Marantz Debuts Mid-Priced, Network-Capable SR7005 A/V Receiver

Editorial note: In a webinar held on 7/21/2010, Marantz announced a broad range of exciting new high-performance A/V and home audio components that will soon be coming to market Below, we provide the text of a press release describing the firm’s new mid-priced, network-enabled SR7005 A/V receiver, which we expect will be a very strong competitor in the hotly contested mid-priced receiver market segment.).

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MARANTZ DEBUTS NEW SR7005 FLAGSHIP A/V RECEIVER PACKED WITH BREAKTHROUGH FEATURES

--New AVR Design With Traditional Marantz Porthole Display; Three-Zone Networking, Streaming of Pandora, Flickr and Much More --

NEW YORK, NY – July 21, 2010 - Marantz® America, a world leader of advanced home entertainment solutions, today announced the introduction of its SR7005, a 7-channel, integrated audio/video receiver that satisfies a broad range of multi-room signal distribution needs for home entertainment enthusiasts and custom installers, offering exciting new ways to access and enjoy content throughout the home. Reflecting Marantz’s longstanding heritage in audio and advanced home entertainment, the SR7005 delivers outstanding sound quality and video performance, as well as unprecedented convenience and connectivity, all in an aesthetically pleasing elegant design with the traditional Marantz star and porthole display. The SR7005, which replaces the SR7002, will be available in August 2010 for a suggested retail price of $1,599.

High-Def Audio/Video Distribution and Content-Sharing

The SR7005 is a 7-channel home theater A/V Receiver (125Wx7 - 8 ohms) that offers three-zone, three-source audio distribution capability and unprecedented flexibility and support for high-definition audio and video performance from virtually all digital sources. It includes six HDMI v1.4a inputs with 3D (all mandated formats), as well as DLNA v1.5 (Digital Living Network Alliance), ensuring smooth content sharing among connected devices. It supports all the latest High Definition multichannel formats, such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio, plus integrates all the other key audio standards. The SR7005 is also compatible with the Apple iPod® and iPhone™, with iPod Digital Direct via front-panel USB input and external control via Crestron, AMX, Control4® as well as other high profile recently released devices.

Notably, the SR7005 features the most advanced codecs for allowing maximum enjoyment from all audio and video sources (including new Audyssey DSX decoding), and thanks to its innovative I/O connection and Bluetooth connectivity, users can wirelessly enjoy files from any Bluetooth-enabled source, including mobile and PC sources such as iPhone and iPad collections, through their home theater system. The receiver improves the audio quality of digital files by decoding digital signals via internal D/A converters, and allows dual operation for iPod playback via the iPod itself or AVR’s remote.

 Noted Kevin Zarow, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Marantz America: “The SR7005 is a reflection of where Marantz is headed, as well as how much we have learned from our longstanding heritage in audio leadership. This single-component solution is packed with the latest performance and convenience features and brings together today’s most advanced audio decoding and enhancement technologies. Home theater enthusiasts and custom integrators who want a multi-functional, leading-edge component to serve as a home entertainment ‘hub’ and provide the ultimate in A/V distribution for today and for tomorrow need look no further.”

More Ways to Enjoy Internet Content

In addition to its multi-zone networking capabilities, the SR7005 offers new ways to enjoy more personal content from Internet sources into user’s home entertainment systems, allowing for streaming of both Pandora and Flickr, as well as audio and photos directly from their PCs. Users have access to over 14,000 Internet radio stations and a variety of content providers such as the Rhapsody and Napster music services*.

Custom Integration-Friendly Features

A host of custom-installation friendly features make the SR7005 particularly appealing to integrators, both in terms of customer satisfaction as well as installation simplicity and easy ongoing service. The unit’s M-XPort (Marantz eXpansion Port) delivers Bluetooth reception via the RX101 Bluetooth Receiver (sold separately) and extensive external control options open up new worlds of enjoyment and convenience for consumers. Also, the unit’s DLNA v1.5 ensures smooth content sharing among connected devices. The SR7005’s Control4 Certification ensures compatibility and smooth integration with all Control4 IP-based home automation and entertainment systems, as well as compatibility with Windows 7, ensuring compatibility with the ‘Play To’ functionality of the new Microsoft OS.