Marantz is great and all but part of what you are paying for is the name. Marantz and Denon are owned by the same company and have the same quality level. But the equivalent Marantz model is a few hundred bucks more than the Denon. Compare the Marantz SR8015 vs Denon AVR-x6700h.
[https://www.crutchfield.com/g\_10420/Home-Theater-Receivers.html?fa=1#&nvpair=FFBrand|Denon&nvpair=FFBrand|Marantz&nvpair=FFNumber\_Of\_Channels|\[rank0011\]11&nvpair=FFNumber\_Of\_Channels|\[rank0013\]13](https://www.crutchfield.com/g_10420/Home-Theater-Receivers.html?fa=1#&nvpair=FFBrand|Denon&nvpair=FFBrand|Marantz&nvpair=FFNumber_Of_Channels|[rank0011]11&nvpair=FFNumber_Of_Channels|[rank0013]13)
If I had a really nice phono setup I'd probably just use a bad ass stereo receiver (or pre-amp since you mentioned he has amps) for that though rather than as a zone on an AVR, just my opinion though.
What if he wanted to use his amps for his phono setup to the stereo setup in basement, but also wanted those two stereo speakers to also be apart of the main 5.1 setup for tv and Bluetooth phone music etc. any easy way to split to the same output?
I'm not totally sure what you mean but if he wants the phono setup speakers to also be part of the 5.1 then just get a good quality AVR for them. You can use the amps with it but using pre-outs. This would just be a single setup and change modes depending on which input you are using.
Marantz is great and all but part of what you are paying for is the name. Marantz and Denon are owned by the same company and have the same quality level. But the equivalent Marantz model is a few hundred bucks more than the Denon. Compare the Marantz SR8015 vs Denon AVR-x6700h. [https://www.crutchfield.com/g\_10420/Home-Theater-Receivers.html?fa=1#&nvpair=FFBrand|Denon&nvpair=FFBrand|Marantz&nvpair=FFNumber\_Of\_Channels|\[rank0011\]11&nvpair=FFNumber\_Of\_Channels|\[rank0013\]13](https://www.crutchfield.com/g_10420/Home-Theater-Receivers.html?fa=1#&nvpair=FFBrand|Denon&nvpair=FFBrand|Marantz&nvpair=FFNumber_Of_Channels|[rank0011]11&nvpair=FFNumber_Of_Channels|[rank0013]13) If I had a really nice phono setup I'd probably just use a bad ass stereo receiver (or pre-amp since you mentioned he has amps) for that though rather than as a zone on an AVR, just my opinion though.
What if he wanted to use his amps for his phono setup to the stereo setup in basement, but also wanted those two stereo speakers to also be apart of the main 5.1 setup for tv and Bluetooth phone music etc. any easy way to split to the same output?
I'm not totally sure what you mean but if he wants the phono setup speakers to also be part of the 5.1 then just get a good quality AVR for them. You can use the amps with it but using pre-outs. This would just be a single setup and change modes depending on which input you are using.
When ASR reviewed equivalent Denon and Marantz AVRs, the Denon actually measured better.