One of the best sounding receivers on the market. Used mostly for the use of two channel music off a color matching Marantz SA-1. Not only does it sound great but the Champaign color is great too. Home theater cannot get much better than this.

None so far.

I have been using this since Dec 2000. I have a Pioneer Elite 510 hooked up to the SR14 with a Sony DVP 9000es. I did not really care about the 6.1 discreet. I bought it mostly for how it sounds not only on movies but on two channel music. I have not been to the movies since.

Similar Products Used:

Denon 5800. I have listened to the Yamaha RX-1, sonically it sounds sterile. The Denon even sounds better. I have listened to the B&k too. I preferred the SR-14. So I say to the poor review below mine enjoy your 6.1.

DTS-ES (matrix 6.1), separates sound quality

price

Peter Hagan’s review is a low blow. How can you justify rating a receiver of this quality a 1? This receiver is an excellent receiver and all the trade magazines review attests to that. I disagree with him that the 14EX does not have DTS-ES. It has DTS-ES matrix 6.1, not discrete 6.1. (You can however add that discrete 6.1 amplification decoder). Note it can, however, play discrete 6.1 through the matrix 6.1. Anyway, there is still debate as to if there is any difference in sound between matrix and discreet. The 14EX has DTS 6.1 ( DTS-ES).
I just wanted to set the record straight on this matter because some people do a disservice to this site by adding mean spirited reviews. A lot of people use this site as a buying guide and some people really add no value through their sabotage efforts.

Good sound. Strong current capability for a receiver.

Ludicrously expensive. not upgradable. I'm not even that interested in 7.1, but one looking at receivers is usually more interested in features, which this is sorely lacking.

If this receiver were about $2800, I wouldn't find much to fault about it. But the MSRP of $4700 for a 5-channel receiver is absolutely insane. my current setup is an Anthem AVM-2 paired with a Rotel RMB-1095. At list price they add up to only $4800 together, and they essentially mop the floor with the SR-14EX. I would like to hear anyone elses reasons why (or how)this would offer better sound than separates that can be paired for under $4500. not just my system either, the combinations are nearly limitless. The botton line is, if you can find one of these for about $2500, then it is a good buy. But at list price, you are being raped out of about $2000 that would be better spent on separates, which leave more room for upgrading, and vastly better sound quality. Nothing against its overall performance, just a terrible value.

Similar Products Used:

B&K AVR307. AVR5800. Rotel RSP976 paired with RMB1095

I use the new sony DVP-9000ES DVD player the Arcam Alpha 9 CD player and infinity's new flagship Prelude MTS subs and towers. I hear so many new sounds in my CD collection and I am now collecting SACD (sound SUPER) that play in the Sony. In DVD mode I watched all my DVD's all over again. Unbelievable as the Marantz is super in the sound department. Nice champaign color too.

I must have been ripped off price wise. I see the MSRP is $3200 and I paid $900 more. As for performance none. I don't like the cap covers on the speaker outputs. They are a pain to remove to add the RCA's.

As I said above plus source direct so that I can hear pure analog sound coming from the super DAC on the Alpha. I compared it to the Denon 5800 and the Marantz sounds much better.

Similar Products Used:

Sony DVP 7700 replaced with 9000
Adcom seperates replaced with the SR14EX

Power, clarity,ease of use,OSD,looks, etc.etc.

Havent found any...

I was searching for a replacement for my av-550 and I thought I had found it in the Denon 5800. Upon further research I found I was wrong...VERY wrong. The store had remotes from the Denon's behind the counter, all defective and I learned that the reciever itself wasn't as true to it's power rating as Denon would have you believe. Now what do I do? They showed me the Marantz sr-14ex...WOW! HT was unbelievable, in DTS, 7-1, or 5-1 dolby and 2 channel music was very pleasing to the ears.
It also comes with the 5000i remote. Easy as hell to program, adjust (downloads on the web), and to use. The touch screen is great, and very responsive.
Setup is a breeze, I never even glanced at the instructions. Then you set everything up on the on screen display and you're done. Inputs, speaker size, distance..its all there. I bridged my 2 fronts through a 450 watt amp, my rear surrounds and center through 3 MA-700 mono blocks. Only the 2 front surrounds run from the reciever alone.
Im concidering adding a pair of Maggies for music, then getting 4 jobs to pay for it all..)
For the price you can't go wrong...enjoy.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha,Marantz av-550

Incredible seperates sound!! RC 5000i is absolutly a life saver. I can't even detail every wonderful thing about this piece of electronics.

Need an external amp to listen to EX surround. The RC 5000i does not come with the base charger. This wouldn't be such a pain if I could find one somewhere to purchase, but since the RC 5000i is sold usually as a seperate item the base usually comes with it. If anyone can help I would love to know where to purchase one (that is the same color).

First off I'll let you know what my system consists of:

Mirage OM-10, OM-C3, OM-R2 (speakers)
Pioneer Elite DV-05 (DVD player)
Loewe Arcada 32' digital (television)
Denon DCM 370 (cd player)
Marantz SR14 EX (of course)
Audioquest Slate (speaker cables)
Audioquest Interconnects all around
oh and I almost forgot... Playstation 2!

I'll start with the competition. First of all, I did more research and analyzing than I think is worth anyone's time. The time best spent was listening to all the equipment. The Rotel was perfect, but no future upgradability to EX, and a little overpriced. The Denon 5800 was probably the biggest disappointment of all. I listened to it on my mirages and it was completely muffled sounding, even the salesman agreed. Although, I listened to it on the Klipsh system and it sounded fine (not outstanding, but fine)just goes to show you how important it is to here it in your system. Now my mirages are very laid back (reason the denon sounded bad)so I thought the Yamaha's brightness would complement it. Wrong, it sounded 20 times better than the denon, and it put a smile on my face, but then he switched it to the B & K. My boyfriend and my eyes both lit up (and he likes bright sounding). This was an absolutely wonderful piece of equipment. It not only brought out what was missing in the Yamaha, but it added much more. To be honest, I was pretty set on the B & K til I heard about the Marantz. I couldn't even find a store anywhere in a 200 mile radius that carried it, so I went to listen to the SR-18EX (I know I'm going against my own advise). It sounded incredible (I couldn't compare to B & K since they didn't carry it). I basically went with the Marantz unheard for 2 huge reasons. The RC 5000i is worth its weight in gold, and I could only get it for a limited time for $600 less than the B & K. (In retail world the B & K is usually $1000 less)

Now, after I unpacked it... first of all, the caps on the binding posts took a total of 3 min. to remove with a drill. Just use a very small drill bit and carefully drill far enough to break though and the cap pops right off. Oh, I got the black instead of the champagn colored chassis. Now, the scary moment of hooking it up and listening to it for the first time. I was literally taken off my feet and digging though every cd I had (usually I want to watch movies on a new piece of equipment). The musicality of this reciever was amazing. Pink Floyd the Wall had things in it that I had never (I mean not even remotely) heard. The midrange was incredible! I could go on and on. Basically, this was even better than the B & K and I would challenge anyone to find any seperates under $6000 that could sound better. Movies were of course fantastic (and now I can see my remote in the dark!). Another wonderful thing I didn't realize til I read up some more was that this receiver can function as either an amp for another pre-amp, OR you can redirect its power to any channel. For example, if you have a two channel amp you can hook it up to your fronts, and then redirect the wattage to your EX speakers.

Weaknesses: For some reason the DTS was working, but it had a delay of about 15 seconds when you started a movie or switched chapters. Now 15 seconds doesn't seem long, but when your switching chapters on a music DVD (the Eagles) it sucks! But, after about 6 hours of initial play time it has worked fine since. I truely believe that all electronics need at least a day or two to warm up and break in. My other weakness about needing an external amp to listen to EX doesn't really phase me because I am still listening to cds, movies, radio!! (I haven't listened to radio outside of my car in years!), and everything else with a huge grin from ear to ear in a stage of unwanting (very rare). Although for some of you that might be a concern, my solution would be some mono block amps. Also, this doesn't affect me because I don't currently get hdtv, but the component switching doesn't work with 1080i. In other words, forget running your component cords through the reciever if you want to watch HDTV, you'll have to keep them running though the tv, which actually seems like a better idea to me (less components to go through) unless you don't have enough inputs on your tv.

I won't even go into the remote, because chances are that if your looking at this reciever you already know how bad ass this remote is. Except one piece of advise. Save your configuration on your computer before you start messing with graphics and importing other configuration. I know I will probably have forgotten to share something wonderful about this, but I need to sum this up.
If you get so wrapped up in music that it can give you chills to listen to it on a decent system, then you MUST hear it on the SR14EX. The movies will shake your living room and your head making you wonder why you ever spent $6.00 to sit in a cold uncomfortable theater. I'm not saying the law of diminishing returns doesn't apply, but now I just don't care!
5 stars for value, and 4 for overall (because you've got to leave room for Krell)

Similar Products Used:

B & K 307, Denon 5800 :(, Rotel rsp 985, Yamaha RXV1, ect.

I too decided on an SR-18 and picked up an RC5000i as well. Now I have an amazing system for a very good price. Very happy. The extra money would be better spent on good speakers. and trust me..you will be happy.


I also agree the SR-14 does not deserve a 1, it is great for anyone who has the money, however you are running into deminishing returns at that high price......

Your choice.

Beautiful two channel stereo

Lacking in features and outlandish price.

This receiver while excellent for two channel stereo is lacking. It isn't upgradeable. It doesn't have amps for the rear channels in a 7.1 setup. It doesn't have DTS ES discrete 6.1. It also doesn't sound better than my Marantz SR18 which retails for $2000 less. This list price of $4700 is way out of line.

Similar Products Used:

Denon 5800, B&K 307, Onkyo 989