Marantz AV 30 & AMP 30 Introduction
Marantz
is one of the best examples of an old-school hifi brand that successfully
pivoted into the home theater world without losing its audiophile bonafides.
The brand still makes high-end 2-channel gear — just check out Gene DellaSala’s
Marantz
LINK 10n
Streaming Preamp Review for a prime example — but it’s also a home theater
powerhouse. In 2023, Marantz really threw down the gauntlet with the
introduction of the 15.4-channel AV 10 preamp/processor and the 16-channel AMP
10 multichannel power amplifier ($8K each, adjusted for tariffs). These
reference-level components issued a bold challenge to the super-high-end brands
like StormAudio and Trinnov, showing just how much performance could be
delivered at a fraction of the prices charged by those specialist companies.
(See Gene’s Marantz
AV 10 15.4CH 8K AV Processor Review and Marantz
AMP 10 200 Watt x 16CH Amplifier Review.) Last year, the company followed up
with the AV 20 and AMP 20, which offer nearly identical performance but with
fewer channels — 13.4 channels for the AV 20 pre/pro and 12 channels for the
AMP 20. Priced at $6K each, these components are not inexpensive, but you get
an awful lot of performance in exchange for your hard-earned cash. Now Marantz is back with another product launch, and
for many, it could be the most exciting yet.
For
some fans of the brand (and I definitely count myself as a fan), even the
scaled-down AV 20 might be overkill. Here at Audioholics, we have often said
that the gold standard for a living-room home theater is a 7.1.4 configuration,
with 7 speakers forming the bed layer, and another 4 speakers in (or on) the
ceiling for height effects. Such a layout offers enough speakers to properly
render a Dolby Atmos mix, and is sufficient for most typical rooms. If you have
a large, dedicated theater, 16+ channels might make sense for you, but for me,
7.1.4 is the sweet spot. But until now, those of us building out a 7.1.4 system
with Marantz gear have had but 2 choices — either buy an AV 20 and pay dearly for unused channels,
or buy the Cinema 30 AV receiver ($4,800) and abandon the dream of AV
separates. You can’t go wrong either way, but both choices might feel like a
compromise to a certain kind of customer. Now, in 2026, Marantz seems to be
saying that the time for compromises is over. The company has just introduced
the new AV 30 11.4 channel AV Preamplifier and AMP 30 Power Amplifier ($4K each). If you want a reference-quality home
theater in a real-world space, these just might be the components you’ve been
waiting for.
Marantz says that the new AV 30 and
AMP 30 are both exceptionally capable and supremely flexible home theater
components that can be combined seamlessly with other Marantz products to
address the broadest possible variety of different system configurations and
performance requirements. Like the 10 series and 20 series components, the AV
30 and AMP 30 have been “carefully honed by the Marantz Sound Master to ensure
the best possible results with all source components and in all audio modes,” and
both are proudly designed and manufactured at the famed Shirakawa Audio Works
facility in Japan.
The AV 30 and AMP 30 share the same industrial design language as the 10 series
and 20 series components, including the iconic porthole display and elegant fascia
plates with selectable side illumination.
The AV 30 also has a fold-down front panel to conceal all seldom-used functions
when not in use, creating a clean aesthetic. Carefully considered design even
extends to the backlit remote control, according to Marantz.
Marantz AV 30 and AMP 30: Under the
Hood
Marantz
AV 30 11.4CH Preamp/Processor
The AV 30 deploys “the
latest and most powerful Analog Devices SHARC dual-core DSP chipset coupled to
high-quality 32-bit ESS Sabre DACs, similar to the ones used in the AV 10, AV 20, and Cinema 30 products. In addition to state-of-the-art
processing, the AV 30 promises a comprehensive feature set, including the
ability to “precisely decode and accurately process all forms of incoming
audio, from high-resolution stereo to the latest forms of immersive sound,
including Dolby Atmos, IMAX Enhanced, DTS:X, and AURO-3D. The discrete HDAM
SA-2 preamplifier stage feeds up to 11.4 channels via RCA or XLR outputs. The
underlying digital platform also supports advanced room optimization, with
Audyssey MultEQ XT32 included with the price of admission, and Dirac Live, Dirac
Bass Control, and Dirac Active
Room Treatment (ART) all available via the purchase of optional licenses. For a
package price of $799, Dirac bundles all of the above, enabling a
fully-optimized listening experience with multiple speakers and up to four
independent subwoofers. On the video side of things, the AV 30 offers a
generous seven HDMI inputs, all of which can support up to 8K/60Hz or 4K/120Hz
video. There are also 3 HDMI outputs. A wide variety of other digital and
analog inputs will work in conjunction with an extensive range of
custom-installation-optimized features to make any kind of installation
function flawlessly, according to Marantz. Like all of Marantz’s latest
connected AV products, the AV 30 is Powered
By HEOS,
enabling access to a broad range of streaming audio. The Roon Ready platform
also supports Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, AirPlay 2, and
Bluetooth.
Marantz
AMP 30 6-Channel Amplifier
The AMP 30 is a compact and versatile
6-channel power amplifier designed to provide clean, low-distortion power for
multiple different system configurations. Thanks to modern Class D technology,
the surprisingly slim AMP 30
can deliver the same 200 watts per channel as its larger siblings (rated
into 8 ohms, 1kHz, THD 0.05% at two channels driven) but don’t forget Marantz 70% rule for All Channels Driven which should allow this amp to easily deliver 140 watts/ch with 6CH driven. The cool-running AMP 30 even doubles its power into 4 ohm
loads, delivering a massive 400 watts per channel and indicating the presence
of a healthy, well-designed power supply. The amp also provides the option of
reconfiguring pairs of 200W amp channels into bridged-tied-load (BTL) outputs.
If all six channels are used in this way, the AMP 30 becomes a monster 3-channel amp, with
each bridged channel delivering 400 watts into 8-ohm speakers. Alternatively,
users can opt to bi-amp up to three speakers using the AMP 30’s six channels of
power. The ability to drive multiple different speaker configurations and
speaker layouts is something the AMP 30 shares with the larger AMP 20 and
AMP 10. Marantz encourages users to mix and match as needed to address their
individual power needs.
For
example, users of the aforementioned Cinema 30 AVR might employ an AMP 30 to
power the front three speakers in a home theater system, providing a
substantial upgrade to the power of the front stage. Someone using an AV 10 or
AV 20 could just as easily add an AMP 30 to allow for certain speakers to be
bi-amped, or for certain channels to be bridged to provide increased power.
Meanwhile, an AV 30 user might purchase a single AMP 20 to power all 11
channels, and call it a day. The 6-channel AMP 30, 12-channel AMP 20, and
16-channel AMP 10 offer a lot of flexibility, and will likely prove to be
popular amplification choices, even for customers outside of the existing
Marantz fanbase. The AMP 30 comes with a reassuring five-year warranty.
The new AV 30 and AMP 30 perfectly
represent Marantz’s
unwavering commitment to excellence. With their outstanding performance,
elegant design and supreme versatility, the two models are exceptional
additions to Marantz’s
world-class home theater portfolio.
—
Lyle Smith, President of Sound United at HARMAN
The
new Marantz AV 30 and AMP 30 will be available this month from selected
retailers. Stay tuned for a full review, coming soon from Audioholics.
Marantz unveils AV 30 11.4CH preamp/processor with DIRAC ART and four sub outs plus AMP 30 6-channel amp delivering 200WPC in a compact design—both priced at $4K for premium home theater performance.
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Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.