View Full Version : Marantz declares hi-fi "dead" and turns to AV...
gringottsdirect
08-07-2002, 9:59 AM
What Hi-Fi August 2002.
"Marantz's European marketing manager, Bert Kiggen, has described the market for traditional two-channel hi-fi products as a "dead dog" - an attitude that's apparent in the company's AV-heavy new releases. In the long term, Marantz even plans to make it's own Tvs."
That's that then?
He's probably almost correct as long as he is talking about mass market. The stereo market isn't dead but is declining but there will always be a place for the quality two channel amps.
gringottsdirect
10-07-2002, 12:25 AM
Originally posted by Ian J
The stereo market isn't dead but is declining but there will always be a place for the quality two channel amps.
Will high quality multi-channel AV amplifiers ever perform as well as high quality 2-channel amplifiers with stereo music replay, or is this already possible?
:confused:
Originally posted by gringottsdirect
Will high quality multi-channel AV amplifiers ever perform as well as high quality 2-channel amplifiers with stereo music replay, or is this already possible?
:confused:
No reason why multi channel AV amps can't perform as well as high quality stereo amps but not at the same price point and probably not in a one box unit.
MartinImber
10-07-2002, 8:24 AM
I would expect a £1000 AV amp to perform AT LEAST AS WELL as a £400 sterao amp
I have an Arcam Alpha 6 amp. £350 when new 6 years ago.
At christmas I bought an Arcam AVR100 home cinema amp (£600 was £800) and it blows it away. Much more subtle, better bass, an considerable improvement to my stereo system.
Ok I bought an amp specifically aimed at people wanting hifi first home cinema second. But as a home cinema its blooming lovely too. Note that I waited about 3 years until such an item came along.
(Castle Severn 2's etc)
General Skanky
24-09-2002, 11:07 AM
Odd, I could have sworn that Marantz said the complete opposite about 12 months ago, vowing support for HiFi as the AV market was 'limited' and that they wouldn't be releasing many AV amps. Or was that just another What HiFi myth?
AV is where the profit is to be made i would think. But hifi should still have its place. The result may be that with less mass market stereo amps, the ones remaining will be dedicated and thus provide a higher performance
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CJROSS
24-09-2002, 12:44 PM
Buns I agree totally on the amps being better - although I think we are at that juncture (hifi) already, this forum (and the the Amp one) are a perfect example of why hifi is not as dead as Marantz suggest, the amount of dudes who have AV amp (mass market ones at that) who are just not happy with the AV amps performance in hifi terms. Maybe Marantz would like for hifi to be a lesser concern as they cant produce an AV amp acceptable in hifi terms, compared to their dedicated stereo amps.
It is kind of ironic for a company with a saying like 'because music matters' to go saying silly things about forgetting music!
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If anyone went along to the hifi show recently in Heathrow they would know that 2 channel amps are certainly not dead! Most of the demos were for music purposes and not home cinema.
I wonder if this could turn out to be another Gerald Ratner sytle comment!