The Marantz SR7011 A/V is the brainchild of D+M Group. It has two elder siblings that are beefier; the 7012, and the 8012, but they are slighter more expensive. The SR7011 cost half as a much as the 8012 and the SR7011 will serve most people faithfully.
Design
The design of this Receiver is not too dissimilar to the cosmetic look that Marantz reserve for their tops model. The design is one of elegance and simplicity. It has a curved front panel with a small-ringed porthole display in the center. It also has two big knobs are placed on either side and a power button on the surface. The SR7011 isn’t much to look at— It’s design makes it easy to confuse the SR7011 with a cheaper model, but once you pop the flip down door, beneath the porthole; you will be greeted with a second (much larger) display.
The second much larger display is not only more easy to read, but also comes with a plethora of ports that will make your life a whole easier. You can control the different listening modes with the graphic user interface, also the dedicated buttons for the Audyssey Dynamic and Dynamic Volume modes— along with the direct and pure direct modes are sure to give you a better audio experience. The M-DAX mode is also not bad can gussy up any MP3.
To put it simply the built quality of the SR7011 is excellent. It boasts excellent material, elegant design, a ton of customization options, a variety of controls, and most importantly the SR7011 borrows the HDAM (Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Module) topology technology of the Marantz reference series.
Let us now move on to sound. Let’s face it nobody is going to buy the SR7011 for its design and build quality only.
Sound-Quality
More good news here. The Marantz SR7011 A/V kicks out excellent, rich, full and powerful sound under almost all circumstances. Whether you are watching a movie, series or playing a high-end video game; the sound that the system kicks out will never feel forced. The system will accurately balance the kick, punches, depth according to your personal choice.
The 9.2 channel SR7011 can capably handle Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, but there is a catch. While the speakers that come with the SR7011 are functional, you may want to pony up some extra cash for better sounding speakers. The receivers need to be paired with the right speakers to make full use of the power and potential.
The SR 7011 doesn’t put a foot wrong. The dynamic EQ is always in the background making sure that the sound is at a nice— even level throughout. The most impressive part of the receiver is that it has an average power output of 125 watts per channel at 8 ohms, and if you feel like it; you can bring it down to 4ohms. The output and the quality are almost unheard of at this price point.
All in all the sound quality that the SR7011 pumps out is definitely a big plus point.
Connections and Ports
The connections ports on the SR7011 are plentiful, but a bit old-fashioned. You can plug the HDMI cable into any one of the 8 inputs( 7 on the back and 1 on the front). You can also screw in two antennas to connect the receiver to your home WIFI network, or you can use the Bluetooth functionality.
| Input/Output | Quantity |
|---|---|
| HDMI inputs | 8 |
| HDMI outputs | 3 (2 main, 1 zone) |
| Component video inputs | 2 |
| Composite video inputs | 4 |
| Digital audio inputs | 2 coaxial, 2 optical |
| Analog audio inputs | 8 (including phono) |
| Pre-amp outputs | 11.2 |
| Zone 2 outputs | 2 audio, 1 HDMI |
| Ethernet port | 1 |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| USB inputs | 1 front, 1 rear |
| AirPlay | Yes |
| HEOS Multi-Room Technology | Yes |
| Remote control input/output | 1/1 |
| RS-232C port | 1 |
| DC trigger output | 2 |
| IR input/output | 1/1 |
| 12V trigger output | 2 |
| Headphone output | 1 |
The SR7011 will come with all sorts of ports, input and output methods that are too many to list here, but have no worries the SR7011 will have your back in the ports department, and you will never feel cheated. You can, if you choose to revamp the 9.2 channel system to a full blown 11.2 setup, or add in an extra additional remote hub.
Key Features:
Set-Up Process
The whole setup process is fairly easy, and you can breeze through the whole setup process if you have some experience in installing a setup of this kind. If you don’t have experience, Worry not!— just read the instructions in the box and you won’t have any difficulty.
You will need to get the SR7011 plugged in correctly (not a difficult task, but do read the instructions beforehand) and turn the system on. The included calibration mic is super- easy to set up and use, but the cardboard stand for the mic is a little annoying to set up. The whole software is easy to navigate and is really user-friendly. It will only take you a few minutes of fidgeting and messing around to figure out how the whole thing works.
The biggest plus point in the whole setup is the leviathan which can be really problematic to set up, but the company had unpacked it already and setting it up was a real breeze. Calibrating the system was also dead easy. I would go even as far as to say that anyone with a passing understanding of sound systems can calibrate the sound according to their own personal preference on this system.
This is one of the easier to navigate and user-friendly systems that I have used. The systems even gives you little hints when you are stuck. It is quite possibly the most perfect software system for both amateurs.
Accessories
The accessories included in the box apart from the myriad of wires needed to get the system up and running are the mic, the remote and mercifully colored, labeled stickers( that are sure to help you remember which wire goes where).
The mic is excellent and really easy to set up. The remote on the other hand leaves much to be desired. The remote comes with so many button and choices that you will soon get confused about the functionality of a particular button. My advice is to buy a simple remote control.
Packing
The packing of the Marantz SR7011 A/V is mostly on the mark. The system is packed in foam to cushion it against any bumps it may face on the road. The polyester will ensure your system suffers no bruises on the road.
Reading this review up till now makes the Marantz SR7011 A/V the must-buy receiver of the year, but now we move from the good to the bad.
Video Overview
Things I didn’t Like about the Marantz SR7011 A/V
The ugliest thing about this system is the packing. The packing uses so many plastics that you almost feel guilty for buying it. Everything from the manuals to the wires have been given there own plastic bag. Removing everything from its plastic cover can be extremely annoying, not to mention how hard the plastic is to dispose of. The plastic isn’t going to help the environment either.
The remote is also a huge negative and you will probably have to buy your own kind.
The speakers are above average for the price, but really feel inadequate when compared to the rest of the setup. While they will do the job adequately, sooner or later you may want to spring for some more powerful speakers.
For all those people with SR7010, the SR7011 is not going to be a massive upgrade. If you are looking to upgrade the 7010; I would recommend the more expensive 8012 or waiting a few years.
So, now we came to the final question; Is the SR7011 worth your money?
The answers seem to be yes. It is not the perfect system, but for 90% of the people, it will be the perfect setup 90% of the time. It may give you a few problems in the setup process, but once you have set it up the receiver is not likely to trouble. The appeal of the Marantz SR7011 A/V is greatly enhanced by its price, coming in at only $1399. It is a steal. If you are looking for an A/V setup that lasts, buy this one. It will satisfy the professionals and is perfect for the average individual.