Marantz Bows New Audio Line, Seeks Differentiation From Denon
Marantz’s fall audio product debut was supposed to happen at a “fun CEDIA presentation, where we’re all in the same room, all listening to music, with a drink in hand,” said spokesperson Paul Wilkie. The Sound United brand’s plans for a physical launch party were dashed when COVID-19 forced cancellation of the physical CEDIA Expo Sept. 8-12 in Denver (see 2005280053). Marantz executives instead had to describe the features of their new hi-res audio gear -- an integrated amplifier and a combo Super Audio CD player/network audio streamer -- on a sometimes-garbled RingCentral VoIP call from their respective homes.
Marantz and Classe Audio President Joel Sietsema said one of the missions with the new Marantz line was to differentiate it from Denon: Dealers and customers said the two had “gravitated too close to each other” in design, features and technology. Sound United hopes to modernize both brands with new identities and product design, he said. For Marantz, that means going back to its core business: hi-fi.
In Q&A, Sietsema said separation of the brands will be reflected in pricing and in categories. Categories for Marantz in the next two to five years “will look different from Denon,” though some overlap will exist in AV and hi-fi receivers: “We want them to do it in their own unique way as best we can.” Over time, Marantz will move more “upmarket” in pricing, away from Denon.
The new Marantz products carry a design statement meant to tie together the past and present of the Marantz name, going back to Saul Marantz, who founded the company in 1953, said Symon Whitehorn, Sound United global vice president-industrial design and user experience. Whitehorn maintained the “porthole” on the front panel, which showed sound-level meters in the analog days and will evolve in the digital world. The components have a symmetry in their design, which is not easy to do because of the differing goals of audio and industrial engineers, Whitehorn said.
The Model 30 stereo integrated amplifier ($2,500), rated at 100 watts per channel, has a discrete, two-stage build with independent power supplies for the pre-amplifier and power amplifier. The Phono EQ stage can be used with moving-magnet and low-output moving-coil cartridges.
The SACD 30n ($2,500), combining an SACD transport and a network audio streamer, borrows from Denon for Heos multiroom wireless audio capability. It streams files from 44.1kHz to 192kHz at up to 24-bit resolution, DSD 2.8MHz and DSD 5.6MHz, along with Apple Lossless, AIFF and MP3 files from hi-res services including Amazon Music HD and Tidal.
A dedicated headphone amplifier in the SACD 30n has adjustable gain -- low, mid and high— enabling the unit to drive high-impedance headphones, Marantz said. It has a USB digital-to-audio converter and a built-in preamplifier and is compatible with voice control from Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Siri and Josh.ai. Voice functionality varies by platform, it said.
AV receivers that were affected by COVID-19 supply chain interruptions are largely in market now, Sietsema said, saying the supply chain isn't hampering development of new products. The biggest impact most manufacturers felt was in March through May during lockdown, he said; the specialty audio channel “has not returned to normal yet.” Overall, Sietsema cited a rebound in the U.S. in audio and video purchases -- mostly through online channels -- due to consumers spending more time at home.