Are you ready for object-based audio? Marantz is certainly trying to help. The company has been putting out an insane amount of receivers this year, each of which includes support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
In an effort to add to those options, the company just announced the SR6010 and SR7010 Premium Network A/V Receivers. Each one features WiFi, Bluetooth, AirPlay and DLNA, so you can stream web radio, Spotify Connect and even audio from external devices on the network. Both models also work with the Marantz Remote App for iOS and Android devices. Of course, the real hook is that each model has options for object-based audio.
Each one of these new sound formats can another area to the soundfield, using height or in-ceilling speakers. That means you'll be able to experience planes, explosions and other sounds flying overhead. Both receivers also have the Dolby Surround up-mixer feature included, which promises to give even non-Atmos content a little boost.
The SR6010 is a 7.2-channel receiver with 110 watts per channel (8 ohms, 20-20kHz, THD:0.08%). This model also has Marantz HDAM (Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Module) technology, which boasts excellent signal-to-noise ratio, an ultra-fast slew rate, an ultra-wideband frequency response, and maximum dynamic range. It also has support for high-resolution audio files, including FLAC HD, ALAC, WAV192/24 and even DSD.
In regards to the object-based audio, the SR6010 can support a Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 configuration all on its own. However, if you add in an external 2-channel amplifier (such as the Marantz MM7025), it can handle both 5.1.4 or 7.1.2 configurations. Out of the box, the SR6010 doesn't come with DTS:X, but a free firmware upgrade for that and the DTS Neural:X up-mixer is coming. Check out the Marantz website for more information on that.
For video enthusiasts, this model has everything you'd want and need in a new receiver. Besides the ability to handle 4K Ultra HD high-resolution video, the SR6010 has the latest HDMI 2.0a specification with 4K 50/60Hz pass-through and scaling, as well as HDCP 2.2 compatibility. It also has HDR (high dynamic range) and wide color gamut support, with eight HDMI inputs and two HDMI outputs.
Other features on the SR6010 include a front-panel USB input, a dedicated moving magnet phono input, several analog and digital audio inputs, and Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room calibration. There are even options for a second zone, depending on the configuration of your home theater.
For a slight step up, the SR7010 packs everything mentioned above into a 9.2-channel receiver with 125 watts per channel (8 ohms, 20-20kHz, THD:0.08%). Besides the extra power, this model works in a Dolby Atmos or DTS:X configuration of up to 7.1.4 or 9.1.2. However, if you pair it with the aforementioned 2-channel amp, you can get an 11-channel system going right in your home theater room. In addition to the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, this model can be upgraded to add in Auro-3D and the Auromatic upmixer (up to 10.1-channels with an additional amplifier) for a fee. It also has a 32-bit SHARC DSP, 192kHz/32bit Digital-Analog-Converters, eight HDMI inputs, and three HDMI outputs.
Marantz will start shipping both receivers sometime in October. The SR6010 7.2-channel receiver has an MSRP of $1,399, with the SR7010 9.2-channel AVR priced at $2,199.
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