The Marantz is best to my ears, warm but not too warm just perfect in my opinion. The Cambridge sounds cold, lacks emotion and i can confirm that as i have experience with Cambridge and Marantz amps
I've a marantz pm7003 I was thinking of selling it and buying a Cambridge cxa81 after seeing this video , I don't think I'll bother. thanks saved me a few ££
Marantz uses the preamp stage to soften transient response a touch, which makes the sound warmer and less fatiguing. In the end I prefer the Marantz sound to the cleaner and more open but also more analytical and fatiguing Cambridge sound at double the price.
Very interesting :) I find it exactly opposite to be honest. Marantz is amazing for the price and it is very warm in my opinion. When paired with decent speakers I did feel like Cambridge audio to be much more detailed and less fatiguing. I think this why anyone needs good system must test for themself and find their "one"
I prefer marantz, but not partnered with forward (in your face) speakers like klipch, b&w etc...Q accoustics 3030i would be a good match just my opinion
Đúng vậy, Marantz có âm thanh thiên sáng, ghép với loa Klipsch cũng thiên sáng, nên cho âm thanh chói. @Shawn Tan, bạn hãy ghép thử với Focal hoặc Triangle.
Marantz is sweeter and warmer while cambridge is more straight fwd and in your face sound. Did you notice in this test each time the singer hit high long note it's always on marantz hence we here typical sweet and warm sound of marantz signature. The voice is like glowing. Would be better to compate those high long notes in cambridge. I guess cambridge will hit that high and long notes just fine but we will hear less 'glowing' voice like marantz.
On the contrary, the CXA81 is not warm in the slightest whereas the Marantz sounds warm as it rolls off the top end at the extremes and has a thicker sounding but less defined bass (i know this because i have the said amps and the Klpsch RP600M). Having said that, the Cambridge is still the better amp with the Klipsch.
Ya, agreed with that. These 2 amplifiers actually rated as top 2 best budget in whathifi, at least viewer can compare how much different and why PM6007 rate as the best probably due to lower price.
@@tsowan77 Yes rare, I only got a taste on CMY when bought my speaker last year. That time it was the bigger expensive model Hegel H390. The H90 and H95 would be directly compete with CXA81 price range tho
I really enjoyed this test and thank you for increasing the song time. In my opinion, the CXA81 sounds more natural and colorless, with more detail and more in line with my taste. Marantz's sound is somewhat bassy and a little annoying.
Welcome, glad that you enjoyed it. I prefer on Cambridge Audio sound too. I even go get the older sibling CXA60 and will do some recording soon. Comparing CXA81 to PM6007 might not be a fair comparison as the CXA81 price almost double of PM6007. Price for CXA60 is around PM6007.
@@floshi6519 This is VERY subjective. Judgements for most audio equipment does not work like that - half the price means half the performance, especially in the middle or high tier. The CXA81 just sounds slightly better, has double the power and cool features (including balanced DAC pairing), this is enough for most people to prefer it.
You can check all my videos, from Klipsch RP-600M, RP-6000F, Dali Oberon 1, Dali Spektor 1, Elac Debut DB5.2, KEF LS50, B&W 606 S2 AE, 707 S2, 702 S2 & 804 D4.
I have Klipsch rp6000f and Cambridge audio azur 840a. Ask me please, what kind and what mark of loudspeaker cables to bring, for warm and detail sound (vocal, jazz, blues). Thank you.
More mids, more electric guitar voice, more voice? Cambridge. The warning is that these elevated frequencies can be harsh for the ear regardless of harmonic distortion level or amplitude. Is the Marantz more tame, like Japanese class D amps? Not always a bad thing, but it could be too tame in mid-range frequencies.
Ηi pal . IMHO they both sound harsh and fatiguing due to the ΚLIPSCH pairing .The MARANTZ sells for 550-600 euros and the CAMBRIDGE 81 for 1000 euros, these days [in Greece]. Anyhow , the big difference in their prices is not justified .
Hi, yes agreed for the price difference but both of these rated as top 3 for budget amplifier in whathifi, hope it help those want to decide budget for these amplifier. Many peoples like or know how Klipsch sound, that's why I think is good to use for pairing in this comparison.
@@tsowan77 Τhe KLIPSCHs impart their ''shouty'' sonic character to whichever amplifier ,pal. In order to get a more realistic picture of the amplifiers in comparison , you need to pair them with a more neutral speaker [Elac,KEF etc] P.S =the KLIPSCH s have to be paired with valves to tame them . Stay safe .
@@ΠαναγιώτηςΠαναγιώτου-μ1ψ Thanks for your advice, at that time I just have Klipsch then only I get Elac debut B5.2 or KEF LS50. Beside that, Klipsch always have more viewer search compare to other speakers. My highest viewed video is the Klispch RP-600M.
Which Klipsch speakers are those? I am currently running my Klipsch RP-8000F with CXA81. The pairing is great. The integrated DAC sounds great, it is just not as good as mid-tier DACs. For example, my JDS Element 2 DAC sounds a bit better and more musical.
nice comparison method , maybe the Marantz was slightly louder (being picky and annoying) , i preferred the treble brightness (just ) of the Marantz , thanks
For me the Marantz sounds way better than the cambridge thoe the price of the Marantz almost twice as much, The Marantz pm7000n would be a more sutible to compare with, also have streaming abilitys built in. By the way, the Cambridge doesn't have a phono conection neither bass, balance or treble controlls, dont get me wrong, the Cambridge sounds great, I do love it and troubling myself for a while which one to buy for my B&W DM603 first eddition?
Theres marantz sa7003 for sale in my country, do you think marantz sa7003 sounds can be better than my cambridge cxc v2? I cant demo becouse its far away from my city. Your answers will be helpful. Thank u. Ive tried marantz cd 6007 but the sound is same with my onkyo. I wonder if sa7003 sounds awesome or just the same
The Marantz is more musical and the Cambridge more analytical .... and this is multiplied even more by the use of Klipsch speakers. But it is ultimately up to a person’s ears and taste what they will prefer !!!
I did own both PM6005 and PM6006, where comparing those the last one offers a lil more detail in trebles but a slightly less extension in bass (less pulsing), with overally same warmness and brilliance. @Shawn Tan: Maybe PM6007 sounds bassy due to DAC's filter put on option2? did you check that? How may you compare PM6007 to PM6005?
I don't have the chance to hear the sound from PM6005 & PM6004 for comparison yet. Will update you if I get the chance to hear any of those. Usually I set the DAC filter for option and I find it a little warm when set to option 2. Myself, I prefer to hear bright than warm.
@@tsowan77 Supposing both were in flat EQ, the fact you turned the DAC's filter on, maybe proves that colored/annoying sound, found by other guys? May you specify if that comparison was done just at the turning on, or after some warming up?
If anyone has the matantz 6007 could anyone do a sound test to see if it's just myn. I noticed with just the cd selected the volume turned up I got a fair amount of harmonic distortion (white noise you normally get from vintage speakers) and faint buzz. This will require an ear right next to the speaker so be careful no one presses 'play'. I knew it wasn't normal as my older amp, a NAD C320BEE didn't have any of these issues linked to the same speaker. I noticed the hum/buzz after 9 o'clock turning gradually clockwise to 1. Might be nit picking but am surprised an older amp didn't have this issue. Cheers
¿Do you think the marantz pm6007 could drive the RF8000 without damaging them? I live in an apartment so the volume is not going to be driven too loud. I could go with the 6000, but I love the bass of the 8000
I am not sure whether it may damage it or not? It sure will make it sound due to high sensitivity but to get a good sound or higher potential from that speakers, it is good to pair with higher watts. So that you will get better bass and sound from the that speakers. Even on RP6000F, I don't think PM6007 able to unleash the best performance of it.
I have the PM6006 driving Klipsch KLF 20 (dual 10" drivers) with authority. Every time I listen to this setup I'm fully satisfied with the performance. More than enough spl to get you evicted from your apartment!
It depends on what devices you are using to hear, I find phone or tablet will not be easy to hear any different. Try on headphones and I can hear the different with my LG OLED TV. To simplify what I hear is the CXA81 will be more enhance, smooth and better control but as for PM6007 will sound more natural but can sound harsh when the volume turn higher.
@@tsowan77 Cambridge Audio manufactures their overpriced balalaikas in China! - on the territory of our enemy! And the enemy of ecology - direct to say: "CA" is killing our ecology - yours and mine ! We must refuse and ban them from access to the civilizational world!
