Marantz SR7300ose AV Receiver

Today's AV receivers pack in a lot of features and functionality for the home theater enthusiast, and, at a very reasonable price. The Marantz SR7300ose is one such receiver that includes all the functionality you would expect, but adds a few features not seen in most receivers in its price range.

Overview

The SR7300ose is one of the latest AV receivers from the legendary Marantz, and pulls no punches on features or performance. Its discrete 6-channel amplifier supplies 110 RMS WPC into standard 8 ohm loads. It has all needed front and rear analog/digital AV connections as well as 7.1 channel analog inputs for an external surround sound decoder or SACD/DVD-Audio sources. SR7300 also offers 2-channel second zone input and output. The SR7300ose also offers AV switching of composite, S-video, and component sources. The SR7300ose can also decode DTS 96kz/24bit audio and is also equipped with 192khz/24bit DACs on all channels.

In addition to multi-format DD/DTS surround decoding, the 73000ose also has Pro Logic II, DTS Neo:6, and SRS Circle Surround II, which create effective 5.1/6.1 channel surround fields from two channel sources. In addition, its built-in HDCD decoder unleashes the extra audio quality hidden in many HDCD-encoded CDs. Other audio options include 7-channel stereo and Virtual Surround. Virtual Surround allows a 5 or 6 channel mixdown into two channels, without losing the content from the surround channels, thus, providing a wider soundfield than a normal stereo signal.

This funtion is useful if you only have a two-speaker setup.

Other functional features include a front headphone jack, two rear convenience power outlets (one switched/one unswitched), and, of course, a remote control with LCD display. Last, but not least, the SR7300ose also has an RS232 connection for future firmware upgradability or installation of total system control functions. The SR7300ose weighs in at a respectable 32 pounds and has an MSRP of $1299.

Testing Setup

Components used in the evaluation inlcuded a Denon DCM-370 CD/HDCD Changer, Panasonic LX-1000 Laserdisc Player, Pioneer DV-525 DVD player, Philips DVDR985 DVD Recorder, a Yamaha YST-SW205 powered subwoofer, and an Optoma H56 DLP video projector. A variety of loudspeakers, in both matched and mismatched setups were used. All line-level (including subwoofer) and digital audio connections between components were made with Cobalt interconnect cables.

A sampling of the software used included standard CDs: HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Pink Floyd: Dark Side Of The Moon (2003), Nora Jones: Come Away With Me, Lisa Loeb: Firecracker (HDCD), Blondie: Live (HDCD), Telarc: 1812 Oveture. One Laserdisc was used: Godzilla 1998.

DVDs used included: Godzilla 1998, Jurassic Park III, The Mummy/The Mummy Returns, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, Artificial Intelligence, and U571(DTS). DVD-Audio/DTS music discs: Queen: Night At The Opera/The Game, Eagles: Hotel California, Alan Parsons: On Air. Portions of other software titles in the above categories were used as well.

Proceed to page 2 (at the link below right), for the results and conclusion relating the Marantz SR7300ose.

~ Robert Silva