Smooth, very quiet, sweet sounding. Will pump out high volumes of sound without distortion. A lot of features, jacks and connectors. The Circle Surround II is great when watching HDTV programs that use the Circle Surround format for 5.1 sound (ABC and ESPN). I also like the multi-room A/V outputs. I enjoy listen to music outsides on my deck.

The SR7400 needs to have good ventilation. This may limit some enclosed audio racks/cabinets.

I purchased this Marantz SR7400 AV Receiver 4 months ago to replace a Marantz SR7000. I really enjoyed the SR7000 however this new receiver has more features and connections. The DPL IIx is a major improvement over the previous DPL. The DPL IIx allows you to listen to regular 2-channel material in 5.1 or 7.1 with a natural sound.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz SR7000, NAD separates, ADCOM

Sound Quality! In a word...GREAT!! I thought my 47lb. Denon sounded good until I heard this one. Very smooth with warmth. The receiver also has plenty of inputs. One feature that was important to me is the ability for upgrade. This one has it through an RS-232 port that the dealer can do. It also comes with the Marantz RC-1400 remote. (This remote is $175 if purchased alone making the SR7400 a better value) I had a Marantz RC-2000mkII that was showing it's age. The RC-1400 can do just about anything the RC-2000 could and is much lighter.

The speakers banana outputs are positioned to wide to accept a standard banana plug. My unit also ran on the very warm to hot side when played at moderately loud volumes (was in a fan cooled cabinet) The older Denon never got this hot. I now use a voltage controlled fan blowing directly down on the top of the unit. It now runs much cooler. At $1000, there are other quality receiveres that offer more features (auto calibration is one) but at $700 this became a real winner.

After looking at just about every receiver out there I settled on the Marantz SR7400. I was replacing my 7 year old Denon AVR-3600 which had only 5.1 surround. I hated to part with this $1800 receiver (not to mention the loss I took in selling it) but due to the new surround formats and the fact that I could not upgrade it, I decided to get a new one. I am now enjoying a 7.1 surround system. WOW!! I purchased a B stock unit as it was $300 less expensive than a 'new' one. I saw no difference in this one except only 1 year warranty vs. 3 years.

Plenty of power to run a full system Smooth sound Crisp detail without harshness Many componenet hookups Upgradablity Remote can be programmed and eliminate the need for several/many remotes Great receiver for under $1,000

None at this time

In my search to upgrade my HT system, I used AudioReview.com extensively in my research. The reviews and articles helped me determine which features were most important to me and determine which products were right for me. After purchasing a set of Definitive Technology speakers (Front Tower, Center, and Surround Speakers), I realized that my Onkyo TXSV-646 would not the job to power these speakers and give me the quality that I wanted. I am a classical musician and choir director, and sound performance (and price) are the most important to me. After researching this site and pricing online, I decided that the features that I wanted could be found for under $1,000. Receivers auditioned: Yamaha RX 1400 Yamaha RXV 2400 Denon 3805 Marantz SR7400 The 1400 had a nice smooth sound, but the mid-tones sounded "muddy". The Denon 3805 had lots of power, but the highs were too crisp and harsh sounding. The Yamaha RXV2400 and Marantz were neck and neck in sound performance. Both have plenty of power. Both have crisp detail without harshness. The Yamaha had a bit more clarity and smoothness when listening to music. The Marantz had a bit more clarity when in HT mode. For performance capability, I would recommend either piece. I purchased the Marantz because my husband liked the upgradability and number of hook-ups in the back. Current system: Def Tech BP2000TL Tower Def Tech CLR 2000 Center Def Tech BPX Surround Def Tech 15TL Subwoofer Marantz SR7400

Similar Products Used:

Kenwood (college days!) Pioneer Onkyo TX SV-646 Reviewed: Denon 3805 Pioneer 1400 & 2400