Marantz launch new AV Receivers with Dolby Atmos & DTS:X

The manufacturer includes both immersive audio formats to its new range of models

by Steve Withers
Home AV Article

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Marantz launch new AV Receivers with Dolby Atmos & DTS:X
MSRP: £1,399.00
According to D+M group, who own Marantz, the brand always grows in terms of sales each year.
It isn’t huge but it’s consistent and in these difficult times that’s something of which to be proud. Quite why Marantz sales continue to steadily grow each year is a mystery even to the company itself, but it’s probably down to a winning combination of performance, features and price. Just like their stable-mate Denon, Marantz have added Dolby Atmos, Auro-3D, 4K, built-in WiFi, built-in Bluetooth and Spotify to their line-up in the last year. They have also taken great strides in making their receivers more user friendly with simplified rear panels, a new and easy to follow user interface, Audyssey automated room equalisation and even a cardboard stand they call the ‘rocket’ for more effective use of the setup microphone.

Marantz SR7010

Marantz have made it their intention to follow a similar strategy to Denon, designing and building receivers that are as future-proofed as possible. They are also looking to offer extensive features and a great user experience but perhaps more importantly, given the company’s audio heritage, to produce receivers that integrate both stereo music and multi-channel movie soundtracks. This goal was certainly achieved by Marantz's previous flagship AV receiver - the SR7009 - which won our first Dolby Atmos capable receiver group test.

Marantz's next generation of receivers include a number of features that will ensure they remain as future proof as possible. First of all there are three competing immersive audio codecs this year and Marantz, along with its sister company Denon, are the only manufacturers to produce AV receivers and processors that support all three. In addition their new receivers will support both HDCP 2.2 and HDMI 2.0a (4K at 30/60Hz, 4:4:4, 24-bit), making them ready for the new Ultra HD 4K standards, BT2020 colour space and High Dynamic Range (HDR).
Marantz's latest receiver line-up is designed to offer both future-proofing and musicality.
There will be other improvements made this year, with a new remote app that supports all models. The new remote app also has a redesigned home screen made up of three areas - a static top, a dynamic section and a static bottom. Marantz will, as much as possible, continue to simplify the rear connections on its receivers and processors and they have improved the setup assistant. The latest version has been optimised for immersive speaker setups, Dolby enabled speakers, HDMI control, Audio Return Channel (ARC) and network connectivity. Marantz have also reduced the number of screens to make the setup assistant as intuitive as possible. There is also a feature that allows you to use your TV remote to control your Marantz receiver or processor and full web manuals available.

As with Denon, the big news this year is the addition of support for DTS:X, the latest next-generation object-based audio codec. DTS:X will support flexible speaker layouts and remapping with support for up to 11.2-channels. There will be dialogue control when it’s defined as an object, the audio can be either lossy or lossless and backwards compatible with DTS-HD Master Audio. In the case of non-DTS:X content, it can be up-mixed by DTS Neural:X. Marantz will also continue to support Atmos, which is Dolby’s next-generation object-based audio codec, and some receivers will also support a third immersive audio codec called Auro-3D. When you buy a new Marantz AV receiver, you will need to enable DTS:X via a free firmware update.

Marantz SR7010

Sitting at the top of Marantz’s AV line-up this year is the AV8802A Multi-Channel AV Pre-Amplifier. It includes 11.2-channel XLR outputs and 13.2-channel RCA outputs with 11.2-channel processing. The AV8802A uses premium 32-bit/192kHz DACs and has a copper plated chassis, toroidal transformer, customised components, a single board HDAM and a three piece top cover. There’s Dolby Atmos, along with upgrades for Auro-3D, DTS:X and DTS Neural:X 11.1. There are 8 HDMI inputs with 4K 60Hz passthrough and HDCP 2.2, along with triple HDMI outputs with multi-source and multi-zone. There’s also Audyssey MultEQ XT32/LFC (supports Pro), built-in WiFi and built-in Bluetooth. The Marantz AV8802 is available this month, comes in black and will retail for £3,349.

In October Marantz will release the AV7702mkII Multi-Channel AV Pre-Amplifier at a list price of £1,699. It includes 11.2-channel XLR outputs and 13.2-channel RCA outputs with 11.2-channel processing. It uses a new 32-bit/192kHz DAC and a current feedback HDAM preamp. There’s Dolby Atmos, along with upgrades for Auro-3D, DTS:X and DTS Neural:X 11.1. There are 8 HDMI inputs with 4K 60Hz passthrough and HDCP 2.2, along with triple HDMI outputs with multi-source and multi-zone. There’s also Audyssey MultEQ XT32/LFC (supports Pro), built-in WiFi, built-in Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Gapless and DSD streaming. Like the AV8802A, the AV7702 only comes in black.
All of Marantz's new AV processors and receivers include both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
In terms of Marantz’s AV receivers for 2015, the SR7010 is the flagship model and includes 9-channels at 200W a channel, 11.2-channel processing and 13.2-channel preouts. There’s a current feedback HDAM preamp and new 32-bit/192kHz DACs. There’s Dolby Atmos, along with upgrades for Auro-3D, DTS:X and DTS Neural:X 11.1. There are 8 HDMI inputs with 4K 60Hz passthrough and HDCP 2.2, along with triple HDMI outputs with multi-source and multi-zone. There’s also Audyssey MultEQ XT32/LFC (supports Pro), built-in WiFi, built-in Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Gapless and DSD streaming. The Marantz SR7010 is available in September, comes in a choice of black or premium silver and has a list price of £1,399.

Next in the line-up is the SR6010, a Network AV Receiver with 7-channels of amplification at 185W a channel. There’s also 9.2-channel processing, current feedback HDAM preamp and the sound has been retuned with new parts. There’s Dolby Atmos, along with upgrades for Auro-3D, DTS:X and DTS Neural:X 9.1. There are 8 HDMI inputs with 4K 60Hz passthrough and HDCP 2.2, along with triple HDMI outputs with multi-source and multi-zone. There’s also Audyssey MultEQ XT32/LFC (supports Pro), built-in WiFi, built-in Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Gapless and DSD streaming. The Marantz SR6010 is available from the 15th of September, comes in a choice of black or premium silver and has a list price of £899.

Marantz SR7010

Finally Marantz are releasing the SR5010, a Network AV Receiver with 7-channels of amplification at 180W a channel. There’s also 7.1-channel processing and 7.2-chennel preouts, along with Dolby Atmos and an upgrade for DTS:X. There are 8 HDMI inputs with 4K 60Hz passthrough and HDCP 2.2, along with dual HDMI outputs with multi-source and multi-zone. There’s also Audyssey MultEQ XT, built-in WiFi, built-in Bluetooth, AirPlay and Spotify Connect. The Marantz SR5010 is available from the 15th of August in a choice of black or premium silver and a list price of £749.

Marantz also had the latest versions of their useful slimline network AV receivers on show and pride of place went to the NR1606. These slimline receivers are ideal for anyone wanting to add multichannel audio in their living room without the imposing size of a regular AV receiver. The NR1606 uses a slimline chassis and 7-channels of amplification at 90W a channel. There’s also 7.1-channel processing, a powerful quad-core DSP and the sound has been retuned with new parts. There’s also Dolby Atmos and an upgrade for DTS:X, along with 8 HDMI inputs with 4K 60Hz passthrough and HDCP 2.2. There’s Audyssey MultEQ, built-in WiFi, built-in Bluetooth, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Gapless and DSD streaming. The Marantz NR1606 is available from the 15th of August in a choice of black or premium silver and at a list price of £599.
Marantz's slimline AV receivers, are ideal for those who don't want a big box in their lounge.
If you’re looking for something a little cheaper, there’s also the NR1506 Slimline Network AV Receiver. This uses a slimline chassis and 5-channels of amplification at 85W a channel. There’s 5.1-channel processing and the sound has been retuned with new parts. There’s also Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, along with 6 HDMI inputs with 4K 60Hz passthrough and HDCP 2.2. There’s Audyssey MultEQ, built-in WiFi, built-in Bluetooth, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Gapless and DSD streaming. The Marantz NR1506 is available from the 15th of August in a choice of black or premium silver and at a list price of £449.

That’s another strong line-up from Marantz, with the emphasis firmly on features, performance and future-proofing. However the pricing is also very aggressive and the inclusion of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X on almost all their processors and receivers is impressive. If Marantz can continue to produce receivers that manage the difficult task of combining a musical performance with cutting-edge technology, then they continue to grow and might even win a few more awards later in the year.
Video report.

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