Looking to find a better receiver

Looking to find a receiver that would be better than my Marantz SR4021. I've read that Rotel is pretty nice. Originally sold for around $800. I'm kinda leaning towards the RX-975.

Would any of these be an upgrade?

Rotel RX-975
Rotel RX-1050
Nakamichi RE-1
Integra DTM 5.9

Phono preamp is important as well as driving my Polk Monitor 7C's

 

Tough call without actually hearing them side by side. Not sure how much (if any) they would improve over your Marantz.

What's your total budget you are looking to stick to?

 

Do you actually need a tuner or would an intergrated amp be an acceptable option? That seems to be where all the good stuff is these days.

 

Do you actually use the AM/FM tuner section of the receiver? If not, I'd recommend looking for an integrated amplifier instead.

 

Sometimes I use FM, but not much.

Inputs:

Phono
CD
Dish Hopper
WD-TV Live Hub
TV

The Rotels seem like good deals.

Budget is around $200 used. Maybe up to $300. Remote control required.

Thought about the Onkyo A9050 to match my C7030 Cd player.

 

What's so wrong with your Marantz that you think it could be improved by spending $200?

 

I guess nothing really. It's that GAS compulsion to find deals.....

Mainly it was seeing I could get a Rotel for a good price and thinking maybe it had a bit better sound.

I would probably have to spend quite a bit to best the Marantz. Probably a PM6005 integrated would be a step up

 

With the Marantz working well. Smile & be happy. Order up some extra music with the extra cash. ENJOY the Marantz more with the extra tunes!

 

Yeah, I'm just INSANE. The Marantz works and sounds good. I bought it with remote for $100. It's the version before the current SR4023 which was $499 new.

 

Yup, save your money. If you need encouragement beyond your legitimate personal enjoyment of it, know that it's been a well-reviewed piece over the years.

I have Marantz in the 5.1 room, and Rotel in the 2-ch room. Both of a similar vintage to what you're considering. Early '00s and late '90s respectively. The Marantz is more "lush", the Rotel more "detailed." Neither is better, just different. It's the way each brand has been deliberately "voiced" over the years. They're old, and I have no incentive to upgrade either. They just work.

But that's me. You know the real truth: You would have to compare them side-by-side to know for sure. Potentially a costly proposition. $200 won't cover it. Not a guarantee, but I bet you would not experience the improvement you anticipate.

 

Realistically to get into equipment that's a noticeable step up you're probably looking at spending closer to a grand, maybe $600 if buying used.

 

Onkyo TX-NR818 if you can get one.

Better than the following 828 and 838, the sound quality is excellent and build is hard to fault. Wouldn't swap mine out in a hurry.

 

How about a Marantz PM7200?

 

Personally I would spend the $200 on an internet tuner. Such a component will allow access to a mind-blowing number of music sources, literally from all around the planet. Some examples in that range.......

Sangean WFT-1
Grace Audio "Tuner"
Yamaha NP-S2000 (well, not around two hundred, but just wanted to show range of quality available)

FYI: all the above can stream music from a PC (formats can vary though).

FYI2: quite a few standalone internet radios (usually less expensive than the above) include RCA outputs & pretty much all include a headphone jack, so AFAIK you could - like I do with mine - hook them up to a receiver via that output.

 

Ignore this. I misread your budget as $1200!

 

I have a wd-tv live hub for flac and internet radio.

 

When I can afford to upgrade I'll probably look for a used PM8003/8004/8005 integrated. Maybe the Yamaha A-S700 as well.

For now, the Marantz powers my polks just fine and sounds good to me.

 

Maybe Nakamichi TA-2A or TA-3A?

 

Was looking at used Arcam A65/75 and rega mira 3 integrateds

 

Go for the Gold, save a little money, buy a McIntosh MAC 1700, MAC 1900, or MAC 4100 or newer and be free of upgrades. Will outlast Onkyo, Rotel, NAD, and other lesser models with ease and better supported. No more or little more money. Buy from www.mcintoshaudio.com, one year warranty. Tom Manley will give you great support, backed by Terry DeWick. And a lasting investment with care.

 

Now all I need to do is win the powerball lottery

 

They are not as expensive as some think used either. $1000-$1100 will buy you a nice one.

 

Sounds cool. How is it better than streaming from a tablet or whatever? (Hint: the reason I ask is sometimes I feel like listening to African music or whatever, but can be frustrated by stuff not working/dead links)