8k and the Marantz SR6015

[Ty_Tanium]

It’s time for me to replace/upgrade some of the AV equipment in my living room. The plasma TV (very nice picture up until recently) has developed a line running down the middle of the screen and I’m willing to bet the repair would cost more than the TV is worth. The receiver is a very outdated but totally problem free 20 year old 50 pound Yammie RX-V3300 that will finish out the rest of its’ life providing music out in the garage. I haven’t picked out a TV yet (suggestions welcome, somewhere around 50”) but it will be 8k. I have absolutely no doubt the same things will happen with 8k as it did with 4k. As of right now, my choice for a receiver is the Marantz SR6015 simply because it’s one of the very few 8k receivers that still has 7.1 analog pre-ins so I can make use of the very good DAC in the Oppo 203 when I play my SACDs. It’s certainly possible I’ve missed other 8k receivers with 7.1 pre-ins so feel free to post suggestions. My concern with the SR6015 is that I’m fairly sure (at least when it was first released) it uses the Panasonic chips for handling 8k which were well documented trouble makers. Does anyone know for sure if the problems have been corrected, or are they still using the same chips? Has anyone had first hand experience using 8k on this receiver?

 

[Todd Anderson]

Overhaul!

When it comes to TV, if you have a decent budget, I'd look no further Sony and LG's OLED offerings. If you're a gamer and are planning on spending hours and hours gaming, I'd probably look LCD. But, most all other uses, you're going to get the best PQ from OLED.

I think you might be right about the pre-ins on the SR-6015. Definitely unique. I don't think many others offer that... let's see if someone chimes-in.

Yes, Marantz, Denon, and Yamaha all suffered from a hardware issue associated with HDMI2.1 chips. Marantz and Denon are offering affected customers access to a free external conversation box, while Yamaha has announced a hardware replacement program. This issue really only effects customers that are using advanced gaming platforms (specifically XBOX), so it might not be a problem for you. As far as I know, these faulty chips have be abandoned. I'll see if I can get confirmation for you.

 

[Ty_Tanium]

Thanks Todd. Looking forward to what you find out.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Sound United says the new HDMI boards have already been installed in production units. Unfortunately, unlike the new flagship models that have the "A" designation, other AVRs aren't going to carry any delineation on packaging... they say the best way for users to find out if their unit is affected is to call Denon or Marantz customer service with their serial number.

 

[Ty_Tanium]

Good news bad news I guess. It's too bad they didn't say what the magic serial number is or when they had the change over. But at least they fixed it. Thanks for the info Todd. It's appreciated.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Yeah, I agree. It would be nice if there were some kind of designation on boxes (even if it were a sticker). If you go the Marantz/Denon route, definitely make sure you purchase from a reputable/authorized dealer. And make sure there aren't restocking fees on returns. Worst case scenario, Marantz sends you a free HDMI upgrade box, which isn't a terrible outcome.

I guess you could always talk to a retailer and ask them how hold their stock is... or ask for a guarantee that you'll be receiving recent stock. That's where a retailer like @Robert Zohn at Value Electronics comes into play. You can talk to him directly at his shop and he'll have a great idea of what you'll be receiving. If I were in your shoes, I'd make things easy and just reach out to him.

 

[Ty_Tanium]

"Sound" advice! DOH!!! I couldn't resist! It was way too easy! I'll get in touch with Robert. Thanks.