Audio Video News

Marantz announced a whole bunch of new products at a press event yesterday. From our point of view, the two biggest pieces of news are major refreshments of the brand's a/v receiver and Blu-ray player lines. This story will deal with generalities in the categories that interest us most. For more specific model and price information, see the links at bottom.

The new flagship receiver is the SR7005. In addition to the porthole design adopted from Marantz's high-end two-channel products, it's got a much-needed update of its GUI. There's a lot else going for it: 3D-worthy HDMI 1.4a, DLNA network prowess, direct iPod USB input, Bluetooth with optional adapter, Dolby Pro Logic IIz height enhancement, Pandora, Flickr, Rhapsody, Napster, and a full suite of Audyssey features: top-line MultEQ XT auto setup, DSX width/height, Dynamic Volume, and Dynamic EQ. Look for it in August for $1599.

The MultEQ and Bluetooth features trickle down to the midpriced SR6005 ($999) and SR6004 ($799) plus the slimline NR1601 ($399). The two upper models also have DPLIIz. 3D sticklers may wish to note that the HDMI version is 1.4 with Audio Return Channel. A "babysitter mode" allows signals to get from disc player to receiver even when the latter is in standby mode.

Marantz refers to its two new Blu-ray disc players as Universal Media Players. They handle SACD and DVD-Audio as well as Netflix and YouTube streaming and their networking prowess is DLNA certified. The UD5005 is priced at $499, a possible Oppo killer (if such were possible). For something more, uh, you know, cyber, try the NA7004 Network Audio Player ($799), whose high-quality DAC would spiff up input from any device. Marantz gave special prominence the network features in all of the above products.

See PDF press releases on flagship AVR, other AVRs, slimline AVR, separates, network player, BD players, and other categories at DBA-PR website.