I spoke at length about how some amplifiers can work, sort of, as AVR alternatives. They are not going to satisfy your cinephile needs perfectly, but they are meant for someone who wants a great stereo amplifier—an amp designed to be musical, but that can carry a lot of weight and presence like an AVR.
And ladies and gentlemen, looking at the stats of my channel, this is the first amp that I can say is the perfect mix between an integrated amp and an AVR.
And I love that!
True Alternative to AVR
Maybe I haven't shown it on this channel, but I am a big movie guy and love AVRs, Blu-ray players, and generally a well-filmed and recorded movie.
So, this idea from Marantz that it will give us 2-channel AVR receivers was just crazy to me and made me really happy. But it also made me worry a little bit.
This amp, while not expensive, is not cheap either—it costs around 1000 euros. In this price range, you can buy a decent integrated amplifier or a decent AVR. And to me, the major question that needs to be answered is how well this competes with those two. How much do you gain, and how much do you lose?
Greatest thing about this amp
But let’s first talk about the greatest thing this amp provides, and that is versatility and features. Honestly, Marantz pulled a rabbit out of the hat here. There is almost everything and more here. But you know what is the first thing I’m going to mention?
Yup, those six HDMI inputs and one more for 8K. While this is super common in AVRs, in integrated amps, it’s very unique. It opens up so many possibilities with this amp. Now, you can connect wirelessly to your TV, stream and watch 4K movies, and listen to music as well. It’s an easy connection if you want to stream 16- and 24-bit music. The TV as a streamer is not the best choice, but it does open a lot of doors. Also, a direct connection to Blu-ray players is where I get the most joy. This amp can process all the HDR formats from Dolby Vision to HDR 10+, and it comes with Dolby Audio to enhance your viewing experience. It doesn’t have the latest and greatest technologies, but it’s good to have all of this.
The versatility doesn’t end there. This amp can work as a pure preamplifier, borrowing strength from different amps. It has two subwoofer outputs, which again pleases your cinephile needs.
Also, it has a phono input, optical, coaxial, RCA, and USB—all you need, maybe except a balanced input, to satisfy the audiophile inside you. It can connect to a large variety of different sources.
There’s also an A/B switcher to connect two different pairs of speakers. I was thinking a lot about that A/B switcher to connect two pairs of speakers. I was looking for a case where this could be used, and besides being great to test speakers side by side, I think maybe you can use it for a sort of 4.1 listening with lower voltage. It is possible, as this amp allows you to power two speakers at the same time. I have yet to test this, but it is certainly a point for versatility.
And how can I forget about HEOS? Besides everything I’ve said here, this amp comes with an attached streamer. HEOS, love it or hate it, is a very decently equipped streamer, with all the goodies from Spotify, Deezer, Tidal to listen to music in high quality.
As I mentioned previously, this kind of versatility and feature-rich approach is unheard of. And the fact that you get it for 1000 euros—that is just nuts.
 Is it for Audiophiles?
I will try to separate this amp’s quality for audiophiles and cinephiles—what they can expect and what they get with this amp. Audiophile-wise, if you enjoy the sound of Marantz, then you should not be disappointed here.
The sound is warm, with a definite emphasis on upper bass and lower mids. Especially in those lower mids, the sound is very rounded, like really rounded. There are no edges or bite—just this beautiful, massive sound that hugs you like a blanket with its size and presence.
And as all of that is being said, you know every music genre that benefits from having bass with more weight will be happy with how sprawling it sounds. For example, synth bass, when it builds to create textures and atmosphere, will sound amazing. Also, the lower octaves of that cello or bass guitar—some kicks are going to have authority and command.
This can also very well translate to mids having creamy and smooth delivery. Nothing is rushed, with enough emphasis to open and deliver. This means that voices have weight, and the soundstage opens up well enough.
I think how Marantz is doing things is not to extract as much information, or to organize sound in a way that separates the most. It is to give size and definition to instruments, and that also applies in the mids. That size and definition can at first make the soundstage seem big, but unfortunately, it is only large, with not enough information in the mids or treble to create great separation and placement of instruments on the soundstage.
But what you hear has enough definition, and vocals can sound smooth and hefty, which can really be a great plus for long listening sessions. Just don’t expect a lot of separation, textures, or information around the mids and treble.
As with the mids, the treble is certainly not the highlight of this amp, but it does provide a certain amount of definition. But you are not getting Marantz to hear the utmost details and information. It is a sacrifice done to allow size, definition, and impact in this price range—it has to veil the other parts of the dynamic scale a bit.
Separation and resolving in the top end are there to have shape and definition, which means you will hear percussions, you will hear strings extending, and it will do a good job presenting that information to the listener. But this is not the best you can find in 1000e amps. It will not separate greatly, nor is there the utmost detail presented there. It veils a bit of the background, it veils a bit of information by its scope and size. But you might appreciate that more than the utmost information, as it will create a smooth, big sound that you can listen to for hours on end.
It is, in reality, a Marantz sound, love it or hate it. It is a great sound, it is a sound that is a pleasure to listen to on long runs. It is a sound that will fill the room, where jumping to other amps, the sound will seem thin in comparison. It just lacks some power in separation and clearing space for information. But that might not be a dealbreaker for most people, especially those buying amps in this price range.
Is it for Cinephiles?
Now, cinephiles are, in my opinion, getting the short stick in this sonic distribution of powers. While even thinking that a stereo amp can work as an AVR is fantastic, I think it cannot compare to AVRs in this price range.
There is just something about how AVRs create sound objects in space to determine their position. It’s not that this amp doesn’t do that, but I could easily track footprints, people walking or chattering in the background, drops of water, or items falling. It could separate more.
Also, if this amp somehow magically could attach a central speaker, it could actually kill it in value. The reason for that, besides objects in spatial effects creation, is that central speakers are, to me, the best thing every AVR could use and connect. It just makes such a big difference when there is clarity of speech, which is, when watching movies, to me at least, the most important part.
And a 2.0 system or 2.1 system cannot make voices as clear as a 3.1 system. Voices will always have to fight with the rest of the sound, and knowing how emphasized bass and mids are in cinematic sound, it cannot sound as crisp and clear as with a 3.1 system.
But to not sound too negative, you do get that cinematic sound out of this amp.
You do get that grand scope, that thump, that presence. Sound effects used to describe a position of sound, properties of sound, and texture are there. Scraping on the wall, sword hitting sword will resonate and will make you giddy. And you are happy with it.
The question of whether this is better than a soundbar will always depend on which one and what speakers you have.
I guess some top-of-the-line soundbars are going to give you a more expansive soundstage; they will give you surround properties, even Atmos properties. If that is something you want, soundbars kill this amp.
Even some top-of-the-line soundbars will give you more defined sound with more items separated and created in space. More cinematic experience.
But soundbars are awful for listening to music, and unless you invest around 800 – 1000 euros in a soundbar, you will not get significant improvements compared to this amp with decent speakers and a subwoofer. Except for surround properties, which are sadly nonexistent in this amp.
Denon PMA-900hne
Alternative to this amp is the Denon PMA-900HNE, which is cheaper but comes without any cinematic properties. But if you want a really versatile amp that sounds similar to Marantz and is much cheaper, with the same streaming and a large amount of inputs and outputs, consider Denon. While Marantz emphasizes lower mids a lot, I think Denon prefers to emphasize bass completely, creating a very muscular sound. Big, tough, and yet with a little bit more clarity than Marantz. The sound is not as smooth or mid-rich as Marantz, but it comes with different goodies that Denon delivers, plus even a great phono stage that can carry Moving Magnet and Moving Coils.
Marantz Model 40n
As you are looking for Marantz Stereo 70, maybe you are also considering the Marantz Model 40n. To me, the Model 40n is better, and what a surprise that is for an amp that costs 1400 euros more. Yes, it is much more expensive, and you get a more defined and better streamer with sound that is far more refined in the top end than the Stereo 70. It is an amp that competes in this price range with other amps, as it tries to have the Marantz sound but with extracting more information in mids and treble. So you get a big sound, large, beautiful bass with attack, but also a lot of textures and details in mids and treble. You lose all the cinema goodies, but it is much more expensive. In my opinion, Stereo 70 is a much better value, as the jump in audio quality is not so dramatic to justify such a big price increase. But that is typical for all Hi-Fi components when they cross the 2000-euro threshold. If you are not certain what type of amp you really need, save your money, buy the Stereo 70, and immerse yourself in cinema and audiophile listening, and on the road, decide how and when you will upgrade.
Conclusion
As a true alternative to this amp, there is none. Truly, there is none. And I believe this amp is for someone who is not certain if they will benefit from getting an integrated amp or an AVR. And this amp giving value to both of those markets is spectacular. As a listener, you will have this amp and enjoy all the great goodies it offers, and down the road, you will consider if upgrading to a better AVR or integrated amp is in order, and where you should push your hard-earned cash.
And me having the luxury to hear all the new Marantz models, I can easily say this is the best amp in their lineup. It’s not that I consider this amp to be the best amp overall, but as for value, there is no rival to this amp in how much it gives for the money it asks. There are, in my opinion, some integrated amps that are better in this price range, like offering a bit more clarity and a bit more information in treble and mids. But this is just a bit better sonically. But feature and usability-wise, it kills all other amps. It is much better.
And I think this is where this amp really shines. Yes, it has sound, which is very good, I mean really good at that price. But it has all the features you could ever want from a stereo amp. It is super versatile, has a good streamer and decent treble, has a rounded, pleasant sound that is easy to listen to. It has this HDMI which makes it possible to act as an AVR and gives you the options to connect TVs, Blu-rays, PlayStation 5, and other HDMI-equipped units.
You will not get a better and more versatile amp in this price range. The sound is great for the price and for what it is, but it is the versatility that gets you here. The number of options and features makes it a truly amazing amp and one that I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who wants to have a feature-rich and versatile amp in their home.
So I highly recommend this amp. You will get audiophile and cinephile sonic capabilities, and a beautiful, warm, and smooth sound with lots of inputs, outputs, and that amazing HDMI and eARC HDMI. Just a fantastic win for Marantz and a great experiment on their side, which I hope will end up as a success.
Hope you enjoy this review.
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Keep daydreaming, and see you in the next video.
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Pros:
Unparalleled Versatility and Features: The amp is highly versatile, featuring six HDMI inputs (including 8K support), subwoofer outputs, phono input, optical, coaxial, RCA, and USB connections. It also includes HEOS streaming, making it suitable for various uses, including cinephile and audiophile needs.
Balanced and Good Performance: The amp provides a warm, smooth, and pleasant sound that is easy to listen to for extended periods. It emphasizes lower mids and upper bass, offering a rich and full-bodied sound, especially in genres that benefit from a strong bass presence. Spend hours listening to this amp.
Unique HDMI Support: The inclusion of HDMI and eARC support allows it to function similarly to an AVR, making it a rare find among integrated amps, and offering a lot of connectivity options for modern home theater setups.
Good Value for Money: At around 1000 euros, the amp is praised for offering substantial features and performance that rivals more expensive models, making it a strong contender in its price range.
Great AVR Alternative - Bridge between Audiophiles and Cinephiles: This is as far as any integrated amp, stereo receiver will come to replicate the sound of your AVR. With good codec supports, lot of inputs, it almost can work as a bridge between audiophile and cinephile crowd.
Cons:
Some Integrated amp alternatives deliver a bit more sonic for money: While the amp delivers a good sound, it lacks in areas like separation, detail, and clarity, particularly in the mids and treble. This may not satisfy audiophiles seeking the utmost detail and precision in their music. The treble is not as detailed or separated as some competitors in the same price range, meaning listeners might miss out on finer nuances in the music.
Cinephile Limitations: For cinephiles, the amp falls short compared to dedicated AVRs, particularly in creating spatial sound effects and clarity of speech. The absence of a central speaker connection means voices may not sound as clear as they would in a 3.1 or higher setup.
Soundstage Limitations: The soundstage is described as large but lacking in depth and separation, which could be a drawback for listeners who prioritize a well-defined spatial audio experience.