Marantz SR5023 Stereo Receiver
Marantz will surely appreciate its fans by the design of 2009 year model range. Instead of flat faceplates all new technique has the same expressive profile as components of Premium series. Even such device of entire level as SR5023 looks like stylish and expensive thing. Two large handles, elegant line of small sharpen buttons and large sharpen display decorate its profiled facade of "champagne" color. The body is intentionally made low like in the players CD5003 or SA7003. At the same time the device has rigid chassis of an improved construction and is closed by quite durable perforated cage. In other words, there are no claims to the external appearance. And what is about the filling?
SR5023 doesn't have a selector of speaker systems and sources switch functionally inferiors to other devices (six inputs and only one record output); however, the most necessary for audiophile is in its places. These are the equalizer, Source Direct mode, outputs for stereo phones and subwoofer, a built-in RIAA-corrector (for pick-ups of MM type) and D-Bus, through which you can control other Marantz components. There is also such an interesting function as lock of buttons, selector and volume level handle on the faceplate.
Stereo tuner receives FM and SW, supports RDS functions and has the memory for 50 presets with the possibility of programming names of stations. Built-in transistor amplifier with quite massive radiators is powered by a solid transformer and is able to give back up to 80 W in 8-Ohm load. Convincingly...
However, as it became clear at the listening, not the power is the main advantage of this receiver. It a bit loses by dynamics to other receivers, but it is obviously the leader by clearness and neutrality of sounding. Lower case is legible and is filled with energy. Attack is not too spectacular but clear, overhangs are well damped - acoustic bass and drum instruments are passed naturally, without simplification. In the middle case the successful balance between the informational content and harmony are found, the sound isn't captured in a mess even at playing fragments with dense and powerful dissonant specter. According to this criterion the device is equal to the qualitative integral amplifiers of entire level. And it can, perhaps, surpass some of them in the upper band. There is an apple-pie order with spatial data too. This is the only stereo receiver, which showed a good localization, clear separation of plans across the whole width of stereo base. And the same is true for the connection through Phono. It can't compete with expensive external RIAA-correctors by detailing, but it will show all charms of vinyl - live timbres, neat bass, fresh tops.
The work of radio receiving part didn't cause any claims too. The sound is clear, not compressed, interference and noises are minimal. The problems arose only with FM with a significantly weakened signal, to tune to witch was possible only manually.
