Pioneer Elite VSX-33 vs. Marantz SR6005

I recently purchased the Marantz SR6005 and here are my initial thoughts. 

Ratings based on similarly priced Receivers.
Audio: 2 channel 4 Mo's, Multichannel 4 Mo's
Video: 3.5 Mo's.  Sub par upscaling.

The Marantz replaced my Pioneer Elite VSX-33.  The main differences between the two AVRs are:
1) Dual HDMI Ouputs on the Elite vs Single HDMI Output on the Marantz
2) True Onscreen GUI overlay on the Marantz.  The Elite's GUI blacks out the source picture.
3) The Marantz has multichannel inputs for use with an older SACD player whereas the Elite is all digital and does not have this option.
4) The Elite is THX Select2 certified and the Marantz is not.  I prefer the THX bass management and prefer watching movies with THX engaged. 

I have the Marantz powering my center (Motif) and surrounds (Montage) just like the Pioneer.  As was the case with the Elite, the Marantz feeds the Emotiva XPA-2 via preamp outputs which powers the fronts (Vantages).

The Marantz had no problems with the Directv 3D channels, n3D and ESPN 3D.  I have not gotten those crazy EDID errors that I was experiencing with the Elite (at least till now).  Same was true with 3D via the PS3.  I used to get the "resolution not supported" errors with the Elite on the 3D channels.  PS3 would simply say that the TV was not a 3D TV.

I ran Audyssey for 3 positions using the supplied mic and my trusted DYNEX tripod.  As usual I got the Phase check error for the fronts and as usual I ignored it.  Audyssey detected all the speakers correctly but like the Elite's MCACC set the MartinLogan Montage speakers incorrectly as Large.  The Vantages were set to full-band which is what I want.  In my room the Vantages produce usable output down to 31hz (verified using a RadioShack SPL meter).  The crossover for the Motif was set to 60hz which is fine I suppose but I changed it to the THX recommended 80hz for both the center and surrounds.

My stance on the crossover deal is simple.  If the SPL does not produce usable (at least 60db at 40 hz) output in your room then the speakers need to be set to Small.  Failure to do so comprises the low frequency reproduction.      

Early impressions (2 channel):
The Marantz can accept sample rates of 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192 khz through the digital coax inputs.  I listened to a number of high resolution and CD quality tracks via my media server and Sonos ZP90 on the Marantz.

Like the "Sound Retriever" on Elite, Marantz uses M-Dax for compressed music.  I prefer the sound of the Elite's Sound Retriever over the M-Dax.  I left this setting off.

The bass seems more well rounded compared to the Elite.  The highs are slightly silkier than the Elite, but the midrange was better on the Elite.  Most of the listening to this point has been in the Pure Direct or Direct mode.  I prefer the Direct mode over the Pure Direct mode because the former keeps the bass management in play. 

My early impression is that Marantz is slightly more musical than the Elite.  However, I reserve the right to change this early opinion.

Topsy (Dick Hyman) and Dacoit Duel (A. R. Rahman) sounded just as good via the Marantz as they did through the Elite.  The difference between the two is subtle, for example, the drums on Topsy were more further back on the Marantz then on the Pioneer, where they sounded more forward.  My professional drummer brother in-law, Mr. White, has also previously commented on the slight forward sounding drums on this track via the Elite.  The correct sound is when the drums are set well back behind the plane of the speakers.   The double bass sounded rich on the Elite but on the Marantz had a more richer and rounded tone to it. 

Multichannel Music:  Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon, is one of my favorite SACDs.  I used the PS3 (Fatty) to send the 5.1 channel, 176.4 khz - PCM signal to the Marantz.  The clocks at the beginning of "Time" were accurately placed high, low and wide.  Surround imaging was good and not too distracting.  I heard more in the surrounds with the Marantz than I have ever heard with any of the Pioneer Elites that I have used in my system.  The Sax Solo by Dick Parry on "Money" is powerful and the Marantz brought out all the highs and lows in the solo. It's a great sax solo but it gets overshadowed by a strong guitar solo that follows.  Needless to say I had fun listening to Pink Floyd on the SR-6005.  I can only imagine how good the SR-7005 or the pre-amp AV-7005 would sound like. 

Movies:  DVD upscaling through the advanced Anchor Bay video processor on the Marantz is decent but not as good as the Marvell's advanced Qdeo video processing used on the Elite.  Elite's upscaling is a notch above.  Bollywood DVDs like Sathiya looked good enough and didn't impress as much as the Elite.  Blu-rays on the other hand were more even.  The biggest difference for me was on the surround mix end, where again I am hearing more in the surrounds with the Marantz than I have ever heard with any of the Elites.  DTS Master Audio track on Master and Commander and True HD track on the Dark Knight were impressive with lots of surround effects all over the damn place.

Conclusion: The Marantz delivers solid audio performance for the money.  Aside from the less than stellar upscaling performance you would be hard pressed to find an AVR better than the SR-6005 in the sub $1000 category.