Introduction:

Thanks to DG/Dissociative for providing the template.....

Okay after moving my 7002 on late last year and using a HK 255 as a filler for a short time I decided I needed to get into something a little better again, after doing the usual forum checks I went out and auditioned a few Denons, the HK 655 and the Pio 71 and to cut a long story ended up with a 6003, main reason it absolutely killed the Pio IMO and just has more all round AQ than the others mentioned

Unpacking and set-up:

As one would expect, the Marantz comes securely packaged, single boxed, wrapped in soft covering and nestled in polystyrene. All accessories are neatly bagged and taped to the soft protective covering of the AVR itself.

Whats in the box?
- Marantz SR6003
- RC003SR (main remote control)
- 2 x AAA batteries
- AM loop antenna
- FM antenna
- Audyssey microphone
- Power cable (both Aus and US type)
- User guide (a full inch thick!)



Full dimensions are:
- W: 440mm
- H: 160.5mm
- D: 388mm (incl. binding posts)
- Weight: 13.2kg

Power consumption is 600w. Full specs can be found at http://us.marantz.com/Products/172.asp

Plenty of internal ventilation on this unit but it does run a tad warmer than the 7002

The styling has now changed on the Marantz amps and this unit has the curved front ala the 8003, in fact a few people have asked me when I got the 8003, the GLW normally takes no notice of these things but she did say how nice it looked, so there's a good WAF for those looking for it.

Like most AVR’s these days, the speaker posts are quite close together, making feeding bare wire in a bit of a pain. The section around the binding posts is covered by a plastic shield to prevent contact with the chassis and one thing I really liked was that there is a separate set of binding posts that can be used for powered second zone speakers or bi-amping. There is a small switch on the back to change between multi-zone and bi-amp. I’m not using this at the moment, but probably will in future.


Configuration and settings:

Marantz have finally modernised their Menu and though not brilliant it is a vast improvement on previous models


A few points on set-up:

• The inputs can be renamed to anything you want, up to 10 characters.
• The Audyssey auto-set-up was not used by me at all.
• Whilst the 6003 boasts an OSD, it only works with composite based sources, either when output as composite or up-converted to HDMI etc. I did connect a composite monitor out cable to have a quick look at it and its about as easy on the eye as the menu system itself, so no big loss in my opinion. Here is what it looks like. Presumably this would normally be overlaid on the video source.
• There is a lip-sync setting, that can be manually set at 10ms increments from 0ms – 200ms. As far as I can tell, this applies the delay to all inputs, however there is a lip-sync button on the remote, so presumably it can be turned off/on via that and could be set in a macro. There is also an auto lip-sync feature, but be aware this is a feature of HDMI 1.3a, so requires a compatible HDMI 1.3a, auto lip-sync enabled display to work. I haven,t had any sync issues, so haven,t used this feature.


Video features: per Dissociative 7002 review

Marantz have kept the video processing side of this AVR to the absolute minimum.


The front display of the AVR itself, has a number of indicators etc as to inputs, what signal its receiving etc etc, all the usual stuff. There is however only 1 main line of text on the display, but you can cycle through a number of options via the remote. The only real difference for me with my last AVR was that input and surround mode are no longer displayed at the same time, meaning you have to cycle the display. This has turned out to be no issue at all as I don’t really need constant reminding of what input I’m using and find leaving it on the surround mode works for me. The display can also be turned completely off, which conveniently also turns off the blue lights above the source and volume dials. Pic with display off
One other point of note, while there are 2 HDMI outputs, only 1 can be used at a time, meaning you cant output simultaneously to both. You can however flick between the 2 on the remote.

Audio features:

As per the specs, the 6003 decodes all the main surround formats.

All supported formats play and display correctly.

There is a SOURCE DIRECT mode, that bypasses the tone control circuit, acoustic EQ and bass management. There is also a PURE DIRECT mode that in addition, switches off the video outputs and turns off the display, including all front lights, with the exception of the PURE DIRECT blue light.

**Note: all acoustic EQ modes (incl. Audyssey) are disabled when you bitstream Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus or DTS-HD (MA).


The remote:

Easy to use, cheapish but does the job, in fact for mine it's brilliance is its simplicity, not everyone will like it but gets the job done

Performance:

Movies: I watched several movies pre Elektra and was impressed with the 6003 on it's own, hooked to the Elektra this really puts this unit somewhere between the 7002 and 8002 in my opinion

Music: Punches above it's weight for mine, equally as good as the 7002


Conclusion:

This is essentially a very good amp at the price, Marantz seem to have improved the processing side over the 002 models adding more dynamics and a fuller sound field, please note I am only watching Blu ray movies and listening to CD's so I cannot advise on DVD quality, this should be a must audition for any one considering 2K models.

Marantz have not really changed anything on this over the 002 models other than to improve audio processing and the menu, one feels that they have taken the prior models and just given them the necessary tweaks to enhance AQ.

Obvious question is how do you think your combo would compare to a $5000 receiver?

This set up is much better future proofed than a single unit as the Elektra should last forever.....

good review yorac

its a strange product the 6003, in terms of placement with the 7002 - which it seems (on paper) basically the same as. very interesting that you found it to be a bit better in some ways. but then really the 7002/8002 are overdue imo for an update and i suspect they will be the first 004 models in the marantz range.

glad to hear they have finally updated the GUI, still some work to do on that though by the sounds of it. would be nice to have volume at least overlaid on any source or output.

nice also that the marantz reference chassis has trickled down the range, certainly much easier on the eye than the old marantz design imo (which i could only stomach in black!). it is though hard to tell them all apart now though, so understandable that one could mistake the 6003 for the 8003!

anyway, great to hear its doing the job and given the 7002 sounded pretty darn good imo, to say the 6003 is even better, suggests its a real winner - especially at that price.

imo, definately should be on the short list for anyone looking for a sub $2.5k'ish AVR.

Where did you see the 655??? Rumor has it that it is not being brought out at all anymore and certainly not being brought into australia by the importer. Would be wary of these as it sounds a bit dodgy. Unless all that has changed.

http://www.digitalcentre.com.au/p/546920/h...e-receiver.html

Did you actually see one there though?? Sorry.........I'm not rying to be obnoxious i'm just truly interested, as I know that they haven't been bought in officially if they have got them so that would most likely mean no warranty etc. They have had that up on their website for a fair while but i just assumed it was a pr-emptive thing. They are not on either the Harman/Kardon website or the e-hifi website. Just think people should be aware of this is all.

Regards,

Drew

Seen and heard at a private GTG mate, and it was claimed to have been bought through Digital Centre, I bought my W5000 through them, give Robert a call he's good to deal with

Interesting...............if that is the case then it can only of come in from overseas but the brand manager from Convoy told me that the 655 and 755 aren't coming out at all anymore, and instead the two new models are going to be 660 and 760 and they won't be out yet etheir. So i'd be very interested to know whee there one came from.

Almost to tough to answer in that a 5k Receiver is obviously going to out perform many things on the basis of better internal componentry just for starters....

probably the best way I can compare it for you is to say I've heard Denon, Marantz, Onkyo, Yamaha receivers at and around the 5K price point and would say my combo is giving me about 90% of that type of performance for HT performance, I don't do a lot of 2 channel listening currently so can't give any ideas there.....

bottom line, I'm happy with my choices and believe the 6003/Elektra combo punches well above it's weight

At the end of the day that is all that matters.

Thanks for the review yorac.....gives me much to think about!

I think the 6003 may be a nice interim step as I don't think either the finances (or the financial controller) will let both through this decade!

Would be interesting if a novice ear (such as mine ) can pick between the 6003 and AV8003 in the pre-amp stakes using the same power amp (whether it be the Elektra or MM8003)?

good review thx

Very interesting.......someone from there must have seen this thread!! It's been removed from there website now.

Sorry for the off topic slant Yorac. It was not my intention.

Regards,

Drew

Picked up one of these today to replace my Denon 3805. Got it from a HN which still had the old RRP at 1900 - so managed to get a decent price without too much haggling at all (most quotes I got had been around the $1800 mark with the new RRP of $2200).

Got a conference to attend for the next few days so won't get a chance to set it up and test it out until the Easter weekend ... looking forward to hearing it in action though! Yorac's review and many glowing owner opinions on it swayed me towards it after considering similar offerings from Yamaha and Denon. After auditioning it today I was sold!

Looking forward to your though here mate

Thanks Yorac and forgot to mention, great review.

Hooked this up a couple of nights ago - I run VAFs gen IIIs DCXs fronts, DC6 centre and gen IV DC7 rears with a Richter Thor Mk IV. Have bitstreamed from the XE1 and blu ray via a PS3 (PCM of course). Got a proper chance to stretch its legs today. Have to say that I am very happy with the purchase with such a noticeable difference from my 3805 that even my wife had positive things to say about it!

Played a few tracks from John Mayer's Blu Ray Concert DVD, and the chase scene from Ronin to test out the PS3. Huge difference from before as I was only running an optical cable then. Best way to describe it is that the sound is fuller and cleaner and now I know what everyone means when they say Marantz amps are musical. I thought the Denon was a warm sounding amp (for music) but this is even warmer. Was so suitably impressed that although I'm itching to get a standalone blu ray player, I think I won't need to for a while because the PS3 performance was a real improvment from my pre-6003 days.

Then tested out the Eagles live in Melbourne and again thought this was an improvement over the Denon through the analogue inputs. I know there shouldn't be a huge difference, but the bass was cleaner and the vocals fuller. Loved seeing the correct lights come up too . Watched the polar express and for the first time in my daughter's two and a bit years she sat through a whole movie without moving. This was "only" DD plus, but again, we were all impressed by the improvement in sound over the Denon.

Have only listened to one song on CD through the XE1 - a Liz Wright track... can't comment a lot about 2 channel performance yet, but from this short experience was again happy with the improvement over the Denon.

We only really needed to listen at -20db and it felt as though the Marantz had a lot more oomph in it if required. Am certainly pleased with the update - it was either a new amp or a new tv to replace the hitachi 8900... glad we got the amp because the hitachi performs well and we only sit a smidge over 2-2.5 metres from it. I thought it would be difficult to let go of the denon, but am not missing it much at all at the moment!

Bad points? Can't think of much as yet. It has enough inputs to attach all 7 of our devices to it and works well with the Harmony remote. Yorac covered most things in his review. I haven't tried the Audyssey yet either (seems to get mixed opinions from owners) - it's usually only my wife and I when we watch movies and we're not much taller than 5 feet so can usually fit together in the middle of the couch

Cheers Tef glad you're happy with it, you will no doubt notice further improvement with a decent standalone BR

Don't tempt me with further upgrades ... am already contemplating upgrading my topfield masterpiece and purchasing a stand alone blu ray player ... then I think about power amps and a second sub ... it's never ending.

Back on topic though - I'm surprised that there aren't further threads on the 6003 on these forums - there's a large one on AVS and I think it should really be on the audition list for those looking at the Yamaha 1900, Denon 2809 etc.

Ran the Audyssey calibration tonight. It got all the distances right except the SW - set it at > 4metres, when it's only about 2.7 metres. It also said my surrounds were large and my fronts were small which I didn't think was right (DCX fronts, DC7 rears). I won't get into the large or small debate now but I prefer running my speakers as small so I changed that. It also set the crossover at 120Hz, but I changed that to 80Hz. It appeared to calibrate the levels for 80dbs and it was spot on with all the speakers, but the SW was about 3-4db too low so I adjusted that manually.

Have only had a chance to run a couple of music tracks off the John Mayer blu ray for my daughter (PCM via PS3) and I think it does sound better ... it fills the room more than without Audyssey. Am not sure yet if I prefer it, but may keep it on the Audyssey settings for a couple of weeks and see how it goes. Will test out a few movie scenes and report back.

Spent the last couple of days tweaking the audyssey settings after spending a lot of time on the official audyssey thread over at avs forums ... the CTO of the company is very active on that thread and offers some good advice.

The sub distance is based on sound delay rather than physical distance, and audyssey recommend all speakers set to small (the large/small thing is decided by the receiver). They also seem to suggest starting at a crossover of 120Hz to begin with, and recommend not adjusting the level of the SW based on the analogue sound meter (they believe the audyssey microphones are more accurate). I have therefore changed back the SW distance and level and the crossover to audyssey recommendations. So far am quite liking it but will have to give it a bit more time and auditioning. The sound is more dynamic and fuller for the room but this may not be to everyone's tast. I think it's worthwhile to run it and experiencing it, but of course if you bitstream all your audio then it's not possible to use the audyssey settings ... I am at present still using a PS3 with PCM so have been sticking with the audyssey eq effects through that for now.

Hi 6003ers... I have a question wrt bass management and the 2ch direct modes.

I noticed in Yoracs original post he mentioned Source and Pure Direct modes forego BM - is this correct? Is there any direct based 2ch mode that allows bass management to remain intact or at the very least send sub80Hz info to the LFE channel along with running the mains as full band?

Cheers

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone has picked up one of these lately. My old Onkyo tx-sr600 blew up on the weekend and I have been eyeing off the 6003. Any advice on where to pick one up and what a good price is would be greatly appreciated.

where do you live?

In Victoria, A couple of hours out of Melbourne

I was quoted $1879 in Perth this week...

Nice, I've heard of mid 1600's in Melbourne at Hardly's

Thanks for the review.

I was in H/N Moore Park last weekend and they had a sale sticker price of $1859 but the guy said if I was serious we could talk further 'cos the boss needed to clear some' (they had 6 boxes)..

At that price you may be better off getting it shipping from Singapore.
A unit there costs about SING$ 8xx before shipping. See the shipping thread for more info.

ended up getting it from HN for 1625.. pretty happy with that

I just picked up a unit for $1600 from lifestyle store in Nth Parramatta - I quoted the HN $1625 price in this thread and they beat it on the spot.

They also had the SR6001 for $1199 on sale, but i think the 6003 is worth the extra $400

A big thankyou to others for posting so we all get good pricing.

Absolutely no doubt about that, well done

These are getting cheaper. I picked on up from HN the other day for less again. Makes a superb pre. in my system.

Had a business trip to KL, Malaysia last week and picked up a SR6003 there for ~$1250 (declared it on the way in through customs but they just waved me through :-) )

Now have to decide on Blu-ray player.... want good upscaling for existing DVD collection and region free... connecting to a Marantz SR6003 - any thoughts (is it worth getting an Oppo for 7.1 out if I can use HDMI into the Marantz, or should I go for a panasonic BD60?).

Cheers Matt I have both the Oppo and Sony 5000es hooked up to my 6003 but also have an elektra, if you're thinking long term with all round ability the Oppo is what you want

Excellent review thank you.
I have a marantz sr6001 and have a ps3 connected to it through hdmi. I believe it is sending dts master audio and Dolby HD through PCM. If I upgrade to the sr6003 with I get any benefit through bitstreaming the signal? I have been think of upgrading simply to have two hdmi outputs. One for the tv other for the pj.

It still looks like the sr6003 is a little lite on the hdmi input deparment.

Do you think there will be a new model to replace it this year or next.

I have been overwelmed with my sr6001 so I have really high expetations for the sr6003

thanks again for the review.

Sten

Definitely new models not far away and probably worth waiting mate

Good review.

Tell me, I just shelled out $1200 for new SR5003. I thought I got a decent price, until I read the prices you guys are paying for the next model up. Is there a huge difference between the 5003 and 6003, especially in terms of sound quality?

Comparison here