Page 1 of Choice: Cheap Marantz 5200 or Pricey 4300????

It`s in the title really.

Now that Marantz have released their new range there are a lot of great deals to be had on the 4200 and the 5200. What Hi-Fi recently said that the 4300 was almost identical to the 5200 and from the spec`s I`d suggest that DTS Neo:6 is about the biggest miss from the 5200. Anyone have any practical experience of either? I don`t have any 6.1 options as my room is too small and my listening position is against a wall. I have a guaranteed trade in from Richersounds for my old amp which would go some way towards a 5200 providing Richer can match some of the prices I`ve been quoted. (A 5200 for < £200 anyone?).

Go for the 5200, definitely (that comes with a Westy approval : we were speaking about this receiver on the phone last night, as I`ve been toying with getting the 5300 for a while). As you say, dts Neo is the only thing missing and it ain`t a patch on DPL2 by all accounts (well, according to Westy`s gospel, anyway !), so you can probably live without it.

Now, care to tell me where I can pick up a 5200 for less than £200 (e-mail me at styalc[at]moc.054aera if you don`t wanna go public) because I want one at that price, oh yes indeedy ;-)

Richer are out of stock according to their website, BTW

One thing you should be aware off if you use a turntable through your old amp, is that most new A/v kit and certainly the Marantz has no phono inputs.
hth P.

Clayts, I started writing an email but then felt tight for not going public. Hyperfi have the 5200 for £200 at the moment (and the 4200 for £150). It`s listed on the last page of the most recent hyperfi ad in what hi-fi.

Note - Hyperfi ususally sell graded returns or ex-displays but many of the products in the list have no indication that they are anything other than new so good luck.Hope they have some left!

I`m going to hold off buying until I can audition them both.

Thanks mate - I suspect they will be "ED" or "GR" (Ex Display or Graded) though, at that price.

I`ll ring `em and check tomorrow :-)

Clayts, if they are ED or GR (or even PX - Part exchange) then they should be in trouble with advertising standards because they are not advertised as such.

Have a look at the ad......

http://www.hyperfi.co.uk/7856Page6.pdf

It clearly defines the PX/ED/GR nature of some of the product but many do not have this against the model name. If it does not have one of these against it then it should be sold as new. There is nothing to describe it as otherwise. I`d argue the toss if I were to try and order one for sure.

Having said that if you get a years guarantee does it matter?

This item was edited on Thursday, 20th February 2003, 20:49

Good call - we`ll see what they say :-)

Clayts
Moderator
DVD Reviewer