A Review Of Marantz Av7706 Receiver

The specs

Note that HDTV functionality is not included in the DVD player-only rentals, you would need to purchase the adapter kit for $19.99.

The picture quality on my 2013 TV through this Marantz AV 7076 was exceptional even when watching an old movie or video. I also enjoyed the wide variety of audio inputs including both analog and digital cables. There are two speakers connected to the television set’s sound output ports.

You can adjust the volume with the remote control; however, there is no way to access these controls from outside of the home screen. You will have to go into the settings menu to modify them.

There is a small button near the backspace key that allows you to enter passwords either by typing or by sliding a card marked “passcode” into the slot beside the password field. This button is very small and hard to find if you aren’t paying close attention.

Another negative about the setup process is you must manually input your security code every time you want to listen to the radio. We didn’t like having to do this because we never use it and it was kind of a pain. By default, the radios save 30 seconds of audio after they have heard something off the air. If you don’t want to wait that long, you could probably edit the setting somewhere inside the menus.

The box

When you first open up the package, it’s hard to ignore the hefty price tag of $400/£349.99. Sure, that’s not exactly “budget”, but so much cheaper brand name product has disappointed me in the past. However, as we tend to spend more money buying gadgets, software, and other equipment, I started wondering if this was worth it?

So, is there any value in paying such a high cost for what is after all just a receiver? And even if it were worthwhile, is it still worth it to pay extra for Apple-only compatibility? (The downside is that there is no Android version.)

Let’s take a closer look at the device itself; see below for further details.

AV7706 Receiver First impression

I had read some good reviews about this Marantz receiver and most people said it is among the best receivers you can buy. So, I decided to review it myself.

When I first opened the box containing my new AV-7706 audio video recorder, I was impressed by the high-quality printed graphics on the outside packaging which indicates its status as a leader in digital entertainment technology.

Also, when I took the unit out of the package, I was immediately attracted by the sleek shape;design-wise, it does not look like your typical consumer electronics device.

Upon further inspection, I found that there are so many features set up for the user. You have various streaming services at your fingertips ready made with icons indicating their names. Once you select an icon, the screen pops up explaining what type of streaming service they offer.

There are numerous apps from Spotify to Vevo to YouTube to Facebook and even Pandora. All are included in the weekly subscription price if you choose to subscribe! Also, buttons are allowing you to send messages using Skype and make calls using Google Voice.

This thing is packed with enough features and connections to easily tempt anyone into downloading software they normally would never consider buying. That being said, don’t expect to quickly get comfortable using all these different programs. If you are looking for a quick download or instant access to lots of content, then this Marantz AV7706 maybe not the place for you.

Component layout

One issue that many faces are the placement of components in their television stand. With modern technology, there’s no real requirement for a large console to hold all your components.

A computer or laptop can now be used as a streaming device, while receivers have tended to remain largely unchanged.

The trend toward thinner televisions (and the related decrease in image quality) has also helped make the traditional component stack difficult to navigate.

It takes time to find what you are looking for and organize it, which can be frustrating when you want to watch something immediately.

These days, companies like Samsung and Apple use similar formats to this. They put the TV in a box and they put the audio system in a different box.

What’s more, most digital downloads rely on storage devices such as hard drives or solid-state disks to save content. You may need multiple disks along with associated cables.

Furthermore, music services such as Spotify and Pandora send data via Internet connections. For these reasons and more, streaming media systems do not require dedicated units of their own.

That said, having all of your entertainment delivered by streaming sources makes sense anyway. It saves space, allows access to a wide range of content, and removes clutter from your home.

Marantz AV7706 Noise and distortion

The most common problem with audio receivers is noise — both sound-generating noises (buzzing, hissing, whirring) and non-sound-producing mechanical noises (such as from batteries).

Some models have what’s called “auto quiet” which automatically reduces the volume when the receiver is placed onto a surface that vibrates. This eliminates most of the buzzing and hiccupping that occurs with off-the-shelf speakers. But it also smoothes out any jittery sounds or shaky vibrations.

Noise can be distracting at best and debilitating at worst. So we tested them to see how much they distracted people while listening to music. We found that even if the listener isn’t actively aware of the noise, it still signals to their brain that something is wrong. By measuring electrical activity in someone’s brain using an electroencephalogram (EEG), we were able to detect this signal even though the person was not consciously paying attention to the noise. It just didn’t feel right to us, so it must be bad.

Music selection

The main feature that sets this receiver apart from the others is its large 2.5-inch screen. You can choose songs to play, watch videos, or listen to radio stations with this front-facing display.

These screens make looking up music info such as albums, artists, and song titles easy. They’re also customizable — you can change the colors and fonts for each category of information.

And since your phone needs access to the Internet to find new tunes, using apps like Spotify or Google Play will let you control which tracks you hear based on your listening history.

There are traditional audio sources like AM/FM radio and connections through Bluetooth (for headphones) and USB (flash drive). There’s even output for older vinyl records.

Marantz Return policy

Two warranties cover your radio. The first is their 14-day warranty for content, which covers everything except accessories such as headphones. After this initial period,d you may have to return the product to them for them to evaluate it.

The second one concerns access to their online service, support, etc. This does not mean you cannot still take your unit to the local store if the issue turns out to be with the hardware.

In either case, please make sure no other devices can receive signals from the same antenna before contacting Marantz regarding your concern. It could cost hundreds of dollars to repair OR replace the device. I have been told by multiple employees that there are very limited instances where a customer has tried to use both an apple compatible cellphone Bluetoothooth at the same time without having any knowledge of what they are doing.

It could cause damage to your appliance or someone else depending on how rogue each new gadget is. And again, we never covered cases here but will tell you about them during checkout. Read review here: https://colorviewfinder.co/marantz-av7706/

Customer service

I bought an Oppo F5 Platinum last week and it came with a 1T HuaWrapugap pack. It also came with a USB cable that was about 6 inches (15 cm) shorter than the required 5 feet (1, 500 mm).

I had to send the phone to Hong Kong for repair because there is no support in China. I decided to try Oppo’s online customer care first before trying e-mailing their local company.

The website was very simple to use but I couldn’t find any option to contact them by telephone. The only way was to fill out a form describing your problem which will then be passed to the technical team. There were too many steps without being able to talk to someone immediately. After several hours, I received a reply from their Guangzhou office primarily looking at how to fix my issue. No apology or explanation as to why they did not initially offer assistance. Simply put, I let them know that I have another issue and requested information regarding that issue. Four days later, I still haven't received a response.

It seems like they do not want me to give positive feedback on Marantz 2270 further inquiry which leaves me little hope that I will receive any future help via the online platform. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this service.

Overall rating

I thought my experience with this receiver would be similar to the one I had with the Anthem 699H.

That is, I’d find it straightforward to use.

I was wrong!

This stereo received everything but the sound quality from streaming videos was seriously sub-par. Although the GUI (graphical user interface) is customizable, setting up stations and accessing information was not as intuitive as it could have been.

And the worst part is that you can’t explain why something like that matters. It just does.

Sound quality aside, several other issues made me question whether this radio qualifies as a “receiver” or is more akin to a software filter dongle.

First off, the audio menus were unusable. For instance, when adding a station to your digital music library, click on ‘add’ then choose ‘radio’; type in the frequency, channel nu, member, and call letters for the radio station you want to add.

But instead of choosing the name of the program stream you want to start receiving, you get options such as ‘music’, ‘listen offline,’ and whatever the default option is. Many features require you to select an individual song/show rather than a specific broadcast network.

Author: James Gordon
Apex Audio Pvt. Ltd.