Marantz returns with OPSODIS ES7001 home theater system

Marantz returns with more of their wall bouncing, OPSODIS (OPtimal SOurce DIStribution) Technology packed into the ES7001. As a followup to their ES-150, Marantz's sound bar aims to compete directly with Yamaha's YSP series of sound projectors. As such, they've pulled all the drivers, amps, and woofers into a single long housing with the ability to redirect the "sweet spot" depending upon the listener's location. It's also swollen with jacks including 2x HDMI (Ver.1.1) and 3x digital optical inputs. The space saving kit will set you back a cool ¥124,000 (about $1,020) when it ships in June. An optional ¥24,000 ($197) 50W subwoofer and ¥50,000 ($411) AV rack are available to round out the look and feel. Pics of the latter after the break.

[Via Impress]

[chameleonic @ May 23rd 2007 9:31AM]

Bryan Jackson
Not everyone has the room or money for what you call a "real" system, for those people who have no alternative but to buy this system (or one similar to it) they at least deserve the best sound available at the time. I doubt you have heard or even seen the system in operation so keep your uninformed opinions to yourself, for all you know this could blow most "real" systems out of the water

[chameleonic @ May 23rd 2007 9:24AM]

2x HDMI with only Ver.1.1, no thanks, i'll wait for the Ver.1.3 HDMI with uncompressed HD sound

[Bryan Jackson @ May 23rd 2007 8:30AM]

Yes, like uncompressed sound matters when you are taking it and throwing it into a very complicated DSP, which literally mixes all of the sound together and delays other sounds to try to simulate surround sound.

It'd be much better to just go and buy yourself a real system than to worry about how compressed the sound coming out of this is.

[ph @ May 23rd 2007 9:48AM]

"2x HDMI with only Ver.1.1, no thanks, i'll wait for the Ver.1.3 HDMI with uncompressed HD sound"

...except HDMI 1.1 does do uncompressed pcm. HDDVD players and many blu-ray players decode true hd and output it as uncompressed pcm, so as to be compatible with older receivers. HDMI 1.3 is completely unnecessary for audio.

[andy @ May 23rd 2007 9:38AM]

very true.

I have the yahama 1100 and a def tech sub in my den. It works. The room is far from ideal, but it works, and the wife acceptance factor is VERY high. I would go with the marantz if I knew they had one.

My theatre is Paradigm Reference powered by Marantz. As you could guess, it sounds better. But when I'm just watching some tv at night (csi miami or something), the yamaha plus sub works great.

These systems aren't as good as a nice expensive setup, but the ease of installation, clean look, and acceptable sound give a lot of bang for the buck; especially in a room with modern decor.

[karl @ Nov 7th 2007 5:23AM]

Does anyone know the dimensions of the Marantz ES7001 ? I could not find them anywhere. many thks

[Luke @ Dec 11th 2007 9:22AM]

1080W x 153H x 144D

[SMING NAULARGAR @ Sep 11th 2008 1:24AM]

IT IS A NEW TECHNOLOYE FOR ME, SO I HAVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT.

[Hugh @ Dec 16th 2008 9:31AM]

This review is misleading as OPSODIS systems do not use wallbouncing. The DSP is used to eliminate cross-talk paths (ie right speaker going to left ear and visa versa). The spatial perception works in a similar way to binaural headphone recordings. the wikipedia article on Ambiophonics explains the principles nicely. The "source distribution" in the OPSODIS system improves the stability and the stereo/surround imaging.