DTS 5.1 & 6.1, 7 channel upgradeability,

Remote, nasty popping sound when switching off, S-Video flashing problem, STEREO mode, no custom crossover adjustments, no music mode with just front speakers & sub.

This review is for the SR6200.

After waiting & looking around, I finally settled for the Marantz. I had considered the Yamaha 620 & Denon 1802 and have auditioned these but not the Marantz.... I "trusted" my gut feeling based on paper specs of the Marantz.

What Hi-Fi magazine annual rewards gave the SR4200 the BEST BUY of 2001 and I thought what the heck, if the entry level was that good (They made a comparison with the more expensive Yamaha 620 and said they were similar in performance), the 6200 should rock but BOY WAS I WRONG!!!

Remote is confusing but I should get used to that after a while so it's a small issue. Loud popping sound when switching off is really annoying. Brief loss of vertical hold after bright flashes on the S-Video output of my Pioneer DVD player. Stereo mode SUCKED big time as it sounded flat, no soundstaging to mention of.... just like iAudio magazine's review of this receiver. Unable to customise crossover levels.

DTS handling is superb though.... buy this one if you do not use it to listen to music but just to play movies.

Similar Products Used:

Sony STR555ES & 2 HK AV Receivers

SR6200!! Great for it direct mode, just like an amp cost around 1200 USD,

Since I can't find the review for SR 6200, I have to drop my comment on the 7200 page.

First, I originally want to buy the Onkyo 595. yet, the sales told me that the SRX200 series from Marantz is new (only several months time) when compared to the Onkyo. I choose to test this amp. in the shop.

When testing, I choose the Rosewood ProAc Response 1.5 (This is one of my target for next time speaker upgrade, I choose this becuase this is a low efficiency speaker so that I can test the power of the amplifier). We use the Eagle Live - Hotel canlafornia. The CD is from Sony top model (SACD)

The result is -- Cool...the separation is extremely good that even if I was not in the center of the speakers, I can still feel the "music wall" that generated from the speaker.

Since my home is around 200 sq. feets, it is not doubt to use this amp. my home. I am quite satisfied with amp. in the following aspects.

1. Power, it can drive the Response 1.5 very well (at round -5dB, I can see the speaker moving happily)

2. Sound quality - the sound of human is extremely rich.

3. The sound is alos musical as well.

In short, I have no hesitation in recommending this amp. for a general purpose use at home around 200-400 sq. feet.

Build Quality, sound quality,Pro-LogicII,6.1 and many more!!

S-Video Noise Problem on some units

The audio performance of this unit is superb. I found it much better on 2-channel music than the Denon. For HT it equaled the Denon for the most part(NO DTS-ES discreet, only matrix). The lack of dts-es discreeet is a non factor IMHO. I had both the 3802 and the 7200 in my home at the same time and the both were pretty eqaul for HT. As far as music goes, the Marantz is head and shoulders above the Denon. The 7200 was warm and musical while the Denon was kinda harsh and flat. Since I like to listen to music as well as watch movies, I figured I would get the receiver that excelled at both and it turned out to be the Marantz. The Denon is a fine performer for HT and if that is all you use it for you will be happy but if you like music too then give the Marantz a look because it outshines the Denon musically(IMHO). The Marantz can also be found for a good deal less in most situations if cost is a factor for you. Be sure to check for the S-video noise reported by some on the 7200. Marantz is aware of the problem and I have heard they have corrected it for future shipments. If anyone out there has a defective s-video problem they should be able to exchange their unit for a fixed one.

Similar Products Used:

Denon 3802, Marantz SR7000, Onkyo 696

Sound, power, usage, ...

DTS-ES Compatible meaning it's not discrete but the Matrix version

Sound :
Incredible crystal clear sound (as well for multi-channel as for stereo. It's like the music is played live in your room. Especially the Stereo sound is fantastic for a surround receiver.

If I compare it to the Denon AVR-3801, the Denon is flat and dry. The sound is not "living", especially in stereo mode and for me Stereo is as important as multi-channel.

The Sony ES-555 produces to much noise. The receiver has a lot of possibilities that you hardly use.

5.1 vs 6.1/7.1 :
I use the configuration only in 5.1 mode so I was not really looking for a 6.1 or 7.1 receiver. Furthermore the 6.1 (DTS-ES or DD EX) DVD's titles are not very distrubuted so why bother in my opinion.
A second reason is that my listening room is no cinema complex where I realy need the 6.1 feature to recreate the full movement. If I decide later on to install the surround back channel I can do it but it wil only be the matrix version (but will I really hear the difference ?)


Power :
The unit has enough power but since I had several power amplifiers (which are THX certified) from my previous systems I had used. I used to have at first a Denon PRA-1500 pre-amplifier with a NAD-216 THX amplifier, later on I had the Marantz EC-500 with additional power amps. To my surprise the cheaper Marantz had a better sound depth than my full Denon Stereo configuration.



My System Configuration :
Receiver Marantz SR-7200 + 1 Marantz MA500 booster (THX) + 1 NAD 216 (THX)

DENON CD CDC-2560
DENON TAPE DRM-700A
SONY DVD S9000
SONY MD MDS-730

My Speakers system:
Front :2 x B&W 803
Center : 1x B&W 805
Rear : 2 x B&W P6

Similar Products Used:

Marantz EC-500 (only Pro-Logic); Sony ES-550 ; Denon AVR-3801

Sound !!!
DTS-ES 6.1 Discrete

The sound quality of this receiver is equal to the sound quality of their Stereo equipment. The moment you put the receiver in "Direct" mode, the A/V section is bypassed and you hear an amazing sound.

In Direct Mode the sound is more clear (higher tones) and has more dynamics then my separates (Denon PRA-1500 pre-amp; Denon POA 3200 end-amp); the sound comes out of my speakers (and this was not completely the case with my Denon Equipment; I could hear 2 speakers) making it difficult to localize the speakers and that's the way it should be !!!

In multi-channel mode the unit perform also very good (considering the price level; in Belgium the Denon AVR-3802 is about $580 more expensive, even the AVR-2802 is more expensive)

Concerning Power; some say that the unit is underpowered !? It's true you have to turn the knob a lot of times to hear volume changes. This is due a non linear scale. This lets you use the complete scale. This was also fact with my Denon pre-amp. A lot of amps are already at max power at 1/3 of the complete scale...

I can assure you that my ears start hearting at 0dB (and you can go to +20dB). the scale starts at -75dB and goes to +20dB. A lot of amps start at -95dB and stop at 0dB.

And if you really think you have not enough power, may'be you should buy some real speakers like B&W.

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR-3801

Sound especially in source direct mode(stereo and surround).
Remote control. Enough power for me...

None so far

This is a great receiver for the money. Music really comes to life. Sound is detailed and crisp. You have to spend more than 800 bucks to buy a stereo amp which one does a better job than this sr7200 in stereo mode(source direct). 5 channel stereo is also beautiful and very needful at parties.

For everyone who says this receiver has not enough power in the DTS / DolbyDigital modes: Select the source direct mode and the volume gets a big push . You get also more detail when you use this mode.

About the noise chickchats: I use this receiver for more than a month and how much i turn the volume button, there is NO extra noise .

Similar Products Used:

Marantz sr7000 Denon AVR3802

Looks, build quality e.t.c

Sound, power

Alot of people seem to think that this receiver is similar in many ways to the older now defunct SR-7000, this could not be futher from the truth. This piece is a fresh design and unfortunately it fails to garner the same praise as it's predecessor. The sound is outright flat and boring with no power behind it whatsover. It has an inherent problem with Noise in many of it's modes.
I believe that Sound and Vision recently reviewed this piece and were not at all happy with it.

Similar Products Used:

AV-10, Avr-4802 AVR3802 e.tc

Extremely musical and natural sound.
Quiet as a dead mouse in outer space

Nothing serious. Some controls could be more logic, but that is sooooo personal...

This is getting hilarious. Every time the rating gets closer to 5, the 7200 receives some lousy reviews. Very suspicious, huh? I wonder why the competition is so afraid!

To me, this Marantz has been an awesome surprise. I intended to use it only for movies, the blasts, effects and all. After all, this is a receiver and serious music should be listened to through separates, right? Then I hooked it up and turned it on.

The first thing that stroke me was how QUIET the 7200 is. No input NO SOUND. Only in analog with a very long cable coming from the TV AND MAX VOLUME I can hear a very faint hiss. No way you can hear any hiss in normal listening levels even with your ears glued to the speakers.

It sounds closer to live music than my separates, which are silently sitting in by bookshelf by now. How? In terms of separation, timbre, dynamic range, subtle differences in body and volume. Also, even in stereo it is not flat. The sound projects all over the room (around 15 x 20 ft dedicated room, insulated, brick walls, wood panels and CD shelves). More than once I checked whether some sound was not coming from the surround speakers.

I also get a very natural effect using PL-II with some CD's, mainly good classical recordings. With most CD's, when using PL-II, I believe I obtain more realism by lowering the surround channels between 3 to 6 dbs in relation to their normal settings. Some CD's just cry out to be used in plain stereo.

I cannot understand the complaints about low power by some. My front speakers are planar magnetics. They are power hungry. I have already used them with up to 1,000 Watts per channel. Loads of punch but no finesse.

With the 7200, I was sure I would need to connect at least one of my separate power amps for the front channels. NO NEED at all! And the music flows delicately, naturally. I never tire of listening to it!

As I wrote before, the 7200's converters appear to sound better than those in my Sony X 777 ES CD player.

After I started to use the Marantz, my son chose to watch his DVD's in my dedicated room instead of in his bedroom with his system, which also includes separates and a Sony Converter.

My back speakers are Paradigm and my subwoofer is an M&K V1-B.

If you like realistic music reproduction and you have the reference of live music, you will most probably enjoy this Receiver. At least listen to it!

Ease of operation and setup. I like the display. The sound is smooth - layed back.

You have to turn the volume knob a lot to change the volume.

I recently purchased this product based upon the high ratings of its predecessor the SR 7000 and the outstanding reviews for its younger brother the SR 4200. I have only listened to it in the two channel mode and I am very happy with the sound. I do not hear the backgroud noise that other reviewers have commented on. I have listen to classical, country and rock at all levels and I like the performance of this receiver. My question is how could this be such a substandard product (per this month's review in Sound and Vision Mag. as well as in some of the reviews here on Audio Review.com) when essentially the only changes that Marantz made to it was to boost the power and add Dolby Pro Logic 2? Other than that, it is the same as the SR 7000. Why is the SR4200 so great and this one so poor? There isn't much difference between the two. All this can be very confusing. Well, I am going to keep the SR 7200.

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR 3802

Good Build, Solid feel. Aesthetics.

Way Way underpowered. Sound in Dolby Digital Noisy

I was very excited when I bought the Marantz SR7200 as I had read many reviews complimenting the Marantz line in general. (Including this site.) Well, to say that I was disappointed is an understatement, The Unit is very handsome in it's design and the remote is quite substantial and very versatile in its operation. The ergonomics are also quite understated. Now that's all the good points. As for stereo sound, it is very smooth but really too smooth, you Miss alot of the air within the upper frequency, it just sounds very flat and lifeless. The volume control has to be turned up to practically maximum to gather any appreciable volume at all. The Dolby Digital sound in addition to the DTS sound is also very lifeless and not at dynamic like it should be. Just read sound and Vision to understand a little more in detail the Marantz's faults.

It seems to me that the former Marantz Receivers were of a different caliber than this let down of a receiver.

My recomendation is don't buy it and get a Denon instead.

Equipment used

KEF Q35.2
KEF Q95.2 C
KEF Q15.2
Velodyne SPL 1000
JVD XVD723GD DVD
Audio Alchemy DDE 1.0

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR-3802, Nak AV-10 Onkyo Tx-DS797