Marantz AV7702 Audio Video Preamp/Processor

Bought the AV7702 Pre Pro because of the price... I was not disappointed. I have been using it for almost a month now... Using it constantly when watching videos streamed from NetFlix or from Blu ray discs.To get the Pre Pro to decode the sound as opposed to the source (Sony PS4 in my case for watching NetFlix and Blu ray), you need to set the source to Bitstream as opposed to PCM. The AV7702 decodes Dolby Digital 5.1 (NetFlix) beautifully along with DTS from some of my Blu ray discs. I don't even have an Atmos setup, just 5.1 but I do have a Satellite-Subwoofer combo that has excellent imaging capabilities. Even without Atmos, I could hear sounds projected in 3D space. Specifically, on Episode 1 Season 1 of Daredevil in the fight scene where the villain is searching for Daredevil while he jumps on top of containers, I could hear Daredevil's footsteps right above me. Same thing on Episode 7 of Stranger Things, there were scenes where sounds were being projected in the 3D space above me.The other features of the AV7702, like the ability to play music streamed from the internet, streamed from my Media Server, or via Bluetooth from my iPhone, all work as advertised. I have the Pre Pro connected to the outside world via Wifi (Wireless N) and also via Bluetooth.The only thing that this Pre Pro does not have is the ability to switch videos from 4K sources because of the lack of HDCP 2.2 support. However to me this is not as important since there is a workaround. Currently I only stream / play 1080p... However when I do get my hands on an upgraded 4K HDTV and probably a Sony PS 4.5 that could play 4k Blu ray discs I will hooked them up directly to each other and just connect the HDTV to the AV7702 and use the HDMI ARC feature to decode just the sound coming from the 4K HDTV (whether from NetFlix or from the 4K Blu ray capable PS 4.5 hooked up directly to the HDTV). This is my workaround to the lack of HDCP 2.2 on the AV7702. This would mean my source for 4K streams and discs would be limited to only the HDTV via ARC for the sound and I could not hook up the other 4K sources directly to the Pre Pro but this limitation is the one I choose to have for the price I had to pay which is almost half of the original and that of the Mk2 successor to the AV7702.Other AV7702 features I like are a Direct connect, and a pure option which can be selected when playing streams, Blu ray discs, CDs, mp3s, etc. This bypasses most other equalization circuitry which in theory reduces distortion to a minimum. The pure mode even turns off the digital display. One last thing, you can download the Marantz Remote app from the iTunes store and use it to control the Pre Pro.

Performs well. Sounds good. A great value.

I waited for a long time before deciding on what preamp to buy. I had done a lot of product research. I actually have 15 speakers and 4 subwoofers and many accessory devices. Adding in the new Marantz was a long project. I couldn't believe how disappointed I was with the Marantz. The sound quality was ok. Slightly better than my $500 Yamaha receiver. I figured it just needed to be calibrated to sound great. The sound improved after calibration but only a little. I started having real problems after about 5 weeks. Just after the time I couldn't return the product. The first problems I encountered were the apps for my Iphone and Ipad. The controls froze on the apps frequently, they failed to find the device or they gave an error message saying they were not compatible with my device. The next problem I had was the internet quit working. When I would hit the button on the remote for "online music" or "internet radio" the display would switch to a black screen and not play any music. I had setup Pandora the first day I set up the Marantz and it was working fine initially. Every other device in the house worked. I tried for several hours to change settings and wires. I finally had to do a factory reset to get the internet to work again. Unfortunately, I lost my Audyssey room correction and all of my device names, etc. Next, I had trouble with the Roku video. When I first connected the Roku it would only work on 16/9 widescreen. However, I had it set at 1080p on my old $500 Yamaha receiver. After I did the factory reset to restore the internet function the Roku will not work at all. I have tried changing cables and settings without success. The Roku plays 1080p perfectly when I connect it to anything but the Marantz. After the reset, I keep getting notifications saying "Auro 3D upgrade is ready for install". I found this surprising since I didn't purchase the add on. Initially,I just clicked ignore. Every time I turn the Marantz on it says "Auro 3D upgrade is ready for install". Finally, I chose install. Not surprising, it would not install without a purchased code. Now I have the option of shutting off upgrade notifications or hitting ignore to Auro 3D every time I start the Marantz. Initially, I considered purchasing the Auro 3D but not after the problems I have had. Another reason I purchased this product was because of the Dolby Atmos. During the setup I learned that I needed to have the speakers in specific locations to be compatible with Atmos. I can't place my speakers in those locations due to the shape of my room and wife's objections. As a result I do not get the option to choose Dolby Atmos from the available sound fields. I can lie about the speaker placement during the setup to get Dolby Atmos. However, when I run the Audyssey room correction program the Marantz knows I am lying and takes the Dolby Atmos selection away. If I make changes to the speaker location after Audyssey setup it defaults back to manual setup and does not use the Audessey room correction settings. The room correction also tells me 3 of my speakers are not wired correctly which is not true. The bass is almost nonexistent after the setup. Voices were more clear after the setup. I haven't had time to thoroughly test every device I have connected for bugs but I expect to find more. If I didn't work so much I would have had time to find more of these bugs and would have returned the product to Amazon within 30 days. Due to the amount of problems I encountered I would have simply returned the product and went with a different preamp. Unfortunately, I am stuck with this preamp and out $2000.00. Since I just figured out that I can't return the device today, I will be calling Marantz on Monday. I will write a follow up based on their response.

I have had some issues with mine. First the remote went haywire! Sometimes if you tried to change the volume up any, it would go to full volume. Then while you are in a panic mode trying to get it to go down, (Which it may not do until it hits full loudness) it will go all the way down into mute.Marantz sent me a new remote, and that solved the problem. This is problem #1.Problem #2, Now the AV7702 12VDC trigger jacks have quit working. So now I am having to have to turn my amp on and off via the power switch on the amp. And this means I will have to send my unit in for repair, take a chance on shipping causing more issues. Or buy a plug in current sensing 12VDC trigger which is about $120.To top this off, the MKII comes out just shortly after I purchase this one. No upgrade for this, no discount from Marantz for anyone that wanted to sell theirs and dish out another couple grand to get the MKII version. Got nothing from Marantz.Luckily they do have a 3 year warranty. I do have to pay for shipping to a repair facility, but Marantz picks up the return shipping.I could have just got 1 out of a million that is a lemon. I do like all the features. I am now on my 4th set of speakers, and starting to think maybe its the 7702 that causing me a lack of sound quality that I am looking for. I probably should have got the 8802 or another brand.