Imagine the choice of wanting to buy a Marantz amplifier. I greatly adore the design and generally appreciate Marantz's philosophy of sound signature. On one side, you have a stereo amplifier without a DAC—just a pure amplifier without any additional features or functionality.
On the other side, there’s an amplifier with spectacular versatility: feature-rich, with a DAC, streaming module, HDMI, and the same power and preamp. And in the end, I chose the pure amplifier.
Why did I do that?
Design, Build Quality
It’s not often that I am so surprised by the design quality of a consumer-level amplifier as I am with the new lineup of Marantz integrated amplifiers and audio-video receivers. It has a very material, industrial design with the gold accents typical of Marantz. It just oozes quality and prestige.
The way the knobs feel and turn, especially the way the light falls on the textured part of the side panels, giving them a different look depending on the light, is really great.
Features and Functionality
As for features and functionality, this is a pure analog amp.
I love that, but not many companies these days are brave enough to take that route. Audiophiles' needs have changed a lot even over the past ten years. A quality DAC is now a must in integrated amps, along with a lot of analog and digital connectivity. This one has only analog inputs, without any digital inputs such as coaxial, optical, or balanced.
You have 5 analog inputs, one phono input, pre out, subwoofer out, and even a power amplifier in. There is a dedicated approach to isolating the CD input and phono input from the rest of the analog inputs, creating even more care in isolating inputs from current. It’s already an amazing analog amp that takes special care in separating and cleaning the flow of sound for a more pristine sound.
Anit-"Future-Fi" amp gamble
We are constantly pushing towards future-fi and expect our systems to have an almost all-in-one feel. So Marantz creating the Model 50 is a gamble they are taking, and who knows if it will pay off.
And I don’t know. As I said, many audiophiles now fall into two categories: all-in-one or all-separates, regardless of size and cost. The Model 50 is in a gray area, combining amp and preamp in one box. It doesn’t fit neatly into either the all-in-one or all-separates categories, making it a harder sell.
vs. Marantz Model 40n (why I chose model 50)
But it wasn’t hard for me, and I’ll tell you why. The Marantz Model 50 is around 1800 euros, while its sibling, the Marantz Model 40, is around 2400 euros. I already have a great DAC and a great streamer at home. Honestly, for that 600 euros, I would get additional features that I might not even use.
But then I thought even more. Even if I didn’t have all that equipment at home, I could, with that 600 euros saved by buying the Model 50, add 200 euros more and buy a great music streamer, like the Eversolo or Bluesound Node, etc., and get a far superior DAC and streamer.
True, it’s not all in one box, but the rise in sound quality is unquestionable. By getting a great amp and preamp, you can invest your money however you like, without being constrained by Marantz’s choices. Maybe you’ll wait a bit longer and save even more money to buy a phenomenal DAC. And then you can have those pieces work however you like.
The great joy of Hi-Fi is experimenting and building systems.
Synergy with CD50n
One thing that’s a bit hard to find cheaply is an HDMI input, which is a phenomenal feature that the Model 40n has. But you can buy the Marantz CD50 with HDMI, with a better DAC, and in that case, a better streamer than the one in the Model 40n, along with a great CD player as an add-on.
I think that the combination of the Model 50 and CD50 is much better than the 40n, albeit more expensive and requiring more space. It is an ultimate digital station for your needs that works a notch better in everything than the 40n. If you want to know more, watch my review of this device. Shameless plug, haha.
Read the review of Marantz cd50n:
Sound Quality 40n vs 50
So in the end, I realized that the Model 50 is more for me. But there’s one more thing I failed to mention. While not worlds apart, the Model 50 did sound a bit clearer and more concise than the Model 40n. It had a bit more clarity and more expression in the top end.
Now, this isn’t something you can feel very organically, as it was just a little bit. But when I did tests side by side, you could definitely feel it after longer sessions.
Initial First Listen experience
So the decision was made—I purchased the Model 50.
My time listening to the Model 50 was filled with joy and happiness but also a bit of longing. Don’t get me wrong; the Model 50 is an awesome amplifier, and I will explain why in this review. But this is an 1800 euro amp, and it should be reviewed and tested as such in comparison to similar amps. There are some things I missed in this amp that I got in other amps in this price range.
vs. Stereo 70s (and some previous models)
Firstly, if you wanted my review of the Stereo 70 and think it might have the same sound, you would be somewhat right and wrong. This is a typical Marantz house sound, so you know where their money went: to create a warm, big sound with emphasis on lower mids and upper bass. Right, typical Marantz.
But also, the Model 50, 40, and 30 are trying to shake up that image a little bit, as they want to be amps that offer a lot more in this price range. They are putting a lot of emphasis on refining the top end. Yup, you heard me right. The mids are clearer, the treble has more expression, and it delivers more details and textures.
It is obvious that Marantz is trying to preserve their core sound but with more maturity and precision.
To emphasize, up until now, I have only listened to the 5000, 6000, and 7000 series of Marantz amps, which were all fantastic amps in their price range. The 6000 was a killer value and quality. I don’t have experience with expensive Marantz amps, but I do have experience with expensive amps from other manufacturers, so I can compare.
My Review of Marantz Stereo 70s:
Best and amazing sonic part of this Amp
Let’s start with the best part of this sound: the beautiful hug of that warm sound it reproduces. If you have a problem with listening to poorly produced music, no worries; Marantz has your back. It rounds and smooths those rough edges to create a more pleasant sound. It serves as a listener with easy hours and hours of listening, by completely and superbly controlling the low end, which helps neutralize the top end a bit. It is a great amp to combat bright speakers like Bowers & Wilkins and similar.
It produces an incredibly big and sprawling sound. And the bass... oh my... if you set up this amp and start playing your favorite tunes with a buildup of sounds as an intro, like “Telegraph Road” from Dire Straits or “Blade Runner Blues,” you will be shocked by the sheer mass of sound rushing towards you. Of course, you will need speakers that are talented with bass output, but the synergy can be wild between these speakers and this amp. It’s definitely not just the entire spectrum of bass, but it also blends into the lower mids to make everything feel so big and sweet.
I am always surprised by this amp’s presentation of bass. It is extraordinary, and its attempt to push details and textures through it is truly amazing.
Mids, Vocals and Soundstage
And that sweetness and smoothness come from the midsection not picking up and staying attached to the bass. Depending on what you expect from this amp, you might be really satisfied or a bit disappointed. Those who expect a lot of smoothness, warmth, and weight will obviously be happy. Vocals are amazing with this amp; if you get speakers with good imaging and clear the air superbly, you will be given a rendition of vocals with a lot of expression and presence.
The amp does a great job giving vocals definition to rival other instruments and makes those acoustic vocals and ballads sing to you. And that beautiful singing has a lot of timbre, with left, right, and center placement. There is a lot to be heard here, as this is a mature Marantz amp; it enriches vocals, capturing the breathing, lung movement, and room properties where it was recorded. You hear that.
Yes, this amp does not bring the best imaging in the game; it does not separate the vocals significantly, nor does it bring the utmost textures and details out of vocals. But there is something like nighttime listening that just oozes Marantz sound, with how easy it is to listen and sail through the sonic seas of soundscapes they create.
The soundstage is an interesting aspect here. Initially, it appears really large. But the more I listened, the more I realized that it was not the width and scope of the soundstage I was hearing but just the weight and presence of the sounds. There is good separation among instruments here, but it didn’t throw the biggest reach and didn’t allow my brain and ears to place them on separate parts of the stage as seamlessly as some other amps.
To summarize the mids: they are beautiful, smooth, with decent separation and presence. But while Marantz chooses this warm sound, it sacrifices a bit of clarity and transparency. So, separation is not the best in class. But this is a great amp, and it does deliver decent enough separation and clarity for many to enjoy. It’s just that I try to be picky, as that is what reviews do.
Treble
The same issue applies to energy. If you come from something like a Rega and expect that this amp will deliver high-octane, fun, and powerfully rhythmic sound for your speakers to resolve, you might be disappointed. However, I can tell you right away that I was surprised by how well it actually performed.
This is a warm amp, as the term suggests, with a big, weighty, sweet sound. By default, that sound slightly veils the upper frequencies, as is the nature of warm sound. However, on the Model 50 and Model 30, Marantz manages to clean up the upper ranges, allowing them to blossom. It shows placement and separation of all the sound that drifts in that area of dynamics, and it also maintains a certain energy while listening through this amp. I love percussion, and I appreciate well-produced pieces with all the possible organic and textural percussion that can breathe in this area. I can feel the strike and understand what properties and qualities it has. Although I can't say it performs the best in its price range, it is still quite good. With its warm sound, fantastic bass, and expressive treble, it creates an interesting cocktail of sounds. If you enjoy a warm sound, there's a lot here to love and enjoy for your audiophile ears.
Synergy with Speakers
Regarding synergy, this amp is naturally punchy and energetic with speakers, favoring those that are not too heavy or specialized in the lower end. I found it particularly enjoyable with balanced speakers, as it helps naturally highlight the music's tendencies. If the song is bass-oriented, like much electronic music, it will allow Marantz to create amazing sound explorations. For more guitar-driven music, the guitars will have enough weight and clarity. Marantz allows you to experiment at your leisure, but in my opinion, avoid rich, heavy speakers unless you’re building a home theater system or enjoy abundant bass and warmth.
The synergy with Bowers & Wilkins is so good that is amazing, how the sound of ice and fire combine so well to create amazing synergy with weight and yet with punch and energy. It is amazing and I do heavily recommend to try Marantz amps with Bowers & Wilkins speakers. It gives best of both worlds.
The Inner Mounting Flame/Bowers & Wilkins
Let me briefly touch on my real-life listening sessions. I’ll start with the jazz fusion legendary album "The Inner Mounting Flame" by Mahavishnu Orchestra. It’s an energetic album with an extremely talented rhythmic section. The bass and drums have a very organic, neutral feeling, almost live despite being a studio-produced album. John McLaughlin's guitar leads the album, and I wanted that guitar to feel super close, to close my eyes and enjoy the sonic journey. Marantz could achieve this if paired with speakers like Bowers & Wilkins, which are a match made in heaven for this amp. It brought enough energy and passion, while guitars and drums had the right weight. With more balanced speakers, I might not have felt that as Marantz wouldn’t provide as much reach or expression in the mids and treble, but here it works perfectly. It’s one of those moments where you close your eyes and just groove, immersing yourself in a beautiful sonic heaven.
Virgins/Triangle
For electronic music, the real hero is Marantz. Listening to Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, and Tim Hecker, especially Hecker’s album "Virgins" (one of the best electronic albums of the 21st century), was a revelation. The chaotic yet ethereal sound, with the deep bass from my Triangles, floored me. The sound wasn’t the most detailed or informative, but it carried me away. Unless you're someone who seeks micro-details and expressions, Marantz is exceptional for electronic music. It handles harsh high notes that electronic music often poorly produces with grace. "Virgins" sounded fuller and more textured in the lower end. It’s one of those albums where you want to listen to the entire thing in one sitting.
So-Pavilion of dreams/Dali
Marantz is also superb for ambient, pop, or rock albums produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, like Peter Gabriel’s "So." The song "Reeeeeeed Rain" sounded great, filled with the 80s warm bass. It works fantastically for relaxing and enjoying endless celestial sounds. Pair it with speakers like Dalis, which have beautiful mids, and enjoy life and music effortlessly. Play some Harold Budd's "Pavilion of Dreams" and change your life.
Musical Fidelity M5si
First, my favorite amp in this price range is the Musical Fidelity M5si. I still prefer Musical Fidelity, not necessarily because it's a better amp, but because I prefer how it resolves the sound. By taking a more balanced approach, it achieves greater transparency and detail exposure. The sound is not as large and imposing as Marantz, and it doesn't push your bass to be as detailed and sized, but the bass still has a nice firm grip. It’s a balanced amp with hints of darkness and masculinity, which I also appreciate. The treble is also nicer in the sense that it allows your speakers to showcase their talents. If your speakers are rich in treble, the sound will be rich there; if they are neutral, you will have a flatter line. It helps resolve and clean the upper spectrum. It’s a sound I prefer, so it largely depends on your perception of these two amps. If you want a smoother, warmer sound with incredible voice reproduction, go for Marantz. For a more neutral, balanced, transparent, and detailed sound, choose Musical Fidelity.
Rega Elex Mk4
Another amp in this price range is the Rega Elex. Rega specializes in dynamic scalability, and if you're familiar with Regas, you know what that means. It offers a powerful, lean, and punchy sound. As you’ve read in my review, these two amps are quite different in sound signature. Marantz has a big, weighty sound, while Rega’s is lean and punchy. Marantz has better communication and soundstage scope, making vocals sound beautiful and creamy, with better imaging. However, Rega excels in resolution and detail revelation, offering a great lean sound that audiophiles might appreciate for its ability to track placements, positions, and instruments with astonishing timing and precision, making clinical listening sessions enjoyable. Choose based on which sound suits you better.
Denon PMA-1700ne
Another amp to consider is the Denon PMA-1700NE. Denon is a more typical integrated amp with all the inputs and outputs, Bluetooth, a phenomenal phono input, etc. In terms of usability and flexibility, Denon excels. But what about sound? Both emphasize bass but differently. Denon emphasizes strength and warmth, making the bass more impactful with more attack and detail, and less veiled. This results in more transparency and a bit more detail. However, I prefer Marantz in this direct comparison. While my audiophile ears might choose Denon, my preference for leisure and enjoyment leans toward Marantz for its smooth, warm, and all-encompassing sound. Marantz creates beautiful renditions for listening to music day and night. Denon might be better for movies, but that’s a small note.
Conclusion
In the end, Marantz has positioned itself strongly among amps in this price range. It delivers great warmth while reaching beyond that cloud to reveal details and clarity. It’s an appealing option for those who may not be fully convinced by Marantz’s “musicality.” This is a great amp that can satisfy many listeners, especially those seeking warmth or stability with bright speakers.
Its blissful, large scope of sound will make you fall in love with music, making everything creamier and prettier. With great bass, beautiful mids, and surprisingly decent treble, great and transcendent vocals, it will be your listening companion for mysterious and charming evenings of music.
Marantz is an analog dream, and as far as warm amps go, there is no competition in this price range. Marantz is the king of warm amplifiers, and you should not look elsewhere when searching for something like that.
Thank you.
Pros:
Design and Build Quality: The industrial design with gold accents feels prestigious and high-quality. I personally am in love with this deisgn.
Pure Analog Experience: The absence of a DAC allows for a focused, traditional listening experience, appealing to purists. Extracting as much is possible in sound quality.
Bass is Amazing It truly will push your speakers that are talented around lower end, to show, present and expend bass which is agile and full of detail.
Exceptional Sound Quality: Warm, rich sound with great bass reproduction, clear mids, and decent treble; excellent for various music genres, especially electronic and vocal-heavy tracks. Smooth vocals and sound character are a big highlight and you can even call this sound nocturnal, as the sound can keep you attached to your listening positions many nights and hours.
Great Synergy with Certain Speakers: Pairs exceptionally well with brands like Bowers & Wilkins and Dali, enhancing the overall sound experience.
Value for Money: Priced lower than feature-rich competitors, allowing for investment in external components like a dedicated DAC or streamer.
Cons:
Limited Features: Lacks digital inputs, HDMI, and a built-in DAC, which may not meet the needs of modern audiophiles seeking versatility.
Position in Market: Sits in a gray area between all-in-one and all-separate systems, potentially making it a harder sell.
Clarity and Separation: While sound is warm and enjoyable, it sacrifices some clarity and detail, especially in the treble and soundstage separation. Even thou it is a good, but not best in class in this price level.
Initial Listening Experience: Some users may miss features present in competitors at similar price points, highlighting the need for careful thinking and cross examining what competition offers.