RED Cartridge
MUSIC FIDELITY X-LP Phono Preamp
PRO SCAN PSVR83 VCRPRO SCAN 27 MonitorPANAMAX 1000 Power ConditionerSONY WEB-TV PLUSSONY PLAYSTATIONNINTENDO 64 and Super NESSEGA DREAMCAST
DEFININITIVE TECH BP8 FL and FR spkrsDEFINITIVE TECH C1 Center spkrDEFINITIVE TECH BP2 RL and RR spkrsEIOSONE 125 watt powrd 12 in Sub
S--t, I thought my Harmon Kardon and Sony ES Pre's that I had daisey chained to my Carver amp sounded great, w/the Marantz AV-9000 my system is a whole new beast!!! Under weaknesses I did NOT list the lack of a built in Phono pre, why? Beacause I THINK you can get way better sound using a seperate phono pre. I think this is a very natural/warm sounding piece of gear, I also think the tuner sounds great compared to others that I have heard in AV Pre's. DD sounds fantastic, I have yet to hear any DTS DVD's on it since my Pioneer is a 1st gen player that will not output the DTS signal, and I DTS LD's are so hard to find now, I DID get a DTS CD, "Sting-Ten Summoner's Tales" and it blew my mind when I played it, upon hearing it, I said to myself, "It don't get better than this!" But it will once audio only DVD's are released and w/the 6 channel input the Marantz is future ready! BTW, 2 channel music sounds superb through the Digital inputs.I got my unit as a mint condition demo for $1599 at Stereo West in Omaha, NE. I already had a MK II remote that comes w/the AV9000 so I sold the extra one to a friend, I THINK this is a much better unit than the competition in this price range, I'm sure there are better units costing 2 to 3 times more, but for the price, I'm VERY HAPPY w/the MARANTZ AV-9000 and I recomend anyone thinking about getting a AV pre to give this a listen.

Similar Products Used:

Harmon Kardon Av-2500 and Sony ES9 DD decoder.

Simple to use. Not complicated

No phono imput!!!

Great pre amp for the price. I looked at Proceed, Sherwood Newcastle, Harmon/Kardon, Sony ES, McKintosh and Meridian. Some on my list are "high end" but I wanted to see what the difference for the $$ was. There are differences (you get what you pay for some times) however for home theater it is the best for the $$. It does a good job on music, I run my Rotel CD digital out and use the DA in the preamp. I liked the Meridian, but at 5K+ I knew if I purchased it my wife would ask for a divorce. I figured, stay married and buy the Marantz. Cheaper than diviorce court.

Similar Products Used:

Rotel

Incredible sound stage, very clean sound

booklet describing directions and set-up is lacking.

How to sum this up in a 1000 words or less? Hmmm, Well I have been an audio enthusiast for many years, I have even spent some time as a professional in a sound studio. I recently upgraded my outdated pre-amp and DSP to the AV9000. I talked the shop into giving me a money back garantee if I didn't like the way it sounded. Of course I haven't been back, you would have to pry the remote out of my cold dead fingers! This thing sound really incredible. My wife and I have always prided ourselves on buying audio equipment that is as timeless as possible. This piece will be at the heart of our system for many years to come.It also conveniently replaced a separte pre-amp, tuner and DSP in our system and does a better job than any of them did. I heard things on our "test" cd's that I have never heard before. We researched this purchase for almost 1.5 years and it beat out everthing we listened to on clarity, quietness, and the soundstage. The under $2K price is just icing on the cake.

Very detailed, and thx is awesome.

you kidding? none

I found this on e bay for an incredible $700.00 and took about one blink of an eye to bye it. and you know what? I did not regret it. this is by far the best preamp I have ever owned, and even had the plesure to listen to. music listening is amazing, every little detail comes to the surface, and in movies it really shines. in the movie Broken arrow with John Travolta, there is a part in the movie where a stealth plane comes out of no where and flies above. that part actually scared me, because the rears roared. I will be keeping this one for sure. I would look at one of these before purchasing something else. Wayde.

Similar Products Used:

none

As others have noted the two channel mode is (music to your ears). Dolby/DTS is the best I have ever heard. Simple and Great.

none

After looking at several high end receivers I was able to buy the Marantz AV9000 for $1,000.00 (used) in mint condition. This by far is the best GRAND that I have ever invested in equipment. I am amazed that there are not many reviews on this unit in the mag's or on the web, oh well their loss.

System consists of
AV9000 Pre
MM9000 Power amp
M&K S3b's for front and surrounds and S90 for center and MX125 sub. Rocks my world.

Similar Products Used:

JVC VKB1020, Sony STR G1ES-I think that I was one of only a handfull of people that liked the EGG REMOTE.

Flexibility, great remote, Fantastic sound stage

Many of the controls are only accessible through the remote

We replaced our Marantz AV550 with the AV9000. We did this not because we were dissatisfied with the 550 but we needed to send the 550 back to Marantz to repair a hardware glitch that was making our Subwoofer thump very loudly (wall shaking) everytime the preamp was turned on.

We used the oppurtunity to upgrade our system to DTS. We liked the number of inputs available optical, composite etc that the unit had. We also like the sound the MArantz produced in playing CDs since we use the HT for both video and music.

We knew to expect more but even we were shocked.

Last night we were watching "NYPD Blue" and we both noticed the huge sound stage we were getting (this is broadcast in prologic). Since we have TIVO we replayed it again in some of the other modes the unit offers. We were amazed that the same speakers were producing such a new listening experience.

The show had a point where a very low and very quiet pulsing tone was being played. The Marantz produced this tone extremely clearly and it just seemed to float throughout the room. It was so subtle but clearly such an improvment over what the 550 could produce.

We both looked up at the same time and remarked how wonderful it sounded.

We are really looking forward to hearing this unit on our DVD's.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz AV550

I ordered the Marantz AV-9000 unheard based upon the reviews for the SR-18. I intended to upgrade my current system (Yamaha A3090 used as a preamp) to be ready for DVD audio. The Marantz seemed to have all of the features I was interested in, so I took a chance and had my local retailer order me one. After a week of in home testing, these are my opinons:Home Theater: I found to unit to excel in the area of DD and DTS sound tracks. On terminator 2, I immediately noticed little nuances that seemed to be missing with the Yamaha. Over all I would say very impressive for use with movies.
Music: Here is where I would disagree with other reviewers. I felt that in 2 channel stereo, the music seemed rather bright to my ears. I have B&W Nautilus 803's for front L & R, 805's for rear and HTM for the center. The brightness could be attributed to my speakers as they tend to be a little forward sounding. I didn't feel the AV-9000 had the level of detail and spaciousness that I was looking for in a pre/pro. The surround modes were some of the worst for music that I have heard.
Overall I would rate the AV-9000 as 4 stars for movies and ease of use but only 3 stars for music. I returned mine.