9 replies to this topic

[troykm]

Per my other thread I've had to get my Marantz PM6004 replaced which i will pick up tomorrow. but i also have the chance to change my purchase if i want to. I am a once bitten twice shy kinda guy so I'm not certain i want the marantz again.

I'm looking now at the CA Azur 651A, does anyone on here know much about that one or have one at home? i would like an opinion on it VS the PM6004 if possible :-)

even brand vs brand would be a help too.

thanks

troy

PS- i did like the sound of the marantz, its only the faulty unit making me reconsider.

[AudioGeek]

Not sure if this will be that helpful, but from my entirely subjective experience the Marantz house sound is more musical and easier to listen to than the CA. If NAD is an option, I also prefer this to CA.

[troykm]

Marantz house sound is more musical and easier to listen to than the CA.

thank you that was exactly what i wanted to hear, many thanks :-)

[L J T]

Problems aside, were you happy with the Marantz and how it fitted in with the rest of your equipment?

I would stick with the brand if you are happy with it.

In reality, failure rates of electronics exist. Unfortunately you had a unit with problems. I am interested to see what the issue is with it.

[Cafad]

If you liked the Marantz sound then definitely stick with them. I know on my system Cambridge and Marantz have a fairly different sound, Marantz more musical, Cambridge richer and smoother. They are both quality companies that make good gear but I don't think you'll find many people claiming that they sound similar.

[Dismord]

Per my other thread I've had to get my Marantz PM6004 replaced which i will pick up tomorrow. but i also have the chance to change my purchase if i want to. I am a once bitten twice shy kinda guy so I'm not certain i want the marantz again.

I'm looking now at the CA Azur 651A, does anyone on here know much about that one or have one at home? i would like an opinion on it VS the PM6004 if possible :-)

even brand vs brand would be a help too.

thanks

troy

PS- i did like the sound of the marantz, its only the faulty unit making me reconsider.

I've hear the Cambridge you're thinking about drive Mordant Short speakers with a metal ( aluminium?) tweeter and found the treble savage beyond belief. That could have been the nature of the tweeter. In general though I find all Marantz's recent two channel offerings worth every cent . This company is on a role but sadly they aren't esoteric enough for many audiophools to even bother auditioning them. Their loss. And horrors ! Some of them even have balance and tone controls and we can't have that, can we?

[Juicester]

I've hear the Cambridge you're thinking about drive Mordant Short speakers with a metal ( aluminium?) tweeter and found the treble savage beyond belief. That could have been the nature of the tweeter. In general though I find all Marantz's recent two channel offerings worth every cent . This company is on a role but sadly they aren't esoteric enough for many audiophools to even bother auditioning them. Their loss. And horrors ! Some of them even have balance and tone controls and we can't have that, can we?

agree on most fronts - it's only the more expensive marantz gear that i think loses out, as it doesn't punch at its price/perf ratio as well as others inmho. Anything 8 series and down is pretty solid for the dosh, and I've always been a fan of the forward and slightly warm Marantz House sound...

Edited by jcjuice, 18 April 2012 - 04:57 PM.

[Time_Lord]

I've hear the Cambridge you're thinking about drive Mordant Short speakers with a metal ( aluminium?) tweeter and found the treble savage beyond belief. That could have been the nature of the tweeter. In general though I find all Marantz's recent two channel offerings worth every cent . This company is on a role but sadly they aren't esoteric enough for many audiophools to even bother auditioning them. Their loss. And horrors ! Some of them even have balance and tone controls and we can't have that, can we?

Interesting point you made about the CA and the mordaunt Short speakers. I once tried the CA650 with the Aviano 2, and it was just a bad match between the 2. I find speakers that would be similar to my class (Diamond 9.3) be a good pairing, well at least with the CA650 anyways (don't know if 651 is that much different)

[agisthos]

You should try the Marantz PM7004. There is a large difference between the 6004 and 7004. i do not say this by personal listening experience, but based on what i have seen regarding the internal design. The 5004 and 6004 are budget products that use a lot of IC's and other shortcuts. The 7004 is the first in the range that starts to have a dedicated audiophile type design and components.

just a thought.

[Kamikaze]

What speakers have you got?
I have a PM7003 with Monitor Audio RX6s. I have tried both CA products and Marantz and ended up deciding the Marantz were a better choice in my set up.
Nice warmth and musicality in the Marantz sound. CA sounded a bit more clinical and I couldn't enjoy it with my speakers.
I also agree the 7 series is a huge step up from 6.