CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

CIR Engineering

Any owners here? I actually haven't had any hands on experience with the unit... none of my clients have the 8802A that I recall.

Any reasons or problems folks have had that should keep me away? Mostly it seems to be incredibly well regarded.

Thanks guys!

craigr

CIR Engineering · Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 12:36 am Post subject:

Other thing is I would probably sell my Integra 80.1... Anyone know what a near mint 80.1 goes for these days? There have been only a few sold on eBay over the past year and they seem to go for around $400. This seems incredibly low to me Shocked

I'm not sure I would even sell the 80.1 for $400, it seems like it may be better to keep it as a backup.

craigr

GREG1292 · Joined: 10 Oct 2006 Posts: 417 Location: indiana

We sell that as well as Anthem and most customers have bought the
new MRX-1120 or 720 over the Marantz. Both are good just depends
on what speakers you have and what your goal is as each amp will react
different. Both will be a nice upgrade over the Integra 80.1. Anthem is
overall cleaner sounding and better room correction. But again it depends
on the speakers you own.

CIR Engineering · Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 1:28 am Post subject:

I suppose Anthem and Paradigm should make a nice combination, but I have a lot of clients with Anthem audio processors and they seem to have continuous issues with them. The reliability of the Anthem audio processors has me worried, have they improved? I really don't want a boutique piece of hardware that is finicky, I just want to set it up and use it and have it work all the time. For me, my theater needs to be reliable. I work on projectors all day and when I use my theater I want to relax and have fun, not sit there and tweak the darn thing or worry about the third time I am sending a unit back for repair or upgrade. I love the idea of the Anthem 1120, but...

I don't have the ceiling speakers yet so they are open to options.

Fronts are Paradigm Studio 100's V1 from 1996.
Center is Paradigm CC-690 from a few years back.
Surrounds and rear surrounds are Paradigm ADP-450's from about 2004.
Subs are two Paradigm Servo 15 units.

Amps are all Acurus from 1996. There are two A250's and two A200x3 (these are all the same amplifier boards).

Right now the three front speakers are all biamped. I would probably just take one of the L/R amps and use it for the ceiling speakers. I could leave the center biamped, or just have one channel unused if having only the center biamped is a problem.

I'm a hard core video professional, but only a devoted hobbyist with regard to audio. So any suggestions or help will be greatly appreciated.

FWIW whatever unit I choose I can get at or below dealer cost and I would like to do this as inexpensively as possible... obviously Wink

.

Thanks for your help,
craig

GREG1292 · Joined: 10 Oct 2006 Posts: 417 Location: indiana

I am more an audio guy vs video so I understand. I get them free
myself. The Anthem with your setup the preamp would be superior.
With the revisions with the HDMI boards not really having any problems
but the early ones were troublesome. The new ARC is in a league of it
own at the price. Your speakers and amps will thank you. I run alot of
movies thru cinema movie and play music as well. Has a sweet analog
sound to it. The Marantz will sound thin and distant with details just
not there. Like a VDC projector without MP mods. Good luck with your
decision you have a nice setup.

CIR Engineering · Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 4:32 am Post subject:

Does your opinion change at all if I were to tell you that this system is for theater only? I will not be listening to any music on this system.

I have a separate audio system for music in another room.

I'm a believer in good room correction though, and you saying that the Anthem has better is truly giving me pause.

Thanks again,
craigr

GREG1292 · Joined: 10 Oct 2006 Posts: 417 Location: indiana

For me it does not change there new preamp is amazing just do your
research and go with what your happy with. The Anthem is an amazing hometheater processor. Both is a nice upgrade to the Integra. Good luck

CIR Engineering · Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 2:04 pm Post subject:

So I hadn't really been interested in the Anthem's until you brought them up and as such I wasn't familiar with their current model line. It looks like the AVM60 is what I should be concentrating on, not the 1120.

Is there any reason I should consider their receivers of the preamps?

craigr

GREG1292 · Joined: 10 Oct 2006 Posts: 417 Location: indiana

No go for the preamp you have power amps. But the 1120 will have about same performance and power you vmcan use for biamping. But preamp is what I would do.

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

I can't comment on the Anthem, but have heard that the Marantz is better than the Integra.

I will say to stay away from Emotiva. I got an ear full from Rocco about it after suggesting it to him. He said the build quality is great but it has noise that his NAD doesn't. He speculated that it is poor power supply design.

CIR Engineering · Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 6:10 pm Post subject:

CIR Engineering · Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 11:21 pm Post subject:

So after talking to a couple other dealer friends today I am leaning heavily towards the 8802A again, but using Audyssey Pro instead of the built in Audyssey for room correction. Thoughts Greg?

craigr

ecrabb · Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 12:49 am Post subject:

Craig, on your pricing on the 80.1, you're probably about right. I sold my Integra DHC-9.9 just under a year ago for $425. Listed at $450, was offered $400, and countered $425. It was like-new in box with manual and accessories. Local sale to a fellow enthusiast whose slightly older AVR had died and wanted to upgrade to separates.

Wait... DTR-80.1 or DHC-80.1? The DHC (prepro) will be less resalable since the enthusiast who wants separates is more inclined to want the latest/greatest. If AVR, it'll appeal to a wider audience I think.

I've been hearing some good things about the Anthem lately including ARC... I'd strongly consider it vs. the Marantz.

However... Is there any reason you're not considering the AV7702mkII over AV8802A? I've all be settled on the AV7702mkII. For me, I just can't see how I can get enough value out of the 8802 to spend all the extra cash. I think you would be in the same boat as me - especially since you're not a hard-core audio guy.

I'm thinking about either going with the 7702 and then upgrading in a couple of years, or more likely, using the significant cost-savings to add a MiniDSP with Dirac Live and have kick-ass room correction. I heard they were even working on a version with 11 or 12 channels for room correction of all channels, including the 3D audio channels, though I'm not sure when that will be.

Cheers,
SC

CIR Engineering · Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 5:10 am Post subject:

Spanky Ham · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 5643 Location: Comedy Central

hal · Joined: 28 Nov 2012 Posts: 100

Craig, this is an interesting thread.. I've also spent hours looking at the top 4 units.. Anthem, Marantz 7702mk2, 8802A, and Denon. I have had a older Marantz that has never let me down. I have also narrowed it down to the 7702mk2.. I think that in the theater we won't hear the difference. I have a separate listening room for 2 channel and Audio Research gear.. So the 7702 might be all we need. \

Pricing, has anyone seen anything less than $1,850? Maybe we can get a group buy going?

CIR Engineering · Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 8:50 pm Post subject:

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 4:50 pm Post subject:

CIR Engineering · Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 4:58 pm Post subject:

CIR Engineering · Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 5:06 pm Post subject:

I also went through some of my clients and found one who owned both the Anthem AVM60 and Marantz 8802A. He said he dumped the Anthem after three months due to a lot of problems including trouble with the room correction not working properly, some issues with locking onto HDMI and then blasting his speakers one of which was then blown, and several other issues. He agreed that the room correction was better on the Anthem, when it worked.

This report is what always has me worried about Anthem. Another of my clients had all of the tweeters and mids blow up TWICE when the anthem sent a high volume spike through his system.

So maybe the Anthem's are the best now as Greg suggests, but it's not like the 8802A sucks and I just don't want to take the risk. My theater is a source of relaxation and I don't want that to change.

craigr