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Incredible how some people spend on highend gear then limit the sound quality with compressed Spotify. Instead, it's much better to use a lossless streaming source like Apple Music.
Another great breakdown. A question if I may. how does an AVR like this or the Onkyo RZ-70 compare to the Yamaha N2000a in 2-channel listening / TV viewing? since here in Australia they're all about the same price? cheers again.
Did a little happy dance at the M1 comparison seeing as I ordered mine yesterday after the livestream with the B&Ws. Thanks Andrew (and obviously Kristi) as you guys give the absolute best viewpoints on the more costly (comparatively) equipment. Not many folks' judgement can be trusted these days so you guys stand out in a great way and we appreciate that.
Can we just agree that having 100 ish watts of class AB for all channels is actually highly impressive? In a fully integrated piece of equipment and not a dedicated amplifier? I mean, that’s awesome. Also, can we all agree Marantz is truly back to their glorious days? Every piece they’ve released recently, is awesome, the M1, the 40n, the AVRs? All damn good products. I wish we had that level of consistency from other manufacturers. And I agree that they seem to be going the route of Samsung and the Q900 series bars, that are awesome products, but kind of disappear because they haven’t changed visually or feature wise really got a while now. But at least, with the AVR you usually buy them for at least a few years without the worry of going obsolete and tuck them away a lot of time inside cabinets. Great review and video, as always! Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday!
I 100% agree! I think, and this is just my opinion, but in a lot of ways, as far as traditional AVRs go, we've reached peak receiver for now. What's more interesting, at least to me, is how some brands like Anthem are starting to rethink AVRs a la their SLM line, which we have in for review and will be bringing you soon. I like that AVRs could be going smaller, not larger, as the years progress.
@@Echo-jg8is well, Marantz guarantees us 70% power all channels driven? Based on the two channel power. In the review, Andrew states about 90-100watts give or take. Going off of that. And simple math. I don’t know all the ins and outs of the AVR construction and electronics inside. That’s a question for Marantz at this point. But thank you for the info.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews yes! I hope they figure out a way to make a decently powered (AB class preferably) AVR that’s also compact. Like the size of a larger DVD player maybe? Or even the AudioLab 9000? That would be awesome.
@@Echo-jg8is you'd never use all the channels and especially the heights - it's not like the old days but they can hit 100 watts x 5. Mine hits 120 but the difference is minimal. It's more for 2 channel and the bass thump from bi-amping.
I have the Cinema 40 and I'm very happy with it. Thanks for confirming I made the right choice and put the extra funds on a 3 channel Emotiva amp for my LCR in my 7.2.2 system.
Seriously Andrew I wish you would do a TV show where you got to people's houses and see their set up and give them better options. Love your content and trust your reviews. Use to have a Martaz back in the 80 s . Miss it. Got Klipsch speakers with Yamaha receiver .Love my Klipsch.
Like Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares -- Robinson's Home Cinema Nightmares.. "look at the state of the wiring.. you've plugged your subwoofer into the TV audio out!" 🤭
Andrew, you always speak so well. Articulate and concise. I so appreciate this. You have only gotten better and better as you perfect your craft. Great reviews which are top in its class. Keep up the good work my friend.
Thanks as always! Sorry I can't catch you and Kristi live - I really hope you try out Audyssey one and compare it to Dirac and Sony Spatial Mapping. I for one will be all ears!
Im a separates guy. Realistically, i dont think people who buy an 11plus channel receiver should expect it to be able to power thirsty speakers effectively. No matter how beefy the power supply is, you could be underwhelmed when pairing power hungry speakers with any receiver.. just my 2 cents. Great review. Glad to see sony 7000 still a powerhouse.
I disagree - I have the old 703s which many people pair with Rotel 300 watts and which has the B&W 3.9ohm issue. I bi-amped with 150 watts x 4 with a Marantz 8002. I can't complain - I didn't have a sub for 15 years and the speakers dropped to 20-30 in the room. The Marantz sounded as good as the 100lb 5803 and 75lb RZ1 that I auditioned.
@@techsamurai11 right on. That sounds like a knock out setup. I didnt really mean in all cases, either. Im no absolutist. I used receivers for years and was happy and content. But that was in the 5.1 and 7.1 era. With 9, 11, or 13 channels, im just saying, if all speakers are super power hungry, one could be disappointed. Its not a rule or a fact. Just my suspicion…
@@maxpower78-15 I actually agree with you about the separates being a better value because the 4800H is practically identical internally to the Cinema 40 and can be bought on sale making it a much better proposition. You can buy an external 5 channel amp to power your LCR bi-amping the usually full range towers which provide 70% of the sound. That's usually where the majority of power is used since the LCR can drop to lower frequencies which require more power than higher frequencies. I was merely pointing out that some AVRs can get the job done especially if you don't have a crazy number of channels or a Perlisten level system all around.
I'm putting together a new stereo & HT setup (5.1). My mains are Martin Logan ESL X's, with Martin Logan XTW5-LCR in-wall as center and rear surrounds. You being a fellow ML aficionado, I'd love your advice on a HT receiver that would drive them and be a good sonic match. TYVM!
Thank you for your support first and foremost, based on the specs of both types of speakers, the ESL X and the in-walls, both of which dip well into 4 Ohm territory, the ESL X's going as low as 2 Ohms in some instances, you want an AVR that is truly rated to handle a 4 Ohm speaker. Straight away this means a lot of more budget-friendly options are going to be out of the question, unless you go with say a more budget-oriented AVR and use it as a preamp/processor mated with a separate multi-channel amplifier, which honestly, may be the best way to go given your speaker choice. The best value for money AVR on the market right now is the Onkyo RZ50 (bit.ly/3k1gqs8) followed by, likely, the RZ70 (bit.ly/3BPi48v) also from Onkyo. The RZ50 plus a five channel Emotiva XPA Series amplifier (bit.ly/3x0sIYs) would likely be all you would need to enjoy your speakers at their fullest potential, not to mention the RZ50 comes with DIRAC as standard so you'll also enjoy best-in-class room correction without having to spend more on top of your initial purchase price. Emotiva can drive the Logans you have no problem, and the RZ50 as a preamp/processor is neutral to the source. The RZ70 may be enough AVR on its own for your speakers, so for a little less than $2K you could be one and done. Or you could use a stereo XPA amp from Emotiva just for your ESL Xs if you need a little more power down the road. The 70, like the 50 comes with DIRAC. Another good option, especially if you want a mildly fuller tone from any speaker would be to use something like the Marantz Cinema line of receivers, either the Cinema 50 (bit.ly/3y4rfAq) or Cinema 40 (bit.ly/46yoPcX). I would probably add a separate stereo amp with the Cinema 50 (think XPA 2) but the 40 may be enough at first or to get you started. But both Marantz options cost more and DIRAC would be an additional fee. I love the Marantz AVRs a lot, but they get costly when trying to take full advantage of what they can offer. Lastly, you have the Sony 70000ES, but I have not tried any Sony electronics on MartinLogan speakers, so I have no idea how they'll sound together. I love the 7000ES, but its heightened noise floor with 360 Sound Mapping engaged may be more audible through the ESL panel, which I wouldn't want you to have to experience. Great AVR, but I'm not sure if its great with Logans. Hope this helps!
This sounds so familiar! As a retiree on a budget, sold my Sony STR-AZ5000ES (at a loss) and with the Marantz SR8015 at crazy low prices (after the Cinema 30 was announced) , picked the 8015 for under $2K, less than what I paid for the 5000. I am so happy! I did sell my RP-8000F and picked some Martin Logan Motion 60XTi also at a discount with the next gen of ML Motion speakers are now available. I completed my 5.1.4 with an EMOTIVA XPA-3 Gen 3 to drive my Martin front stage and I am a really happy listener. Thanks Andrew for all the honest reviews and Kristy for all the detailed descriptions and your down to earth comments on the videos!
@@kingtrance307In my opinion, the Sony STR-AZ5000ES doesn’t even come close to the Marantz SR8015. In my book, not even the 7000 is s match to the SR8015. And at $1,799, the SR8015 is the deal of the century! Send me a PM and I will be happy to provide details of all the issues I had with my 5000. Not good memories.
@@rafacq - I believe you sir. I have the Denon AVR-X 4500 and am a happy camper for now. The 360 Sony auto surround feature always intrigued me for movies and peaked my curiosity. At one time I had a Sony STR-5800es that I thought sounded great but I moved on to the Denon as I wanted Atmos. I don’t necessarily need Dirac because Audyssey sounds fine in my room. I liked the simplicity of Sonys auto EQ and that worked fine in my room as well. The Marantz SR 8015 certainly is a fine receiver! I would love one but don’t necessarily need all the extra channels in my 5.4.2 system. Yes I have 4 subwoofers… 😃
@@rafacq - And yes I had a couple HDMI glitches with my old Sony 5800. The receiver would randomly and intermittently cut off audio and switch back on when listening to music and watching movies. Never have had any of those issues with my Denon.
You still cling to the Sony! Glad it works for you. I finally sold my 5000ES. Took advantage of the crazy discounted price on a Marantz SR8015 and simply LOVE IT! What a magnificent piece of equipment. So happy with the Marantz sound, I bought a Marantz Stereo 70s for my study 2 channel setup! Thanks for the video.
I would love to hear your opinion of the Marantz 30 and the Yamaha Aventage top two AVRs. I understand that Yamaha is an acquired taste but it is mine . Thank you, Andrew, and I look forward to Kristi's cutting criticisms, even if she questions my audacity for mentioning the Aventage A6A and A8A. Keep up the good work!
@@robertrichards3433 I think even at $3,000 it puts most to shame. I previously owned a Denon 6700 and Yamaha A8A and the RZ70 is noticeably better than both.
I owned the Marantz sr8015 for a little year. Great sounding machine. Worked flawlessly. Then I sold it and bought the JBL SDR35: what a great difference! Instantly movies sounded awesome like in a real cinema and the Center channel performance was absolutely fabulous. Even without Dirac. Music sounds much richer and bigger. The jbl had some hardware and software issues at the start. They are fixed now.
Play the intro to No Time To Die - it should leave you with your jaw hitting the floor at even 80-85db. I don't know if the 8015 can even do that but Marantz used to with the old 8000 series probably designed by Ken Ishiwata.
In all honesty, I'd pick the RZ-70 and if I wanted more power, I'd add separate power amps. As a current RZ-50 owner, I would actually add power amps if I felt that need, since even this lower model has very capable pre-outs, which present no problem for virtually any power amp to reach its maximum output level before the pre-amp clipping. I'm running a mini DSP unit for the subs, which means independent volume and EQ up to 4 subwoofers (I'm only running two as of now). That's where my concept of "value" comes in, and prevents me from buying something like this Marantz. As good as it may be (and the price goes up even if you want the RZ-50 level of Dirac), all of these receivers will get dated by the natural evolution of technology, and when that happens and you want to upgrade them, they usually have a very poor resale value. If you put your money on good power amps, you can replace the receiver (without going near the flagship model), while still retaining a good part of your "investment" on power amps. If this Marantz was more "special", I could make a case for buying it. But it only feels like another Marantz receiver, with some small added performance here and there, which doesn't feel like a good value to me, personally speaking. I can see the value of the R11 Metas against speakers costing way less (including Kefs own R range). But not with this Marantz.
@@MrRocktuga - That was a very thoughtful analysis. I feel pretty much the same. I have an older Denon AVR-X 4500 paired with an OCD Nero 3200 amp to power my Martin Logans on the front LRC channels. Sounds great to me. The Onkyo RZ-50 sounds intriguing to me - if only to add Dirac on a budget. Did you find it was a night and day difference over Audyssey?
I was looking forward to your review of the Cinema 30 after watching you review all the other receivers i considered. The Sony is sadly not sold here in the EU :( so i had to look for a different one in the end i ended up buying a Cinema 30. Im also looking forward to what Kristi has to say about the Cinema 30 she had some interesting perspectives in the past. I had a Denon X4400h. Back when i bought it i first wanted to invest in Atmos and better front speakers. (i had Jamo S628's and one SVS PC2000 together with a SVS Ultra Center and Prime Bookshelfs for surround). Later i bought a second pair of Jamo S622's for the ATMOS and SVS Ultra bookshelfs to replace the Jamo Front's i also added a Second PC2000 so those handle the power bass. I used that setup for 3 years and the X4400h for 5 and a half year. i also tested the X7200W back then it sounded better on the Prime Bookshelfs but for the price difference it was atmos first. So 6 weeks back i bought a Cinema 30. i also tested it vs a A1H. I liked both a lot but when i switched to the Cinema 30 there was a spaciousness in the sound that was not there with the X4400h but also not with the A1H. The Denons are more forward, and bit more crystal clear at the high end (especially the A1H). But can also be a bit "harsh" compared to the C30. Both the C30 and A1H had a wider open sound compared to the X4400h but the C30 sounded even more spacious to me. i noticed the same thing with movies the channels blended even nicer together somehow. That was something i liked when i went to the C30 from the X4400h and i missed again when going to the A1H. So in the end i swiched back to the C30 and decided to keep that. It was 1100 euro less in my case (it was a used A1H) While it was a good deal i did not use the extra channels. If i will expand i will probably be front wides but thats also possible with the C30. Do note all this testing has been done with Audyssey One Evolution. i used that on all 3 receivers. After using that i dont want to go back to normal Audyssey anymore. I was already using Pure Direct on my X4400h for music because Audyssey ruins it somehow. After using A1E i know that does not need to be the case but Audyssey is not that great in correcting above 250Hz. A1E only does < 250Hz and what it does to the bass is o so good. Everything above 250 is only a calibration curve and the tonality of the speakers is left as is. The Jamo sound quite similar to the SVS tonality wise. So they match well and i dont need Audyssey to correct that. They are Atmos anyway so mostly effects. The more important speakers are all SVS so they match great. I plan to do a Dirac trial in the near future to compare A1E vs Dirac and see what i like more and if its worth the extra 799 euro. A1E already improves over standard Audyssey so much i wonder if its worth it. So far i really like the Cinema 30 its a nice upgrade over my X4400h and it did what i hoped it would do: 1 more detail, wider sound stage in stereo, more spacious sound and more power in high SLP movie scenes. I also liked the A1H a lot but somehow i did prefer the Cinema 30. Movies i tested: Mad Max Fury Road, Startrek 2009 & Into Darkness, Edge Of Tomorrow, Ready Player One, Passific Rim
The RZ70 is looking pretty amazing right now and that's before you consider it is $3700aud compared marantz $7900aud before the Dirac upgrade. Buying the Marantz just feels like flushing money down the toilet.
Happy Sunday A&K. Excellent thorough review as always. While AVR's aren't my thing, I did find the 2-channel comparison with the M1 very interesting. That M1 is so intriguing, particularly as a lifestyle sized product that brings the goods performance wise for those looking for good quality stereo amplification in a compact form. Any reviews in the works for its Denon sibling Home Amp priced even more attractively? Very interested in the sound comparison between the two and if there's any difference. Thanks again for all the great content this week. 5 plus hours this week I believe!
Basically the 30 is an sr8015 (which is still available)at a multiple of the price. Some might argue the sr8015 is superior, certainly the price is far better. Masimo’s mission is to raise the price of all of the old Sound United’s products. That’s what happens when you grossly overpay for an acquisition. Thanks for the great content. PS you should’ve covered mdax which is a differentiator between Marantz and their competition. No mention of heos????
I just purchased and received the Cinema 30. Periodically it was experiencing video and sound blackouts for approximately 10 to 20 seconds and then it would recover. I have a 86 inch Bravia tv. I upgraded my HDMI cables to the Audioquest Forest 48 5ft. Support told me I needed to purchase a EDID emulator.I was told it was a known problem. I had to return the Cinema 30 as the last time it blacked out it did not recover. Is this a common issue with AVRs?
Hi Andrew, great review. One question, how would you compare the Cinema 30 to its predecessor, the SR8015? Many of the specs seem to be the same so are there any meaningful differences?
I recently got a Sony ES 5000 based on your recommendation and am very happy with it. I agree that the one shortcoming with the Sony is that it doesn't support DIRAC (or have an app like MultiEQ). I did buy RS5s to get 5.1 and so far, I have not had any issues with them.
I've caught so much heat from people on my description of the Marantz sound which I describe as overly mellow (even dark with some speakers) with a premature roll-off in the high frequency that kills detail. I am proud to say that I have Andrew on my side. Thanks for the affirmation brother!
Thanks for the honest reviews. .. Will stick with the Sony str-az5000es that I purchased based on your reviews calling it Sony's sweet spot receiver. Thank you again😊😊
When Sony makes their high-end products... it's really hard to beat Sony, that including their top of the line headphones etc. I personally don't like Marantz - thick, laid-back warm sound....
Reviews like this one just push me one step closer to ditching the 3.1 setup and migrating to a much simpler 2.1 using the Marantz M1 for audio only and eARC for its audio input. No more universal remotes to simplify multiple devices and it would seem much better sound for a setup that's used 80% music and 20% movies/TH-cam videos.
Thank you for the review as I had this in my possession but after listening to what you had to say have decided to stay with my marantz avr 7005, and return the cinema 30. I have always enjoyed the 7005 and was looking for the upgrade for atmos which I also purchased Krix ic52 which will also be returned. Thanks again as you have saved me a stack of money and install time.
Hi Andrew, how do you compare this new Marantz Cinema 30 with the Arcam AVR31 (especially for listen to music)? Do you plan to do a detailed review of the Arcam receivers one day? Thanks for all the great videos!
I think Arcam may be a little concerned about highlighting its non-existent user-friendliness units. Yeah, Arcam units sound fantastic. However, when it comes to getting the best out of them back and for emailing will become the norm. To be fair, Arcam, do say anything that may possibly diminish sound quality is unlikely to be implemented! One can either have features, functionalities, extra channels, and user friendliness. which, in my experience, equates more towards a digital sound! Or one can go with a unit that gives a little more breathing space to its components. Hence, a more convincing (realistic) analogue sounding unit. Perhaps one is unable to have best of both?
I got the silver version in an open box sale (plus 10% member discount) in UK for £2700. I came from a Denon 3700 and am slowly noticing the big difference in control, balance and general quality of sound. Have only used the £20 app to change the range to 500hz across my 7 speakers but it's improved it even further. Dirac will come later but I'm going through my whole library in 'basic' Audessey setup first. Very happy with the purchase and the remote is heavy and lush just to cap it all off.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks for being such a great and genuine reviewer! I’m still trying to find the best room acoustics items since I have my HT in the basement. Rocking the magnats cinema ultra
No mention of analog bypass again. Many of us have external DACs and or a phono platform. We don't want our analog signal converted to digital and then back to analog. High quality analog bypass is an essential capability for us.
One of my AVR brands is Anthem. I have had and liked their room correction in the past, as well as the overall quality. Any thoughts on how Anthem compares to Marantz?
How about comparison with Yamaha A8A? The Marantz Cinema 30 costs here 4299€ and the Yamaha RXA-A8A costs 3299 €. Yamaha just seem to be a bit more powerful but it doesn't have the Dirac. I haven't heard any of the Cinema amplifiers so I'm curious which of these amps have a better sound quality?
I owned a Marantz Cinema 60 for a year and still loving it since day 1. The latest firmware update allows the support for Tidal connect directly instead of streaming through the HEOS app.
In your review of SVS's new Titan speakers, you mentioned that their center image is so good that you didn't really feel the need for a center speaker. But now that you have both their center and their small Nano speakers from the same series, allowing you to set up a 5.1 system (including the small KEF sub), will there be a full system review, or could you elaborate a bit more on whether you still hold the same opinion regarding using their center speaker together with the Titan? 🙂
How does the 30 compare to the Emotiva MR1L? I know they are different price points, but Emotiva needs to be bought into more comparisons since you already have reviewed it.
What bothers me about these receivers with apps like Pandora, XM Radio, Spotify, etc., is that after a few years, they are obsolete. I have a previous Marantz with these apps, and they no longer function. I think they should continue to work as long as the services themselves are in business.
Incredible how some people spend on highend gear then limit the sound quality with compressed Spotify. Instead, it's much better to use a lossless streaming source like Apple Music.
Why is it so hard for Marantz, Denon, etc to state the power for all channels driven? Why not include all the power you would ever need for the channels the AVR offers to begin with? All AVR's manufactured today should publish the power rating for all channels driven. In my opinion if you spend the money on an AVR at this cost you should never need another amp period regardless of setup unless you expand your system beyond the AVR's channel capabilities.
When I utilised my Atmos Poweramp to my audiophile grade AVR for my front stage speakers (btw also happens to be a matching poweramp to the AVR) gave the setup the ability to enjoy content at low volumes, too. In fact, I was so impressed rather than disconnecting it, I ended up purchasing yet another one.
@@AmmarMalik Volume is a small part of the equation. The more power you have available contributes to the efficiency of your system when you need it as in hitting that punch for movie scenes or music when it is required and not sounding thin when underpowered. When all channels driven have ample power you will definitely notice the difference.
@@TotalplonkerThank you. My point is you should not have to have separate amps in the equation for the cost of this AVR to accomplish what you listed.
From watching your videos Im kinda sold on the Sony ES7000 but from a two- channel head to head comparison with the Marantz 30 or 40 which would you prefer. I know the Marantz adds some coloration but I wanted to know which one sounded more lively when listening to rap, jazz, classical? And as far as the 4 subwoofer outputs coming from the Marantz, does the Sony offer anything like that when it comes to directional subwoofer sound? Thanks love the channel by the way.
Thank you, I think this is an important question, if the video and audio processing is the same or very similar, buying the Cinema 70 (used as a processor) with an Emotiva XBA amp and Direct Live is likely cheaper / better option!
This review was good but no Mention of Dac 2 people think its just for bench testing it's not what Dac 2 deos is It gets rid of the Marantz in-house roll off and sounds more like a Denon , I watched a video on it by masimo
Hope you guys are well . Really missed your videos alot while in for surgery ,bouts of .meds and rehabilitation to get some of .y strength back . Im so glad the last few months I was at a faculty that allowed me to enjoy Diana Krall on the RZ50 with my Focal Choras you both recommended to so many . Ill be playing catchup to see what I've missed from you 2 . Thank you both
Great review, Andrew! You might be one of the only influencers/reviewers online with hands-on experience with all the flagship models, especially the Marantz lineup. In your A1H review, you mentioned issues with phantom center imaging and video processing when handled by the AVR. Is that still the case with the Cinema 30? It also sounds like you're a big fan of Dirac. Did you notice any differences between Dirac with the Onkyo compared to the Cinema 30, AV10, or Marantz separates? Once these units are outfitted with Dirac, is there still a noticeable distinction? Lastly, I've heard you rave about Sony's 360 Reality Audio calibration-do you believe it outperforms Dirac?
I have a Cinema 50 today running 7.2.4. The LR are B&W 702 S2, C is HTM71 S2, Surrounds are B&W CWM663, with some Klipsch CDT-3800 for ceiling. The subs are SVS PB-2000 Pros. Emotiva BasX amps for the LCR and Surrounds. I also have the DIRAC full license and calibrated it. Feel like it is good... but wondering how to make it better. Dialog clarity is a problem at a lot. Music sounds great though. Would the Cinema 30 or AV10 be a really good improvement? Or should invest in better amplifiers? Would adding additional heights improve movie experience? Open to any thoughts?
Andrew, thanks for being honest that the Sony AZ7000ES is still really the best sounding, save for bass management primarily. In your review of the A1H, you seemed to hold back and didn't want to say that the Sony really still sounds better.
Hey Andrew! Something I would hope to see in the future is you reviewing some finnish Genelecs! It would be awesome so hear your opinion to their monitors as they are highly respected in Finland :)
Great review! How does it compare to the Anthem MRX 1140. I noticed you didn’t include that at the end and was wondering if there was a reason why. Thanks for all the great work!
I really wanna see the anthem mrx 1140 in the review mix the 740 is amazing but the 1140 has the toroidal transformer and the 4 class d overhead channels it’s the best they have and I think their sound is so enormous I’d love for you to have a look at it
Thank you for your effort, do you think is it worthy to buy a separate system over this marantz and maybe with additional LRC separate amp? Do you prefer this marantz over the anthem mrx receiver?
Thank you for that awesome unexpected review! Following your review last year, we upgraded to a Cinema 40 from a crusty Denon AVR3805 that didn't even have HDMI so to us it's an amazing upgrade. We currently run 5.1 By next week it will be 5.1.4 We ultimately want 7.2.4 and considering getting a Basx A2 to run the fronts and giving us the extra two channels. Is the Cinema 40 with an extra stereo amp a better overall deal than the 30? Would you recommend a different 2ch amp? Sadly can't stretch to XPA line. Running Klipsch RP8000 / 504C / 500M / SPL15 Thanks to you both for all you do! Jon & Heather 🇬🇧
You can't use the M1 as a standalone stereo amp as it is not intended to be used in that way. As for your other question, if you already own the Cinema 40 and it will allow you to grow to your ultimate system, don't ditch it for the 30. If you need to add additonal amplification, check out the Emotiva BasX line rather than the XPA. It's a GREAT solution too and works well with Marantz. Thanks for your support and I hope my answer helps you on your journey.
I don't know if you guys have any plans to do so, but it would be interesting to compare the Marantz Cinema 30 with the Denon 6800. They are nearly identical with the same features with the only difference being with the HDAM modules, power supply, looks, and cost. So, if using Dirac on the 6800 gets similar sound characteristics to the 30, then you can spend less for the 6800 and get what you want unless you really want the looks of the Marantz or the silver finish. I have the Cinema 40 which I bought before the 30 was released (and before they offered the silver option ☹). I'm a bit interested in the 30 because I used to have the Denon 6700 receiver, using it in a 7.1 (2 subs).6 configuration and with the 30 I can keep using my existing speaker configuration. With the Cinema 40, I have to choose either 5.1.6 or 7.1.4. However, It's not worth going through the hassle of selling my 40 (at a loss) and paying the extra for the 30. (though I'd consider doing that to get the silver 40) All in all, of all the offerings available from Denon and Marantz, I want the Denon A1H (or Marantz A10 in silver but I don't you can get it in that finish). I don't really need it, but I like all the features and flexibility you have with it. Fortunately, I guess, it's 6500 dollars. Too much to even try to buy.
I bought the Marantz cinema 50, Marantz model m1 and Pro-ject speaker box 5s2 after watching your videos. I love to afford to buy the Bowers and Wilkins 705 S3 but are too expensive. I believe the speaker box 5S2 are close enough. They do sound incredible.
when you mean, it can handle more then one tv at a time you mean that they can run in parallel or you meant that you can connect two TVs on the receiver?
I think we are missing some comparison to the Athem 1140 8k, which is quite close in price, but also to it's direct sibling Denon X6800 (which I don't think you reviewed). Denon is interesting, since it is much cheaper, shares the same HDMI board it seems, and has the same power rating. Side note, since a couple of weeks, HEOS got updated and now supports Tidal Connect (but stereo only), with Roon-tested integration "coming soon". There were also talks about Dirac ART for Denon and Marantz, but nothing surfaced so far.
The only reason for the Cinema 30's existence is better music and more channels. Music translates into better movies and better gaming since games also spend a lot of time working on music. If it can't deliver better music than the Denon 4800h made also in the same Shirakawa facility that goes for $1,500 on sale along with an external 5 channel amp to power the LCR, then I'm not sure what the point of it is.
Since the Cinema 30 is the direct replacement for the SR8015, how do they compare? Does the older model have the “Sound Master” doctoring or a more neutral sound, especially when listening to music in Pure Direct stereo?
I am also interested in a comparison of these two models. I believe the SR8015 can still be purchased at a significant discount and still offer Marantz flagship performance. You do miss out on Dirac and the additional 2 subwoofer channels. Otherwise, is there a benefit to go with the Cinema 30 over an SR-8015?
@@jamesmorse6486 I had the SR8015 for 3 or 4 years, and then upgraded to the C30. I have a well treated room, which contributes to the ability to hear differences in gear. The SR8015 is good, but compared, it sounds grainy. The difference is more in the pre and dac I think, the power section is maybe the same. The clarity, stereo perspective and pinpointing I gained both for two channel and in cinema use is really audible. As front speakers I use KEF R11 meta, and I actually upgraded the system with a Hypex Nilai power amp, which also made a difference in clarity.
@@joachimfjeldrichardsen3711Thanks for your detailed comparison. I'm worried about the special "tuning" by someone Marantz calls a "Sound Master". As Andrew has said, this seems to cause a roll-off in the highs. I had also heard in another review (by Audioholics, I think) that the machine offers you a choice of two filters; one of which is "tuned" and the other neutral. Do you have any experience of this? Does the SR8015 also have the same "tuning"?
@@joachimfjeldrichardsen3711 Grainy? I know that the SR8015's DAC was changed mid-model due to a fire at the plant that made the original shipping DAC. Maybe that's part of the issue? Then you added an additional power amp to the C30 to do what? To drive specific channels or completely replace the C30's amp duty? You got me interested. :)
@@jamesmorse6486 Grainy in the sense that C30 is so much more open and what I consider "hifi". I use the dac filter 2, that is much more linear than the 1/default. It sounds more open, and especially in female voices you should easily be able to separete the two. External amp just for the front speakers, they dip down to 3,6ohm. I just like the sound more with the Nilai as poweramp than the internal for stereo duty🙂
Audyssey One is a gamechanger. I find it hard to believe that Dirac will have an improvement/cost ratio that justifies purchasing it over Audyssey One.
Thx for the review! Can you call out what settings you changed to passthrough / off that improved the sound? Im planning to get the cinema 30 and it would be great to have this upfront.
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did you play with the filter settings?
Incredible how some people spend on highend gear then limit the sound quality with compressed Spotify.
Instead, it's much better to use a lossless streaming source like Apple Music.
Another great breakdown. A question if I may.
how does an AVR like this or the Onkyo RZ-70 compare to the Yamaha N2000a in 2-channel listening / TV viewing? since here in Australia they're all about the same price?
cheers again.
your reviews are always excellently done and fun to watch - thank you!
That's so kind of you. We appreciate your comment and the extra love. Have a great day!
Thank you so very much!
Did a little happy dance at the M1 comparison seeing as I ordered mine yesterday after the livestream with the B&Ws. Thanks Andrew (and obviously Kristi) as you guys give the absolute best viewpoints on the more costly (comparatively) equipment. Not many folks' judgement can be trusted these days so you guys stand out in a great way and we appreciate that.
So kind of you to say. Enjoy the M1, it's a sweet little amp!
Can we just agree that having 100 ish watts of class AB for all channels is actually highly impressive? In a fully integrated piece of equipment and not a dedicated amplifier? I mean, that’s awesome.
Also, can we all agree Marantz is truly back to their glorious days? Every piece they’ve released recently, is awesome, the M1, the 40n, the AVRs? All damn good products. I wish we had that level of consistency from other manufacturers.
And I agree that they seem to be going the route of Samsung and the Q900 series bars, that are awesome products, but kind of disappear because they haven’t changed visually or feature wise really got a while now. But at least, with the AVR you usually buy them for at least a few years without the worry of going obsolete and tuck them away a lot of time inside cabinets.
Great review and video, as always! Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday!
I 100% agree! I think, and this is just my opinion, but in a lot of ways, as far as traditional AVRs go, we've reached peak receiver for now. What's more interesting, at least to me, is how some brands like Anthem are starting to rethink AVRs a la their SLM line, which we have in for review and will be bringing you soon. I like that AVRs could be going smaller, not larger, as the years progress.
@@Echo-jg8is well, Marantz guarantees us 70% power all channels driven? Based on the two channel power. In the review, Andrew states about 90-100watts give or take. Going off of that. And simple math. I don’t know all the ins and outs of the AVR construction and electronics inside. That’s a question for Marantz at this point. But thank you for the info.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews yes! I hope they figure out a way to make a decently powered (AB class preferably) AVR that’s also compact. Like the size of a larger DVD player maybe? Or even the AudioLab 9000? That would be awesome.
@@gavriushka The 70% guarantee is for 5 channels.
@@Echo-jg8is you'd never use all the channels and especially the heights - it's not like the old days but they can hit 100 watts x 5. Mine hits 120 but the difference is minimal. It's more for 2 channel and the bass thump from bi-amping.
I have the Cinema 40 and I'm very happy with it. Thanks for confirming I made the right choice and put the extra funds on a 3 channel Emotiva amp for my LCR in my 7.2.2 system.
Seriously Andrew I wish you would do a TV show where you got to people's houses and see their set up and give them better options. Love your content and trust your reviews. Use to have a Martaz back in the 80 s . Miss it. Got Klipsch speakers with Yamaha receiver .Love my Klipsch.
Like Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares -- Robinson's Home Cinema Nightmares.. "look at the state of the wiring.. you've plugged your subwoofer into the TV audio out!" 🤭
Andrew, you always speak so well. Articulate and concise. I so appreciate this. You have only gotten better and better as you perfect your craft. Great reviews which are top in its class. Keep up the good work my friend.
Wow, thank you!
Thanks as always! Sorry I can't catch you and Kristi live - I really hope you try out Audyssey one and compare it to Dirac and Sony Spatial Mapping. I for one will be all ears!
Appreciate the support and noted on the comparison video.
Im a separates guy. Realistically, i dont think people who buy an 11plus channel receiver should expect it to be able to power thirsty speakers effectively. No matter how beefy the power supply is, you could be underwhelmed when pairing power hungry speakers with any receiver.. just my 2 cents. Great review. Glad to see sony 7000 still a powerhouse.
Well said.
I disagree - I have the old 703s which many people pair with Rotel 300 watts and which has the B&W 3.9ohm issue. I bi-amped with 150 watts x 4 with a Marantz 8002. I can't complain - I didn't have a sub for 15 years and the speakers dropped to 20-30 in the room. The Marantz sounded as good as the 100lb 5803 and 75lb RZ1 that I auditioned.
@@techsamurai11 right on. That sounds like a knock out setup. I didnt really mean in all cases, either. Im no absolutist. I used receivers for years and was happy and content. But that was in the 5.1 and 7.1 era. With 9, 11, or 13 channels, im just saying, if all speakers are super power hungry, one could be disappointed. Its not a rule or a fact. Just my suspicion…
@@maxpower78-15 I actually agree with you about the separates being a better value because the 4800H is practically identical internally to the Cinema 40 and can be bought on sale making it a much better proposition. You can buy an external 5 channel amp to power your LCR bi-amping the usually full range towers which provide 70% of the sound. That's usually where the majority of power is used since the LCR can drop to lower frequencies which require more power than higher frequencies.
I was merely pointing out that some AVRs can get the job done especially if you don't have a crazy number of channels or a Perlisten level system all around.
I'm putting together a new stereo & HT setup (5.1). My mains are Martin Logan ESL X's, with Martin Logan XTW5-LCR in-wall as center and rear surrounds. You being a fellow ML aficionado, I'd love your advice on a HT receiver that would drive them and be a good sonic match. TYVM!
Thank you for your support first and foremost, based on the specs of both types of speakers, the ESL X and the in-walls, both of which dip well into 4 Ohm territory, the ESL X's going as low as 2 Ohms in some instances, you want an AVR that is truly rated to handle a 4 Ohm speaker. Straight away this means a lot of more budget-friendly options are going to be out of the question, unless you go with say a more budget-oriented AVR and use it as a preamp/processor mated with a separate multi-channel amplifier, which honestly, may be the best way to go given your speaker choice.
The best value for money AVR on the market right now is the Onkyo RZ50 (bit.ly/3k1gqs8) followed by, likely, the RZ70 (bit.ly/3BPi48v) also from Onkyo. The RZ50 plus a five channel Emotiva XPA Series amplifier (bit.ly/3x0sIYs) would likely be all you would need to enjoy your speakers at their fullest potential, not to mention the RZ50 comes with DIRAC as standard so you'll also enjoy best-in-class room correction without having to spend more on top of your initial purchase price. Emotiva can drive the Logans you have no problem, and the RZ50 as a preamp/processor is neutral to the source.
The RZ70 may be enough AVR on its own for your speakers, so for a little less than $2K you could be one and done. Or you could use a stereo XPA amp from Emotiva just for your ESL Xs if you need a little more power down the road. The 70, like the 50 comes with DIRAC.
Another good option, especially if you want a mildly fuller tone from any speaker would be to use something like the Marantz Cinema line of receivers, either the Cinema 50 (bit.ly/3y4rfAq) or Cinema 40 (bit.ly/46yoPcX). I would probably add a separate stereo amp with the Cinema 50 (think XPA 2) but the 40 may be enough at first or to get you started. But both Marantz options cost more and DIRAC would be an additional fee. I love the Marantz AVRs a lot, but they get costly when trying to take full advantage of what they can offer.
Lastly, you have the Sony 70000ES, but I have not tried any Sony electronics on MartinLogan speakers, so I have no idea how they'll sound together. I love the 7000ES, but its heightened noise floor with 360 Sound Mapping engaged may be more audible through the ESL panel, which I wouldn't want you to have to experience. Great AVR, but I'm not sure if its great with Logans. Hope this helps!
I love checking my phone and realizing it’s a new Andrew/Kristi video drop day. Thanks for all that you do :D
Thank you so much for watching!
This sounds so familiar! As a retiree on a budget, sold my Sony STR-AZ5000ES (at a loss) and with the Marantz SR8015 at crazy low prices (after the Cinema 30 was announced) , picked the 8015 for under $2K, less than what I paid for the 5000. I am so happy!
I did sell my RP-8000F and picked some Martin Logan Motion 60XTi also at a discount with the next gen of ML Motion speakers are now available.
I completed my 5.1.4 with an EMOTIVA XPA-3 Gen 3 to drive my Martin front stage and I am a really happy listener.
Thanks Andrew for all the honest reviews and Kristy for all the detailed descriptions and your down to earth comments on the videos!
Can’t go wrong with the Motion 60’s… great choice! 👍
@@rafacq - Wanted to ask you if you prefer the sound of the Marantz SR8015 over the Sony STR-AZ5000ES? That Sony is a hell of a nice receiver…
@@kingtrance307In my opinion, the Sony STR-AZ5000ES doesn’t even come close to the Marantz SR8015. In my book, not even the 7000 is s match to the SR8015. And at $1,799, the SR8015 is the deal of the century!
Send me a PM and I will be happy to provide details of all the issues I had with my 5000. Not good memories.
@@rafacq - I believe you sir. I have the Denon AVR-X 4500 and am a happy camper for now. The 360 Sony auto surround feature always intrigued me for movies and peaked my curiosity. At one time I had a Sony STR-5800es that I thought sounded great but I moved on to the Denon as I wanted Atmos. I don’t necessarily need Dirac because Audyssey sounds fine in my room. I liked the simplicity of Sonys auto EQ and that worked fine in my room as well. The Marantz SR 8015 certainly is a fine receiver! I would love one but don’t necessarily need all the extra channels in my 5.4.2 system. Yes I have 4 subwoofers… 😃
@@rafacq - And yes I had a couple HDMI glitches with my old Sony 5800. The receiver would randomly and intermittently cut off audio and switch back on when listening to music and watching movies. Never have had any of those issues with my Denon.
You still cling to the Sony! Glad it works for you. I finally sold my 5000ES.
Took advantage of the crazy discounted price on a Marantz SR8015 and simply LOVE IT! What a magnificent piece of equipment. So happy with the Marantz sound, I bought a Marantz Stereo 70s for my study 2 channel setup!
Thanks for the video.
How is the sound equality compering soney E and 8015?
@@Porchewaitombi After having both for 6 months, my choice is the Marantz SR8015 without a doubt! Thus why I sold the Sony at a loss!
I would love to hear your opinion of the Marantz 30 and the Yamaha Aventage top two AVRs. I understand that Yamaha is an acquired taste but it is mine . Thank you, Andrew, and I look forward to Kristi's cutting criticisms, even if she questions my audacity for mentioning the Aventage A6A and A8A. Keep up the good work!
$800 is crazy for software, especially when some receivers like mine come with the base dirac software free!
Much cheaper options out there.
Makes me feel even better about picking up the Onkyo RZ70. Such a beast.
Yeah, just bought one on sale at $1999. For the money, it crushes everybody right now.
Same here even though I haven’t powered up the RZ70 yet.
@@robertrichards3433 I think even at $3,000 it puts most to shame. I previously owned a Denon 6700 and Yamaha A8A and the RZ70 is noticeably better than both.
I owned the Marantz sr8015 for a little year. Great sounding machine. Worked flawlessly. Then I sold it and bought the JBL SDR35: what a great difference! Instantly movies sounded awesome like in a real cinema and the Center channel performance was absolutely fabulous. Even without Dirac. Music sounds much richer and bigger. The jbl had some hardware and software issues at the start. They are fixed now.
Play the intro to No Time To Die - it should leave you with your jaw hitting the floor at even 80-85db. I don't know if the 8015 can even do that but Marantz used to with the old 8000 series probably designed by Ken Ishiwata.
So glad the Sony AZ7000ES was included towards the end of the video. I might give the Sony a try with the B&W 702-S3. Thank you for this review. 🙏☕️
The Marantz Cinema 30 is impressive as hell. Great review from begining to end.
In all honesty, I'd pick the RZ-70 and if I wanted more power, I'd add separate power amps.
As a current RZ-50 owner, I would actually add power amps if I felt that need, since even this lower model has very capable pre-outs, which present no problem for virtually any power amp to reach its maximum output level before the pre-amp clipping.
I'm running a mini DSP unit for the subs, which means independent volume and EQ up to 4 subwoofers (I'm only running two as of now).
That's where my concept of "value" comes in, and prevents me from buying something like this Marantz.
As good as it may be (and the price goes up even if you want the RZ-50 level of Dirac), all of these receivers will get dated by the natural evolution of technology, and when that happens and you want to upgrade them, they usually have a very poor resale value.
If you put your money on good power amps, you can replace the receiver (without going near the flagship model), while still retaining a good part of your "investment" on power amps.
If this Marantz was more "special", I could make a case for buying it.
But it only feels like another Marantz receiver, with some small added performance here and there, which doesn't feel like a good value to me, personally speaking.
I can see the value of the R11 Metas against speakers costing way less (including Kefs own R range).
But not with this Marantz.
@@MrRocktuga - That was a very thoughtful analysis. I feel pretty much the same. I have an older Denon AVR-X 4500 paired with an OCD Nero 3200 amp to power my Martin Logans on the front LRC channels. Sounds great to me. The Onkyo RZ-50 sounds intriguing to me - if only to add Dirac on a budget. Did you find it was a night and day difference over Audyssey?
I always look forward to your Marantz reviews! Thank you for sharing this one.
Thanks for watching!
I was looking forward to your review of the Cinema 30 after watching you review all the other receivers i considered. The Sony is sadly not sold here in the EU :( so i had to look for a different one in the end i ended up buying a Cinema 30. Im also looking forward to what Kristi has to say about the Cinema 30 she had some interesting perspectives in the past.
I had a Denon X4400h. Back when i bought it i first wanted to invest in Atmos and better front speakers. (i had Jamo S628's and one SVS PC2000 together with a SVS Ultra Center and Prime Bookshelfs for surround).
Later i bought a second pair of Jamo S622's for the ATMOS and SVS Ultra bookshelfs to replace the Jamo Front's i also added a Second PC2000 so those handle the power bass.
I used that setup for 3 years and the X4400h for 5 and a half year. i also tested the X7200W back then it sounded better on the Prime Bookshelfs but for the price difference it was atmos first.
So 6 weeks back i bought a Cinema 30. i also tested it vs a A1H. I liked both a lot but when i switched to the Cinema 30 there was a spaciousness in the sound that was not there with the X4400h but also not with the A1H. The Denons are more forward, and bit more crystal clear at the high end (especially the A1H). But can also be a bit "harsh" compared to the C30. Both the C30 and A1H had a wider open sound compared to the X4400h but the C30 sounded even more spacious to me. i noticed the same thing with movies the channels blended even nicer together somehow. That was something i liked when i went to the C30 from the X4400h and i missed again when going to the A1H. So in the end i swiched back to the C30 and decided to keep that. It was 1100 euro less in my case (it was a used A1H) While it was a good deal i did not use the extra channels. If i will expand i will probably be front wides but thats also possible with the C30.
Do note all this testing has been done with Audyssey One Evolution. i used that on all 3 receivers. After using that i dont want to go back to normal Audyssey anymore. I was already using Pure Direct on my X4400h for music because Audyssey ruins it somehow. After using A1E i know that does not need to be the case but Audyssey is not that great in correcting above 250Hz. A1E only does < 250Hz and what it does to the bass is o so good. Everything above 250 is only a calibration curve and the tonality of the speakers is left as is. The Jamo sound quite similar to the SVS tonality wise. So they match well and i dont need Audyssey to correct that. They are Atmos anyway so mostly effects. The more important speakers are all SVS so they match great. I plan to do a Dirac trial in the near future to compare A1E vs Dirac and see what i like more and if its worth the extra 799 euro. A1E already improves over standard Audyssey so much i wonder if its worth it.
So far i really like the Cinema 30 its a nice upgrade over my X4400h and it did what i hoped it would do: 1 more detail, wider sound stage in stereo, more spacious sound and more power in high SLP movie scenes. I also liked the A1H a lot but somehow i did prefer the Cinema 30.
Movies i tested: Mad Max Fury Road, Startrek 2009 & Into Darkness, Edge Of Tomorrow, Ready Player One, Passific Rim
I'm also really excited about Audyssey On Evo. I use it with a Cinema 40!!!
Happy Sunday Kristi and Andrew 🤘
Same to you!
The RZ70 is looking pretty amazing right now and that's before you consider it is $3700aud compared marantz $7900aud before the Dirac upgrade. Buying the Marantz just feels like flushing money down the toilet.
Great review thank you Andrew and Kristie for all the work that you do. Both of you are simply awesome. Thanks again
Thank you for the kind comment.
Always appreciate your videos, even though I can’t afford any of the stuff 😊
Wow. I have a Sony 5000ES and it's good to hear it can run with the best!
Happy Sunday A&K. Excellent thorough review as always. While AVR's aren't my thing, I did find the 2-channel comparison with the M1 very interesting. That M1 is so intriguing, particularly as a lifestyle sized product that brings the goods performance wise for those looking for good quality stereo amplification in a compact form. Any reviews in the works for its Denon sibling Home Amp priced even more attractively? Very interested in the sound comparison between the two and if there's any difference. Thanks again for all the great content this week. 5 plus hours this week I believe!
Basically the 30 is an sr8015 (which is still available)at a multiple of the price. Some might argue the sr8015 is superior, certainly the price is far better. Masimo’s mission is to raise the price of all of the old Sound United’s products. That’s what happens when you grossly overpay for an acquisition. Thanks for the great content. PS you should’ve covered mdax which is a differentiator between Marantz and their competition. No mention of heos????
I would love to hear your take on how the cinema 30 compares to the flagship separates, the a V 10/amp 10 combo that you reviewed previously
I just purchased and received the Cinema 30. Periodically it was experiencing video and sound blackouts for approximately 10 to 20 seconds and then it would recover. I have a 86 inch Bravia tv. I upgraded my HDMI cables to the Audioquest Forest 48 5ft. Support told me I needed to purchase a EDID emulator.I was told it was a known problem. I had to return the Cinema 30 as the last time it blacked out it did not recover. Is this a common issue with AVRs?
Firmware update? Other than that, it's faulty.
Hi Andrew, great review. One question, how would you compare the Cinema 30 to its predecessor, the SR8015? Many of the specs seem to be the same so are there any meaningful differences?
I recently got a Sony ES 5000 based on your recommendation and am very happy with it. I agree that the one shortcoming with the Sony is that it doesn't support DIRAC (or have an app like MultiEQ). I did buy RS5s to get 5.1 and so far, I have not had any issues with them.
I went with the Sony es 3000 n it's awesome very happy with it even though it don't have preouts but it was what I could afford
I've caught so much heat from people on my description of the Marantz sound which I describe as overly mellow (even dark with some speakers) with a premature roll-off in the high frequency that kills detail. I am proud to say that I have Andrew on my side. Thanks for the affirmation brother!
Just switch to dac 2 on it and there's no marantz in house roll off
great review .. I love my cinema 30 , i wanted the silver , so looks was part of it for me as well as audio . thank you for your hard work
Thanks for the honest reviews. .. Will stick with the Sony str-az5000es that I purchased based on your reviews calling it Sony's sweet spot receiver. Thank you again😊😊
When Sony makes their high-end products... it's really hard to beat Sony, that including their top of the line headphones etc. I personally don't like Marantz - thick, laid-back warm sound....
How would you compare the Cinema 30 to the Yamaha RX-A8A, since the later is now at firmware ver 2.03 ?
Reviews like this one just push me one step closer to ditching the 3.1 setup and migrating to a much simpler 2.1 using the Marantz M1 for audio only and eARC for its audio input. No more universal remotes to simplify multiple devices and it would seem much better sound for a setup that's used 80% music and 20% movies/TH-cam videos.
Awesome review! Missed having the wifey's input on this one.
Then you've been missing our weekly Unplugged videos for the past couple of months! You'll find me here every Friday morning: bit.ly/43NnDkT
Thanks for the review Andrew, I'll be curious to hear what Kristi has to say on Friday.
Thank you for the review as I had this in my possession but after listening to what you had to say have decided to stay with my marantz avr 7005, and return the cinema 30. I have always enjoyed the 7005 and was looking for the upgrade for atmos which I also purchased Krix ic52 which will also be returned. Thanks again as you have saved me a stack of money and install time.
The RZ70 is currently $2k. Seems like a no brainer with the Dirac included.
Hi Andrew, how do you compare this new Marantz Cinema 30 with the Arcam AVR31 (especially for listen to music)? Do you plan to do a detailed review of the Arcam receivers one day? Thanks for all the great videos!
Got the AVR21+PA720 amp instead and i am also curious how Andrew would feel they compare, or any modern Arcam in general.
I think Arcam may be a little concerned about highlighting its non-existent user-friendliness units.
Yeah, Arcam units sound fantastic. However, when it comes to getting the best out of them back and for emailing will become the norm. To be fair, Arcam, do say anything that may possibly diminish sound quality is unlikely to be implemented! One can either have features, functionalities, extra channels, and user friendliness. which, in my experience, equates more towards a digital sound! Or one can go with a unit that gives a little more breathing space to its components. Hence, a more convincing (realistic) analogue sounding unit. Perhaps one is unable to have best of both?
I got the silver version in an open box sale (plus 10% member discount) in UK for £2700. I came from a Denon 3700 and am slowly noticing the big difference in control, balance and general quality of sound. Have only used the £20 app to change the range to 500hz across my 7 speakers but it's improved it even further. Dirac will come later but I'm going through my whole library in 'basic' Audessey setup first. Very happy with the purchase and the remote is heavy and lush just to cap it all off.
There is a lot to be said for a nice remote that feels good in the hand! Flimsy, lightweight remotes just feel --- cheap.
And why isn't this guy the voice behind some Audio Books, a male Alexa, some Ai generated counselor? You get the point.
What about a comparison with the Yamaha a8a?
I am enjoying my Marantz 30! Combined with an Apple TV 4K its the best in home entertainment for the money!
I believe - Cinema 30 is AVC-X6800H big brother according to the back io panel. But with "Avantage" symetric design like denon 8500
Rocking the sr8015. Won’t trade or upgrade anytime soon since it’s a beast of a avr
If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Thanks for tuning in all the same!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks for being such a great and genuine reviewer! I’m still trying to find the best room acoustics items since I have my HT in the basement. Rocking the magnats cinema ultra
SR8015 🤣🤣
Ok. I have never seen one up close. I trust you that’s why I watch your reviews
Could you please review the ANTHEM AVM90, and compare it with other high end amplifiers?
No mention of analog bypass again. Many of us have external DACs and or a phono platform. We don't want our analog signal converted to digital and then back to analog. High quality analog bypass is an essential capability for us.
One of my AVR brands is Anthem. I have had and liked their room correction in the past, as well as the overall quality. Any thoughts on how Anthem compares to Marantz?
Marantz is always on top of my list great products ..
And for good reason, I believe they've always delivered on their claims and reputation --at least over the past several years!
West Coast! It's been a while. Glad to see you back here. I hope all has been well.
Marantz has a house sound (good or bad) you’ve gotta give em that.
How about comparison with Yamaha A8A? The Marantz Cinema 30 costs here 4299€ and the Yamaha RXA-A8A costs 3299 €. Yamaha just seem to be a bit more powerful but it doesn't have the Dirac. I haven't heard any of the Cinema amplifiers so I'm curious which of these amps have a better sound quality?
Can you review anything from Anthem, receivers or processors.
I owned a Marantz Cinema 60 for a year and still loving it since day 1. The latest firmware update allows the support for Tidal connect directly instead of streaming through the HEOS app.
In your review of SVS's new Titan speakers, you mentioned that their center image is so good that you didn't really feel the need for a center speaker. But now that you have both their center and their small Nano speakers from the same series, allowing you to set up a 5.1 system (including the small KEF sub), will there be a full system review, or could you elaborate a bit more on whether you still hold the same opinion regarding using their center speaker together with the Titan? 🙂
How does the 30 compare to the Emotiva MR1L? I know they are different price points, but Emotiva needs to be bought into more comparisons since you already have reviewed it.
What bothers me about these receivers with apps like Pandora, XM Radio, Spotify, etc., is that after a few years, they are obsolete. I have a previous Marantz with these apps, and they no longer function. I think they should continue to work as long as the services themselves are in business.
Use a reveiver as ... A receiver and get a media player for sources... as everybody does.
THANKS 🙏 ANDREW FOR SHARING THIS,AND I HOPE YOU AND KRISTI HAVE A GREAT DAY 🌞💚💚💚
Good morning!
Of course! Thanks for watching!
Incredible how some people spend on highend gear then limit the sound quality with compressed Spotify.
Instead, it's much better to use a lossless streaming source like Apple Music.
Great review! I decided to go with the Denon 6800 instead, $1,000 less for pretty much the same thing (less a toroidal transformer). Love it!
Why is it so hard for Marantz, Denon, etc to state the power for all channels driven? Why not include all the power you would ever need for the channels the AVR offers to begin with? All AVR's manufactured today should publish the power rating for all channels driven. In my opinion if you spend the money on an AVR at this cost you should never need another amp period regardless of setup unless you expand your system beyond the AVR's channel capabilities.
@@Cy_AV my guess is because that’s a situation you will never find yourself in, where all channels are being driven to the same volume
When I utilised my Atmos Poweramp to my audiophile grade AVR for my front stage speakers (btw also happens to be a matching poweramp to the AVR) gave the setup the ability to enjoy content at low volumes, too. In fact, I was so impressed rather than disconnecting it, I ended up purchasing yet another one.
@@AmmarMalik Volume is a small part of the equation. The more power you have available contributes to the efficiency of your system when you need it as in hitting that punch for movie scenes or music when it is required and not sounding thin when underpowered. When all channels driven have ample power you will definitely notice the difference.
@@TotalplonkerThank you. My point is you should not have to have separate amps in the equation for the cost of this AVR to accomplish what you listed.
Just want to clarify, I love the AVR in the review, I just think it should provide much more power to the consumer to justify it's cost.
Kristy: "Are you watching Megan Fox again?"
Andrew: "It's for research" 😬
From watching your videos Im kinda sold on the Sony ES7000 but from a two- channel head to head comparison with the Marantz 30 or 40 which would you prefer. I know the Marantz adds some coloration but I wanted to know which one sounded more lively when listening to rap, jazz, classical? And as far as the 4 subwoofer outputs coming from the Marantz, does the Sony offer anything like that when it comes to directional subwoofer sound? Thanks love the channel by the way.
How about the Cinema 70/Emotiva combo regarding sound comparison?
Flagging for Friday's Unplugged!
Thank you, I think this is an important question, if the video and audio processing is the same or very similar, buying the Cinema 70 (used as a processor) with an Emotiva XBA amp and Direct Live is likely cheaper / better option!
This review was good but no Mention of Dac 2 people think its just for bench testing it's not what Dac 2 deos is It gets rid of the Marantz in-house roll off and sounds more like a Denon , I watched a video on it by masimo
Great Sunday everyone !!
Happy Sunday! Hopefully we can close out the week with a bit less drama 😂
Hi Afonso!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Cheers to a drama free week coming ahead!
@@KristiWright Hey Kristi!! How has the week been?
@@txerapng Oh you know, just a rollercoaster ride per the usz... 😂. I meant to ask about your new company. Can you share any details yet?
Hope you guys are well . Really missed your videos
alot while in for surgery ,bouts of .meds and rehabilitation to get some of .y strength back . Im so glad the last few months I was at a faculty that allowed me to enjoy Diana Krall on the RZ50 with my Focal Choras you both recommended to so many . Ill be playing catchup to see what I've missed from you 2 . Thank you both
Hope all is well soon, Mark. Glad you're back!
What DAC filter did you use? Did you leave it on the default 1 or 2?
would like to know this as well, it wasnt mentioned. But when talking about how it sounds i would guess it was left at default and not touched.
Great review, Andrew! You might be one of the only influencers/reviewers online with hands-on experience with all the flagship models, especially the Marantz lineup. In your A1H review, you mentioned issues with phantom center imaging and video processing when handled by the AVR. Is that still the case with the Cinema 30? It also sounds like you're a big fan of Dirac. Did you notice any differences between Dirac with the Onkyo compared to the Cinema 30, AV10, or Marantz separates? Once these units are outfitted with Dirac, is there still a noticeable distinction? Lastly, I've heard you rave about Sony's 360 Reality Audio calibration-do you believe it outperforms Dirac?
I have a Cinema 50 today running 7.2.4. The LR are B&W 702 S2, C is HTM71 S2, Surrounds are B&W CWM663, with some Klipsch CDT-3800 for ceiling. The subs are SVS PB-2000 Pros. Emotiva BasX amps for the LCR and Surrounds. I also have the DIRAC full license and calibrated it. Feel like it is good... but wondering how to make it better. Dialog clarity is a problem at a lot. Music sounds great though. Would the Cinema 30 or AV10 be a really good improvement? Or should invest in better amplifiers? Would adding additional heights improve movie experience? Open to any thoughts?
Add a power amp instead of replacing the cinema 50. Either one of marantz s outboard amps or a third party with a lot of power.
For the price of Dirac get you some SVS Sub and there goes your Sub control issue.
Andrew, thanks for being honest that the Sony AZ7000ES is still really the best sounding, save for bass management primarily. In your review of the A1H, you seemed to hold back and didn't want to say that the Sony really still sounds better.
How does it compare to the Arcam AVR31?
My opinion on Marantz 40 and 50, its good for movies, but if you want better sound with more headroom go for Denon x4800h or above .
Did you disable Dolby Loudness Management? Marantz inexplicably sets this dynamic compression feature on by default
Hey Andrew! Something I would hope to see in the future is you reviewing some finnish Genelecs! It would be awesome so hear your opinion to their monitors as they are highly respected in Finland :)
Great review! How does it compare to the Anthem MRX 1140. I noticed you didn’t include that at the end and was wondering if there was a reason why. Thanks for all the great work!
We have not experienced the 1140. Tks for watching!
Would love to hear your thoughts on the Integra DRX-8.4 receiver in relation to this and other flagship receivers.
I really wanna see the anthem mrx 1140 in the review mix the 740 is amazing but the 1140 has the toroidal transformer and the 4 class d overhead channels it’s the best they have and I think their sound is so enormous I’d love for you to have a look at it
Noted. Will have to google that sku and see what's what.
Thanks for the review.
Thanks so much for watching Craig! Always appreciated.
Thank you for your effort, do you think is it worthy to buy a separate system over this marantz and maybe with additional LRC separate amp? Do you prefer this marantz over the anthem mrx receiver?
Thanks! I do love Marantz (7010 to 8015 progression), so good to know.
Nice review
Long time waiting for your review of Arcam AVR -11/21/31 or AV-41
How was the phantom centre? Also did the C30 get hot?
Thank you for that awesome unexpected review!
Following your review last year, we upgraded to a Cinema 40 from a crusty Denon AVR3805 that didn't even have HDMI so to us it's an amazing upgrade.
We currently run 5.1
By next week it will be 5.1.4
We ultimately want 7.2.4 and considering getting a Basx A2 to run the fronts and giving us the extra two channels.
Is the Cinema 40 with an extra stereo amp a better overall deal than the 30?
Would you recommend a different 2ch amp?
Sadly can't stretch to XPA line.
Running Klipsch RP8000 / 504C / 500M / SPL15
Thanks to you both for all you do!
Jon & Heather 🇬🇧
Oooooh.... Marantz M1 for the fronts? Cinema 40 + M1 is around 40% less than the Cinema 30 🤔
I could stretch to the M1 if I work a few extra shifts.
You can't use the M1 as a standalone stereo amp as it is not intended to be used in that way. As for your other question, if you already own the Cinema 40 and it will allow you to grow to your ultimate system, don't ditch it for the 30. If you need to add additonal amplification, check out the Emotiva BasX line rather than the XPA. It's a GREAT solution too and works well with Marantz. Thanks for your support and I hope my answer helps you on your journey.
@@andrewrobinsonreviewsThank you, much appreciated and looking forward to Friday's unplugged!
BasX A2 here we come 😁
New receivers keep coming out getting very expensive but truly, are they any improvement over say the Onkyo RZ270 or the NADT778 for music and movies?
Respect for still using that old Dune HD player
I don't know if you guys have any plans to do so, but it would be interesting to compare the Marantz Cinema 30 with the Denon 6800. They are nearly identical with the same features with the only difference being with the HDAM modules, power supply, looks, and cost. So, if using Dirac on the 6800 gets similar sound characteristics to the 30, then you can spend less for the 6800 and get what you want unless you really want the looks of the Marantz or the silver finish.
I have the Cinema 40 which I bought before the 30 was released (and before they offered the silver option ☹). I'm a bit interested in the 30 because I used to have the Denon 6700 receiver, using it in a 7.1 (2 subs).6 configuration and with the 30 I can keep using my existing speaker configuration. With the Cinema 40, I have to choose either 5.1.6 or 7.1.4. However, It's not worth going through the hassle of selling my 40 (at a loss) and paying the extra for the 30. (though I'd consider doing that to get the silver 40)
All in all, of all the offerings available from Denon and Marantz, I want the Denon A1H (or Marantz A10 in silver but I don't you can get it in that finish). I don't really need it, but I like all the features and flexibility you have with it. Fortunately, I guess, it's 6500 dollars. Too much to even try to buy.
I bought the Marantz cinema 50, Marantz model m1 and Pro-ject speaker box 5s2 after watching your videos. I love to afford to buy the Bowers and Wilkins 705 S3 but are too expensive. I believe the speaker box 5S2 are close enough. They do sound incredible.
when you mean, it can handle more then one tv at a time you mean that they can run in parallel or you meant that you can connect two TVs on the receiver?
Afternoon Andrew, Kristi & Kadie 👍👍🦴
Morning KJ! Hope you're well!
Morning, KJ.
I think we are missing some comparison to the Athem 1140 8k, which is quite close in price, but also to it's direct sibling Denon X6800 (which I don't think you reviewed). Denon is interesting, since it is much cheaper, shares the same HDMI board it seems, and has the same power rating.
Side note, since a couple of weeks, HEOS got updated and now supports Tidal Connect (but stereo only), with Roon-tested integration "coming soon". There were also talks about Dirac ART for Denon and Marantz, but nothing surfaced so far.
The only reason for the Cinema 30's existence is better music and more channels. Music translates into better movies and better gaming since games also spend a lot of time working on music.
If it can't deliver better music than the Denon 4800h made also in the same Shirakawa facility that goes for $1,500 on sale along with an external 5 channel amp to power the LCR, then I'm not sure what the point of it is.
Since the Cinema 30 is the direct replacement for the SR8015, how do they compare? Does the older model have the “Sound Master” doctoring or a more neutral sound, especially when listening to music in Pure Direct stereo?
I am also interested in a comparison of these two models. I believe the SR8015 can still be purchased at a significant discount and still offer Marantz flagship performance. You do miss out on Dirac and the additional 2 subwoofer channels. Otherwise, is there a benefit to go with the Cinema 30 over an SR-8015?
@@jamesmorse6486 I had the SR8015 for 3 or 4 years, and then upgraded to the C30. I have a well treated room, which contributes to the ability to hear differences in gear. The SR8015 is good, but compared, it sounds grainy. The difference is more in the pre and dac I think, the power section is maybe the same. The clarity, stereo perspective and pinpointing I gained both for two channel and in cinema use is really audible. As front speakers I use KEF R11 meta, and I actually upgraded the system with a Hypex Nilai power amp, which also made a difference in clarity.
@@joachimfjeldrichardsen3711Thanks for your detailed comparison. I'm worried about the special "tuning" by someone Marantz calls a "Sound Master". As Andrew has said, this seems to cause a roll-off in the highs. I had also heard in another review (by Audioholics, I think) that the machine offers you a choice of two filters; one of which is "tuned" and the other neutral. Do you have any experience of this? Does the SR8015 also have the same "tuning"?
@@joachimfjeldrichardsen3711 Grainy? I know that the SR8015's DAC was changed mid-model due to a fire at the plant that made the original shipping DAC. Maybe that's part of the issue? Then you added an additional power amp to the C30 to do what? To drive specific channels or completely replace the C30's amp duty? You got me interested. :)
@@jamesmorse6486
Grainy in the sense that C30 is so much more open and what I consider "hifi".
I use the dac filter 2, that is much more linear than the 1/default. It sounds more open, and especially in female voices you should easily be able to separete the two.
External amp just for the front speakers, they dip down to 3,6ohm. I just like the sound more with the Nilai as poweramp than the internal for stereo duty🙂
Audyssey One is a gamechanger. I find it hard to believe that Dirac will have an improvement/cost ratio that justifies purchasing it over Audyssey One.
Thx for the review! Can you call out what settings you changed to passthrough / off that improved the sound? Im planning to get the cinema 30 and it would be great to have this upfront.