(July 7, 2020) With Denon’s 2020 models revealed, Sound United has shifted its powerful spotlight to a new crop of 8K-ready Marantz SR Series receivers. Priced between $1,099 and $3,199, Marantz’s latest and greatest are hardly budget-oriented, but rest assured, all of that coinage delivers front-running future-proof technologies tailored for elite performance.
Representing the top-quartet of Marantz’s SR offerings, each new receiver houses high-current discrete power amps on all channels with fidelity authored by Marantz’s proprietary Hyper Dynamic Amplification Module (HDAM) Circuitry. Additional cross-model similarities include 8K-friendly video tech, a minimum of 6 HDMI inputs, Atmos and DTS:X immersive sound processing, broad-spectrum Hi-Res audio support, HEOS Built-in, Roon Tested certification, onboard access to top-shelf music streaming services, and phono compatibility.
The SR8015 ($3,199) now resides as Marantz’s flagship AVR, boasting 13.2 channels of processing, 11 channels of native amplification, and a beefy 140 watts per channel (8 ohms, 2ch driven). Being the top model, it features all of the bells and whistles at Marantz’s disposal, including DTS:X Pro decoding. While early adopters will need to wait for upcoming firmware to unlock Pro capabilities, a little patience will certainly pay off as this advanced version of DTS:X allows for 13 channels of output (7.2.6 or 9.2.4) when using an external amplifier.
Flagship buyers will also be treated to both IMAX Enhanced and Auro-3D functionality and the latest height virtualization technologies. While DTS:X Pro is excluded from the step-down 125 watts per channel 11.2 SR7015 ($2,299), it carries most of the SR8015’s capabilities, including IMAX Enhanced, Auro 3D, and Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room correction.
Speaking of room correction, all three models carrying MultEQ XT32 (SR6015, SR7015, SR8015) benefit from new Audyssey Low Frequency Containment algorithms packaged as Sub EQ HT. This technology provides individual DSP tailoring of each subwoofer in a dual sub array, leading to cleaner and more defined bass output.
On the 8K front, each new SR AVR ships with 8K/60p and 4k/120p pass through, onboard 8K upscaling, and support for HLG, HDR10, HDR10+, Dynamic HDR, and Dolby Vision high dynamic range formats. Other HDMI 2.1 features include instant switching between media containing different frame rates (Quick Media Switching), Enhanced Audio Return Channel, Variable Refresh Rate, Auto Low Latency Mode, and Quick Frame Transport.
The SR5015 ($1,099) and SR6015 ($1,599) offer 100 and 110 watts per channel of power, respectively, while scaling back on features found on the 7015 and 8015 models. All four receivers, however, are integrator friendly with remote monitoring and management capabilities via Domotz Pro and OvrC.
The rollout of Marantz’s new SR Series gear will begin on July 15 (SR7015), followed by releases on August 15 (SR8015) and September 15 (SR5015 and SR6015). For more information, visit www.marantz.com/us.
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