Hard Choice In 2 Receivers, Both Marantz

[esquolax]

Hey guys, I've been hunting a good condit 2nd hand receiver, come accross 2 marantz models which has made me happy! (that was the good news, now the bad..)

I have been offered the SR7300 for 500 or the SR7400 for 800, both seem to be great amps having outstanding reviews which dont really point out their differences etc..

Does anybody know of the difference between the 2 said models, from what I can see the biggest change was the remote really, no?

Hope someone can shed some light, not sure if the slightly newer model is worth the difference just yet.

Cheers Guys -

[alfalfa]

7300 is a 6 channel receiver

7400 is a 7 channel receiver

7400 upconverts composite and svideo inputs to component. 7300 doesnt.

[dvduser]

7300 is a 6 channel receiver

7400 is a 7 channel receiver

7400 upconverts composite and svideo inputs to component. 7300 doesnt.

Go the 7400 - better value, more future-proof

[kamma]

7400 is a much better option if only for the upconversion.

[Autocrat]

...unless it's a 7300OSE, in which case you'd be better off foregoing the upconversion for the huge sound quality improvement. After, all HDMI is the way of the future, not component.

[MELso]

It all depends how long you're going to keep it. If it's a long term proposition, then the SR7400 is the go for the upconversion to component, although 7.1 is overrated.

If it's an 18 month 'tide you over while HDMI 1.3 switching and onboard HD audio decoding arrive' proposition, then the SR7300 is the way to go (even though the remote was crap for that model). Certainly, I'm hanging on to my SR7200 until it dies - the sound quality can't be beaten and it does everything I need of it except have a second set of 5.1 audio inputs for HD audio (although a trip to Radio Parts could remedy this for about $80 all up).