Marantz reveals its new reference AV amplifier set, which could possibly surpass the acclaimed Cinema 30 award-winning unit.
Unleashing Marantz's Stunning Duo
Marantz has just unveiled a bewitching pair of preamplifier and power amplifier – the AV 20 AV Preamplifier and AMP 20 Power Amplifier, respectively. These auditory powerhouses draw inspiration from their critically acclaimed Cinema 30 and AV 10 series.
The stylish design, reminiscent of the Cinema 30, sports afetching "porthole" screen and sides illumination that left us utterly smitten during our thorough review. Marantz's premium aluminium remote with backlit buttons is also included, making operations in your darkened cinema or media room a breeze.
Talking about sound, the AV 20 preamplifier packs a punch with the "latest and most powerful" Analogue Devices SHARC dual-core DSP chipset, coupled with 32-bit two-channel DACs tickling your ears with dedicated jitter reduction. This digital powerhouse claims to precisely decode a myriad of cinematic audio formats, like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X Pro, and IMAX Enhanced. With 13.4 channels bolstered by the discrete HDAM SA-3 preamplifier stage (via either RCA or XLR), the AV 20 promises a stellar immersive surround sound experience.
Connection options shine just as bright, as usual with Marantz (and its sibling Denon, for that matter). Sieve through seven HDMI 2.1 inputs sporting 8K/60Hz or 4K/120Hz support, making it splendid for both high-definition video and advanced gaming features like AMD FreeSync. While Marantz has kept mum about the specific HDR formats the AV 20 will embrace, we'd be mighty surprised if it wasn't the same HDR10, HLG, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision suite found on the legendary Cinema 30. The AV 20 pampers you with three HDMI outputs, two of which are labelled as 4K-worthy.
Wireless connectivity doesn't disappoint. Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, and the newly announced Qobuz Connect are all at your beck and call, alongside the comfort of Bluetooth and Marantz's HEOS multiroom streaming platform.
No room for complaint in the technology department, as a robust suite of room correction tech is on board. Audyssey MultEQ XT32 advanced room optimisation makes an appearance, leveraging a simple setup process to measure speaker sizes, levels, distances, and more, aiding in the fine-tuning of your soundscape. This is further bolstered by an on-screen display, making setup seamless.
Additional Dirac configurations, like Dirac Live Room Correction, Dirac Live Bass Control, and Dirac Live Active Room Treatment (ART), are in store via a future firmware update. Dirac Live ART promises the most cohesive and tonally consistent listening experience of any available room optimisation system.
Lastly, the AMP 20 positions itself as a potent and adaptable power amplifier, delivering 12 channels of amplification rated at 200W with two channels driven. Marantz proudly boasts that it's enough to handle multiple speaker configurations and layouts with aplomb. If your speakers crave more juice, you can reconfigure the 12 channels into up to six 400W bridged-tied-load (BTL) outputs. Alternatively, you can bi-amp up to six speakers.
Both the Marantz AV 20 and AMP 20 will be tickling the fancy of audio enthusiasts starting today from selected retailers, all for £4750 / $6000 each. Considering that they make a beautiful pair, the full system will set you back £9500 / $12,000. Marantz notes, however, that these components are mix-and-match compatible with other preamplifiers and power amplifiers in its range.
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- Marantz has unveiled a pair of audio devices, the AV 20 AV Preamplifier and AMP 20 Power Amplifier, which draw inspiration from their critically acclaimed Cinema 30 and AV 10 series.
- The AV 20 preamplifier utilizes the latest Analogue Devices SHARC dual-core DSP chipset and boasts 32-bit two-channel DACs, providing dedicated jitter reduction for enhanced audio performance.
- The AV 20 offers a stunning design reminiscent of the Cinema 30, featuring a porthole screen and side illumination, accompanied by Marantz's premium aluminum remote with backlit buttons for seamless operation.
- The AMP 20 Power Amplifier delivers 12 channels of amplification rated at 200W with two channels driven, making it adaptable for various speaker configurations and layouts.
- Wireless connectivity options on the AV 20 system include Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Bluetooth, and Marantz's HEOS multiroom streaming platform for music streaming.
- The technology section of the AV 20 is equipped with advanced room correction tech like Audyssey MultEQ XT32 and Dirac configurations for optimizing your soundscape.
- Industry news includes the announcement of Qobuz Connect, which is now available for music streaming on compatible devices.
