When Sony doesn't satisfy, but Mark Levinson is out of reach.
Written: Apr 15 '03 (Updated Sep 16 '05)
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Pros: Clean sound, solid build, strong performance for movies and music.
Cons: (Relatively)Expensive, Modest wattage, Snotty Authorized Dealers.
The Bottom Line: See Overall Below. Leave a comment.
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| symbiosis's Full Review: Marantz SR-5200 6.1 Channels Receiver |
A receiver is the heart of your home theater system. The nicest speakers, most expensive components, even the finest recordings will not sound as good if powered by a cheap receiver. Most audiophiles would say no receiver sounds good compared to separate preamp and amplifier setups, but reality dictates that many of us cannot justify the extra cost of the finest setups.
So where does the Marantz SR5200 fit in? This is a unit for people who are serious about sound, and are willing to spend a bit more than your super-mass market receivers cost, but who only have about $500 to spend. If this describes your needs, read on.
Features
Dolby Digital and DTS Decoding
Of course. You would not want to buy a receiver without Dolby Digital surround unless you are only concerned with music. Dolby Digital is the new dominant surround format, and it is far superior to older Dolby Pro Logic. DTS is usually a noticeable, yet small, improvement over Dolby Digital.
High Current Power
This will give you a richer, more full-bodied sound. Kind of like choosing a fine roasted gourmet coffee instead of Hills Brothers. Sure, they both get the job done, but you will enjoy the high current sound more.
Digital Inputs
All the better to process your bitstreams with. Many DVD players no longer have built in Dolby Digital (DD) or DTS decoders. Therefore, to experience high quality digital surround, you will need to send the signal from your DVD player to your receiver via a digital cable. There are two main types of digital cable, Optical and Coaxial. Nobody seems to agree which is better. I will tell you that the quality of the cable matters more than the type. The SR5200 has 2 optical and 2 coaxial inputs.
Power
How much power do you need? Are you looking to play your music at volumes high enough to annoy the block and summon the police? If so, this is NOT the receiver for you. However, the 85 watts of high current power this model provides will effectively fill a small to medium sized room with a satisfying amount of sound. This is nice, clean power, with discrete amplifier stages, hand-picked components, and thoughtful internal bracing, so you can turn it up and it will still sound clear and crisp.
I should also note that many cheaper brand receivers try to make their amplifiers sound more powerful by rating them at 6 ohms or rating the power at only one frequency, 1kHz, instead of the full audible range. Marantz does not play those games. This receiver is rated 75 watts a channel, into 8 ohms, 20-20,000Hz. So the SR-5200 is actually MORE powerful than any cheaper "100-watt" receivers that use these tricks when calculating their specifications.
Dolby Pro-Logic II
For media, such as old VHS tapes, only encoded in Dolby Pro-Logic surround. This will beef up your rear channels, and actually process the surround so you have a discrete left and right surround channel, instead of both just playing the same thing. It is a more satisfying way of listening to older media, but is not as enjoyable as DD or DTS surround.
Appearance
The SR5200 has a rather distinguished appearance. The faceplate is metal alloy, rather than plastic. The lettering is in gold, tasteful and discrete.
The Remote
The remote provided is a preprogramed multi-device remote. You enter a code for the brand of component you want it to control. Sometimes there are nine or ten codes, and you will have to keep trying until you find the right one. Programming is not too difficult, and when you are done it will control most of the functions of most of your devices, unless you have really obscure brands. The design of the remote is fairly good, and it does its job well.
Build Quality
The build quality seems very solid for the price range. The weight is a respectable 28 lbs. As mentioned before, internal cross bracing, precise components, and internal shielding were just a few of the considerations that went into the design of this receiver. The speaker outputs are 5-way binding posts. Unfortunately, the power cord is not detachable, and the RCA jacks aren't gold plated. Such refinements lie upstream a few hundred dollars.
Sound/Video Quality
The true test of a receiver. First I will tackle the video. The SR5200 does not seem to significantly change the video signal which is passed through it. Video from both DVD (via S-video) and VCR (composite) are both good.
The sound is what makes this receiver truly stand out on a higher tier than the Sonys and JVCs. The sound from a VHS player or satellite TV is excellent. Dolby Digital or DTS from a DVD player (in this case a inexpensive Toshiba) is crisp, clean, and detailed. This unit also functions well for music. In fact, it gives my more expensive Onkyo receiver a run for its money in the music department. Music from a CD player, via an optical digital cable, is full-bodied, accurate, and intricate. Compared to a Best Buy type receiver, this Marantz provides more textured bass, more accurate treble, and a generally more complete overall sound.
The Negatives
So far this has been a pretty glowing review. Do I own stock in Marantz? Nope. No review is complete without some silly gripes. Most, if not all, of these are common in the price range.
Non-detachable Power Cord
Yep, if you want to replace this with a high quality audiophile type power cord, you are out of luck.
Nickel-plated RCA Jacks
Can one tell the difference in sound quality between nickel and gold? I'm not sure, but I would still rather have gold-plated. I believe gold conducts a bit better, and certainly looks nicer.
Sold by Snotty HiFi Shops Only
Alright, so maybe the salesmen at your local hi-fi shop which carries Marantz won't be snotty. There are two authorized dealers near me. From those two, I have talked to about six or seven salesmen, of which only one was both remotely competent and not a complete jerk. Guess which one got my commission? I may look young, but I know a thing or two about electronics and have money to spend. I'm not sure where they find these oafs, but I seriously think your average 18-year old working the electronics section at Circuit City would make a better salesperson than most of them.
Oh, yeah, and there is one authorized online dealer, Cambridge Soundworks. They offer competitive prices and a 45 day satisfaction guarantee, if you can wait a week or so for delivery.
Overall
This is a good choice for those who want a higher tier of quality, have a small to mid-size room, and have respect for the wonders of their auditory sense. While slightly more expensive and less powerful than the Best Buy/Circuit City crowd, the refinement makes it worthwhile, and the price still won't leave you in debt for decades.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 500
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symbiosis
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Reviews written: 49
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Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers
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