Marantz, one of the most popular brands in high-end audio for over 70 years, has introduced the latest additions to their portfolio of reference-quality home theatre components: the AV 20 Preamplifier and AMP 20 Power Amplifier.
The two new models build on the home theatre pedigree of the AV 10 and AMP 10,along with the CINEMA 30 AVR. The new AV 20 and AMP 20 further expand this portfolio, creating a family of premium products that seamlessly complement each other, and which can be combined in a variety of different system configurations if required. Both products are designed and manufactured at Marantz’s premium factory, the Shirakawa Audio Works, in Japan.
“The new AV 20 and AMP 20 are the next stage in Marantz’s continuing evolution in the high-performance audio category” stated Giles Pocock, Vice-President Brand Marketing. “They represent all that is best about the brand’s premium design, engineering excellence and attention to detail, and they also usefully expand the breadth and versatility of our offering in home theatre”.
AV 20 and AMP 20 incorporate the latest generation of Marantz’s iconic porthole display combined with the brand’s elegant industrial design. Both are built with a multi-layer chassis featuring an extensive use of copper. The elegant fascia plates on both models feature selectable side illumination, with a fold-down front panel on the AV 20 to conceal less-used functions, creating a clean aesthetic not typically associated with AV components. Even the aluminium remote control has been carefully considered and features backlighting to ensure a simplified user experience in darkened rooms.
The new AV 20 deploys the latest and most powerful Analog Devices SHARC dual-core DSP chipset coupled to state-of-the-art 32-bit two-channel DACs with dedicated jitter reduction. The result is a powerful digital platform able to precisely decode and accurately process all forms of incoming audio, from high-resolution stereo to the latest forms of immersive audio, including Dolby Atmos, IMAX Enhanced, DTS:X Pro and AURO-3D.
AV 20 also features powerful processing capabilities with Audyssey MultEQ XT32 advanced room optimization, based on automatic calibration of speaker sizes, speaker distances, level adjustment and more, all enabled by an included microphone. Optionally available Dirac Live Room Correction plus Dirac Live Bass Control, allows for fully optimized low-frequency integration for up to four independent subwoofers.
In a first for Marantz, AV 20 will also offer the latest and most powerful of Dirac’s extensive room-optimization technologies: Dirac Live Active Room Treatment (ART), designed to give the most cohesive and tonally consistent listening experience of any available room optimization technology. The Dirac Live ART upgrade will be supported via a future firmware update.
AV 20 can scale to meet an extensive range of system configurations now and in the future. Each of its seven HDMI inputs can support up to 8K/60Hz or 4K/120Hz video, while its brand-new high-resolution user interface makes setup and customization seamless.
Multiple analog and digital inputs, coupled to an extensive range of custom-installation-optimized features, means AV 20 can be adapted to suit every possible customer use case from intimate media rooms through to dedicated and substantial home theatres. The discrete HDAM SA-3 preamplifier stage feeds up to 13.4 channels via RCA or XLR outputs, ensuring ample flexibility over system configurations.
As expected, the AV 20 also supports the latest HEOS whole-home multi-room platform, giving effortless access to streaming service content, all seamlessly integrated into one unified user experience. Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth all complement HEOS to simplify access to the broadest possible range of streaming services, mobile devices and use cases.
The AMP 20 is designed to the same aesthetic and performance standards as the AMP 10, and configured as a 12-channel power amplifier with 200 watts per channel (8ohms, 1kHz, THD 0.05 % with two channels driven), which is sufficient to drive multiple different speaker configurations and speaker layouts with ease.
It also provides the option of reconfiguring pairs of 200W amp channels into bridged-tied-load (BTL) outputs, with up to a maximum of six channels of 400W available if the chosen speaker system requires it. Alternatively, users can opt to bi-amp up to six speakers. Both XLR and RCA inputs are included.
The AMP 20 can also be combined into systems alongside other Marantz components; for example, as a powerful amplifier upgrade for CINEMA 30 owners, or as a complement to AV 10 AV Preamplifiers where fewer channels of power are required. In the same way, AV 20 buyers can opt to buy the 16-channel AMP 10 Power Amplifier instead of the AMP 20 if they require more than the 12 channels of power offered by AMP 20 in their home theatre system.
Both new products are available now.