21
Oct
2011
Pocket-lint: Top home cinema brands Denon and Marantz have both announced that they will be offering free AirPlay upgrades to customers who own suitable network AV receivers and systems. (more…)
Tag: marantz
14
Oct
2011
23
Jun
2011
What Hi-fi: Following our news story and blog from the D&M product launch earlier this month, Marantz has confirmed more details of the SR5006 and SR6006 (above) receivers, which will be in the shops from the middle of July.
The two receivers both have 3D compatibility, network connectivity via an Ethernet port for internet radio, streaming of content stored on a home network and subscription web-based services, and AirPlay functionality for streaming from iOS devices. (more…)
09
Jun
2011
What Hi-fi: D&M, the parent company of Denon and Marantz – and now, Boston Acoustics – has unveiled its product ranges for 2011, at a grand location on the shores of Lake Maggiore in Italy.
Both Marantz and Denon have focused plenty of attention on their receiver ranges, developing sonic performance while extending network capabilities and improving usability through new GUI interfaces. (more…)
14
Jan
2011
iPodNN: Selected Denon and Marantz audio hardware should now finally support Apple’s AirPlay streaming technology, as promised, the two companies say. Supported Denon receivers include the AVR-4311CI, AVR-3311CI, AVR-991 and AVR-A100, as well as the N7, a combination networked CD receiver and two-channel speaker system. Compatible Marantz gear includes the SR7005 receiver, AV7005 preamp, NA7004 network audio player and M-CR603 networked CD receiver.
AirPlay support has been promised by the companies for some time. It was also originally supposed to be free until November 7th. Instead, existing Denon and Marantz gear owners must pay $50 for a downloadable upgrade.
15
Oct
2010
Engadget: If you liked the idea of paying £40 (about $65) for the right to access your media via AirPlay on the Marantz Melody Media receiver, you’re going to love paying the same to do the same on three further devices that the company has confirmed will be getting similar updates. Those new devices are the SR7005 receiver, the AV7005 AV preamp, and the NA7004 network audio player. It’s unclear exactly when these updates will release, or how much they’ll cost, but just think of the wonder they’ll bring to the eyes of your children and your children’s children.
08
Oct
2010
Engadget: It’s been just over a month since Apple first showed off AirPlay media streaming, part of iOS 4.2, and now we have another receiver adding compatibility. Marantz is calling its Melody Media receiver “the world’s first AirPlay certified music system,” a title that we think Denon, who announced compatibility last week, might take issue with. Regardless, the systems are quite similar, even sharing a nearly identical form-factor and neither actually being compatible with AirPlay out of the box. Marantz’s option will require a £40 firmware update, available next month, which seems a bit excessive given the up-front cost of the thing: £499.90. But, perhaps there’s some sort of licensing fee involved here Marantz doesn’t want to pay on each and every one shipped. The receiver offers dual stereo amps with 60 watts per channel, the ability to load MP3s from its integrated CD drive, and a USB connection on the front for connecting older devices that cannot play through the very air we breathe. How terribly pedestrian.
Update: And the reason why these receivers look so similar? Both companies are owned by the same parent: D&M Holdings. Perhaps this slightly optimistic statement by Marantz boils down to simple sibling rivalry.
08
Oct
2010
The Audiophiliac: I’ve reviewed a bunch of midpriced receivers over the past few months, and came away impressed by the quality of all of them. Pioneer’s VSX-1020 was an immediate front-runner, and I love the Marantz NR1601′s rich sound. Yamaha’s RX-V667 was no slouch, but Sony’s STR-DN1010 didn’t thrill me as much as the others. The receivers all carry MSRPs between $500 and $600; street prices are $100 or so less.
So it was the Denon AVR-1911 that took top honors, it just sounded better to my ears than the others. Bass definition was superb; upper treble clarity and resolution led the pack. I didn’t have all of the contenders on hand to directly compare with the AVR-1911; just the Marantz NR1601 and the Pioneer VSX-1020. The Pioneer was the brightest and in some ways the most detailed-sounding, and I felt its front-to-rear imaging was the clearest, but the NR1601 and AVR-1911 both sounded more powerful. The grenade explosions and gunfire in the “Black Hawk Down” Blu-ray had greater impact, and dialog sounded more naturally balanced over the AVR-1911.
I also felt, literally, the Denon’s bass control and power was the best of the three receivers. Not only that, the AVR-1911′s treble purity and “air” on “Goldberg Variations Acoustica,” a jazz interpretation of Bach’s Goldberg Variations was well above average for a midpriced receiver. This Blu-ray’s Dolby TrueHD sound is a great test for speakers and electronics, and the AVR-1911 decoded the drummer’s cymbals and percussion instruments with remarkable finesse.
A side benefit of the AVR-1911′s high-frequency resolution was that it had the best soundstage depth of the three receivers. That is, on a great recording like the “Goldberg” disc, the soundstage of the front left, center, and right channels seemed to simultaneously project farther forward and behind the plane of the three speakers. That spacious quality was also evident on the better-sounding movies, like “Master and Commander.”
I felt the AVR-1911′s charm was just as apparent on CDs; the receiver’s soundstage depth and dimensionality on Barbra Streisand’s “Live at the Village Vanguard” was ahead of all the other receivers. The Denon AVR-1911 is the best-sounding midpriced receiver I’ve heard this year.
17
Sep
2010
Techradar: I confess that I have never really been excited by Marantz’s AV receivers. They were never ahead of the features game and always aired too much on the side of sonic caution for my liking. Safe, reliable, solid and about as exciting as endurance snail racing.
When the SR7005 arrived I brewed a really fresh cup of Horlicks, put my slippers on and settled down for an evening of light entertainment.
I should have known something was different the moment the SR7005′s curvy-sided fascia came out of the box, like Angelina Jolie emerging from the lake in Beowulf.
Based on the successful styling of Marantz’s high end hi-fi equipment, this multichannel receiver is utterly gorgeous. The curves are in all the right places, different fascia textures, brushed knobs and that unique circular display make our previous favourite super-models from Pioneer look as if they have had a good thrashing with the ugly stick.
And just when you are thinking that the display window is going to prove a little petite for comprehensive menu display, you drop down the front flap to reveal a bigger main display. That is so cool.
And then there is the features list. No longer the stripped down, audiophile device of previous Marantz receivers, the SR7005 is right up there at the cutting edge of AV tech. Based on the latest generation 32-bit SHARC processor from Analog Devices, it handles all the regular HD audio formats as well as Audyssey MultEQ XT room EQ, Audyssey DSX height/width processing and Dolby Pro-Logic IIz height channels.
It remains a seven-channel amp, which means running height or width channels will require binning rear-back speakers, but at a claimed 125W per channel who is complaining?
Very much a network-ready receiver, the SR7005 offers a dedicated iPod/Phone input, IP addressable and web-access interface and Marantz’s bespoke M-Xport interface to hook up to its optional R X1010 Bluetooth module.
The networking side is hardwired Ethernet with vTuner net radio and direct access to your Napster and Last.FM accounts.
Apps to go… soon
In development and, alas, not available for this review is a seductive iPhone/Touch app that will control the SR7005 from your Apple device – ideal for when the dog has eaten the relatively mundane remote handset supplied.
The 6-in 2-out HDMI connections all have 3D compatible V1.4a spec, and there is an Anchor Bay upscaler to work some hi-def magic into your SD DVD collection and video material.
Under the hood, Marantz has gone to town to ensure the SR7005 shakes off the older, rather sedate sound and can drive an action movie as fast, if not faster, than any competing device.
The power amplifiers are a current feedback circuit with a whopping transformer power supply for high current on demand. There are a bunch of hand-selected components that would make the most anorak-wearing of hi-fi aficionados nod appreciatively.
Much attention has been lavished on separate power supplies for each key audio section and extensive internal shielding to avoid electrical interference. There’s also a Pure Direct mode that closes down all superfluous circuits and features, such as the display.
The SR7005 is a whole lot of receiver for the money and, in technology and features alone, has leapfrogged forward to join the leading pack. Back this up with Marantz’s audiophile expertise and this receiver has the potential to be a real winner.
27
Aug
2010
Audio Junkies: Marantz’s new NA7004 network music player is the latest product in a growing new category of “front-end” components that are able to play back digital formats from a variety of sources while containing no actual storage. The NA7004 is DLNA certified for connection to a home network, and also offers coaxial, optical, and USB digital inputs. A front panel USB input allows for easy connection of a thumb drive or iPod, and Bluetooth streaming is also supported via an optional dock.
The NA7004 can also access thousands of internet radio stations, and supports a full complement of lossy (MP3, MPEG-4, AAC, WMA) and lossless (FLAC, 96/24FLAC, WAV, WMA-L) formats. The price is $799.
29
Jul
2010
Engadget: Marantz has unveiled its 2010 line of high end receivers, amplifiers, pre amplifiers and Blu-ray players, and naturally the headlining upgrades have to do with streaming internet video access, Blu-ray 3D and HDMI 1.4 compatibility. You can check out the press releases for all the details, but we’ll highlight the UD7005 ($899, due in September) and UD5005 ($499, August) “Universal Media Players,” which earn the tag by including everything SACD, DVD-Audio, DivX and even Blu-ray 3D playback, plus improving on their predecessors by featuring DLNA v1.5 streaming access and built in Netflix and YouTube compatibility. One disappointment however, while some are still waiting for an updated version of the flagship SR8002 receiver, with only new editions in the form of the SR5005, SR6005 and SR7005 receivers. The SR7005 features six HDMI 1.4a inputs, with Windows 7-compatible DLNA, iPod, IP control, Pandora and the other usual feature boxes checked when it ships next month for $1,599.
25
Jun
2010
Akihabara News: The PM5004 and CD5004 are the latest integrated Amplifier and CD player available on Marantz Japan catalog.
Scheduled to be released in the middle of July on the Japanese market, the PM5004 anyone looking for superb performance without the complexity or cost of a comparable receiver or preamplifier/power amplifier combination. As usual, we have a minimalist but nice design, that give you the impress to have an incredible amplifier.It develops an output power of 40 Watt per Channel at 8 Ohms. It also provides a THD of 0.05% (20Hz – 20kHz, 8 ohms), a frequency response of 10Hz – 50kHz, and a S/N rato of 103dB. It also comes with Analog L&R In (x5), Analog L&R out (x2), Phono input, Headphone out.
Dimensions: 440×370×105mm
Weight: 6.7kg
Regarding the CD5004, the CD player, it has been made to fit the PM5004. It features the same design, and promises CD reproduction without any noise interference. Regarding the Digital / Analog conversion, it’s handled by High performance Cirrus Logic CS4392 D/A converter.
Our little boy is compatible with CD-R/RW / MP3 / WMA, and seems to be well equipped with Independent Gold Plated RCA Analog L&R out, TOSLINK Digital Optical Out, and Gold plated RCA digital Coaxial Out. Lastly, it provides a Dynamic Range of 100dB, Frequency Response of 2Hz – 20000 Hz, a THD 0.002%, and a S/N ratio of 110dB.