Marantz Unleashes a Powerful Preamp/Processor and Amplifier
April 30th, 2008 — By Charlie Robb
April 30 - Marantz unveiled a couple of incredible looking new products today, the AV8003 networking preamp/processor and the MM8003 8-channel powered amplifier.
On top of some incredibly gorgeous aesthetics, the AV8003 networking preamp/processor will boast some very respectable hardware and features. Marantz’s new preamp/processor attained THX cetification and will have support for both Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio audio codecs.
Coupled with video upscaling up to 1080p and 6 HDMI 1.3a ports (4-in, 2-out), the Marantz AV8003 becomes a very powerful offering.
For good measure, they decided to throw in a host of extras as well including XM/Sirius support and SACD support.
The second part of Marantz’s offerings today is the MM8003 amplifier. Continue to see more pics and the official feature sets. This is an 8-channel powered amplifier with a whopping 150 watts for each of its 8 channels (making for 1.2 kw of available power draw).
It comes with a veritable host of features that will serve to make this a very powerful offering.
Both of these units will be available sometime this summer with the AV8003 preamp/processor selling for $2600 and the MM8003 amplifier selling for $2400.
MM8003 8 Channel Power Amplifier
140W x 8ch (8 ohms) Power Amplifiers
Low Impedance Continuous Drive Capability
Current Feedback Amplifier Circuit
Massive Toroidal Power Transformer
Slow Start to Power On
8ch XLR Input Terminals
DC Trigger Control Inputs, DC Power Status Outputs, IR Flasher Input Terminals
Output Channel Relay On/Off Control by Remote Signal (to Multi Zone Use)
Copper Plated Chassis
Gold Plated Speaker Terminals
Marantz Designed Storage Capacitors for Quick Response to Rapidly Varying Sources
New Clean Design Front Panel
Price: $2399.99
AV8003 Networking AV Preamp/Processor
Digital Media Player for Ethernet
Audio, Video and Photo (supporting DLNA)
Video Scaler Up to 1080p
HDMI V1.3a: 4-in/2-out
Dolby TrueHD, dts HD, Deep Color
DSD (SA-CD), Auto Lip Sync
XLR Pre Output Terminals
XLR Audio Inputs for SA-CD
Multi Room Component Video Out
RC2001 Main Remote(PC Programmable, Learning)
RC101 Sub Remote(for Multi Room Control, Learning)
HD Radio / XM Ready / Sirius Ready
THX Certified
Copper Plated Chassis
Toroidal Power Transformer
New Clean Front Panel
Price: $2599.99
I cannot believe it doesn’t have Audyssey MultiEQ.
Comment by Dan May 1st, 2008 @ 2:30 am[…] Source : AVguide […]
Comment by L’Internet des Objets » Blog Archive » Marantz AV8003 + MM8003 : home cinema et multiroom haut de gamme May 7th, 2008 @ 12:18 pm[…] Source : AVguide […]
Comment by Marantz AV8003 + MM8003 : home cinema et multiroom haut de gamme | Multiroom May 7th, 2008 @ 5:27 pm[…] Suffice it to say, it appears as if this beautiful pair could be available very soon. Check out some of the features on the new AV8003 and MM8003 here. […]
Comment by Avguide News and Blog» Archives » Marantz Nears Launch for High Performance Preamp/Processor and Amp- AVguide.com May 29th, 2008 @ 12:22 pmI prefer the Integra DTC 9.8. It has Room EQ - Audyssey MultEQXT.
Comment by Dan May 29th, 2008 @ 1:22 pmGood point about the 9.8. That will be the main competition for this unit. There’s nothing else besides these two with this extensive and modern feature set.
To justify it’s somewhat higher price than the 9.8, this unit will need to have even better SQ. The 9.8 is said to be great in the digital domain, not so exceptional in the analogue. The feature set for both are amazing. If Marantz can also be great in the analogue domain, it will have a winner with audiophiles who want it all in an HT system.
BTW- I believe I read on the Marantz website or a CES show report that the 8003 WILL have Multi-EQ - a Marrantz proprietary version.
I’m excited to check this thing out! Pedro
Comment by Pedro May 30th, 2008 @ 12:11 pmIt’s starting to feel more and more like the 70’s and 80’s every day by the way these new AV receivers are sold. Who cares about actual sound quality, let’s quibble about which has the most features! There are many of us who are replacing our main music system for a video/surround system in our main rooms. Rarely do we get penetrating and critical analysis of the musical capabilities of each new AV receiver or pre/pro and amp combination. Can they decently reproduce a well recorded violin, voice or orchestra with any kind of reality or depth? Who knows, all we hear about is dialog inteligibility, power, and features. Aren’t these machines supposed to be about reproducing sound? The apparent assumption by most AV reviewers is that only a few ‘Golden Ear’ wingnuts can hear the difference, so why bother?
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