Ok... So maybe the Marantz might have a warmer richer sound... NO reciever can be right to 100% of the population other wise we would all be buying bose or somthing like that. That is why we call them "REVIEWS" you can take a reciever and give it to two audio pro's and they will review it diffrently. Then take the same units and repackage them up as diffrent units but the same guts. And they will review them diffrently ... WHY? Becuase ear was wassn't cleaned out? Maybe had water in thier ears that day? Maybe they were sick? Bad Mood? Who knows? Who cares...

All, I know is... Outlaw is a decent company. A small company that takes pride in what they build. I would think that when Nreyes get's his marantz he most likly won't even get one that comes to the same specs as what he listend to in the store... Since marantz is a larger company.. Like Sony, Onkyo, Etc...Etc... Quality control is often over looked. With a small company like outlaw I believe the control would be much tighter... IMO anyway...

The bottem line for me to go with outlaw would be Customer Service. You get screwed with any reciever manufacture 6 months after you puchase it and you'r gonna have to find a repair place. Or worse yet pack it up and send it off somplace... Where as outlaws will just send you a new one... That right there is worth it's wight in gold! Just knowing that you are coverd for the next 2 years ... And not left hanging with a 1800 # and sloppy service. This to me is worth the price of 499 alone.

Good luck with your Marantz as I have also considerd them and almust bought one too. But after my experience with Onkyo... Forget it. Customer Service is almost the top 3rd choice on my list.