MARANTZ CINEMA 50 Review: Hollywood at Home
When Marantz appears on our editorial schedule, it’s clear: a fun test is ahead. We’re in for a great time with an AV receiver like the Cinema 50. Tested at 2,000 euros.
While we focused on headphones and lifestyle setups like Bluetooth speakers a few months ago, the darker season inspires us to delve deeper into home cinema components. What better way to enjoy early sunsets and the cozy pre-Christmas season than with delightful movie nights?
This projector is perfect for treating yourself or someone else to a great Christmas gift.
A brand that can’t be missed in this focus is Marantz. Over its nearly 70-year history, Marantz has established itself as a global leader in amplifier manufacturing.
Founded in New York in 1953 and part of Sound United since March 2017, Marantz is synonymous with top-notch HiFi electronics. We’re thrilled to feature this esteemed brand on home cinema.
Av Info
| PRODUCT | 9.4-channel Dolby Atmos AV amplifier |
| POSITION | Second from the top of Marantz’s new-look lineup |
| PEERS | Denon AVC-X6700H; Yamaha RX-A6A |
What is Marantz Cinema 50?
Marantz has consistently impressed us with their AV receivers. With high expectations, we approach the test of Marantz’s new 11.4 AV receiver, the Cinema 50. The Cinema 50 is part of Marantz’s new Cinema series introduced in September 2022, which includes four AV receivers (Cinema 40 – 70) and a preamplifier/home theater processor and amplifier combo (AV 10 and AMP 10).
From the unboxing, the Cinema 50 exudes Marantz’s signature high quality. The elegantly designed aluminum case with a sleek front panel and circular display is reminiscent of other Marantz devices (e.g., Model 30). Two prominent rotary knobs frame the panel, with numerous buttons hidden behind a flap, hinting at the extensive features of the Cinema 50. Despite its traditional AV amp appearance, this device is packed with features.
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Features
The Marantz Cinema 50 is a true all-rounder. Besides home cinema capabilities like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Auro-3D, and 8K Ultra HD, the AV receiver can also function as a multi-room component thanks to HEOS implementation. It’s equipped with Audyssey for room calibration and fine-tuning through MultEQ XT32. Additionally, it supports Dirac Live upgrades.
The Cinema 50 features eleven speaker outputs, an MM-compatible phono preamp, a built-in tuner, and USB audio. It offers five analog inputs, two coaxial and optical inputs, and supports a second output zone. Users can configure the speaker terminals and split them into A and B sets as needed.
Multitalent
The Marantz Cinema 50’s extensive connection terminal includes eleven speaker connections and four independent subwoofer outputs. Video-wise, the receiver has six HDMI inputs and three outputs, all 8K Ultra HD capable, ensuring compatibility with various devices and future-proofing your setup.
Internally, the Cinema 50 boasts nine power amplifiers, each delivering 110 watts at 8 ohms. The Class A/B discrete amplifiers support bi-amping, configurable in the menu.
The Cinema 50’s digital capabilities include lossless formats like FLAC, WAV, and ALAC up to 192 kHz, and DSD files up to 5.6 MHz. Integration with smart home systems is possible via the Marantz AVR Remote App or HEOS, and the receiver can be controlled using voice assistants like Alexa, Google, or Siri.
Setup
Due to space constraints, we won’t cover smart home and multi-room integration in this test. Instead, we’ll focus on the Cinema 50’s home cinema capabilities and musicality. We connected a 7.1 speaker setup and used a 4K projector for video output, beginning with speaker setup and room calibration.
The receiver is supplied with a measurement microphone for room calibration, connected via a front 3.5 mm jack. The Audyssey system measures eight positions around the listening area, creating a custom filter profile to address the room’s acoustic issues.
Practical Test
We tested the Cinema 50 with the 2021 blockbuster “Dune” and Hans Zimmer’s original score. Without the Audyssey profile, the receiver produced a powerful, well-balanced sound. The atmospheres of Caladan and Arrakis were immersive, with clean channel separation and lively, powerful music. The Audyssey calibration added further definition, especially to the bass, making it quicker and more precise. The stereo performance was equally impressive, with finely textured transients in jazz music from the Esbjörn Svensson Trio sounding wonderfully natural.
The Cinema 50 also handled vinyl beautifully. Listening to Adele’s “30” on a Pro-Ject turntable, we were as impressed with the amp’s dynamics and tuning as with the music.
SPECIFICATIONS
| DOLBY ATMOS: | Yes |
| DTS:X: | Yes |
| IMAX ENHANCED: | Yes |
| MULTICHANNEL INPUT: | No |
| MULTICHANNEL PRE-OUT: | Yes. 11.4 |
| MULTICHANNEL OUTPUT (CLAIMED): | 9 x 110W (into 8ohm) |
| MULTIROOM: | Yes. Zone 2 AV, plus |
| HEOS AV INPUTS: | 4 x digital audio (2 x optical and 2 x coaxial); 6 x analogue stereo HDMI: 6 x inputs; 3 x outputs |
| DIMENSIONS: | 442(w) x 392(d) x 165(h)mm (excl. wireless aerials) |
| WEIGHT: | 13.5kg |
| FEATURES: | HEOS streaming and multiroom; Audyssey MultEQ XT32 calibration; Dirac Live compatible (future firmware); Auro-3D compatible; 360 Reality Audio support; Bluetooth (including headphone support); Ethernet, Wi-Fi; Voice Assistant compatible (Alexa/Google Assistant/Apple HomePod); USB playback of MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, WAV, ALAC and DSD; Movie, Music, Game and Pure sound modes; Auro, DTS and Dolby upmixing; backlit remote control; HDAM modules; HDMI 2.1 |
VERDICT
If you want to treat your home cinema setup to something special this Christmas, consider the Marantz Cinema 50. This AV receiver offers outstanding connectivity, superb build quality, and exceptional performance.
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*NEW* Marantz Cinema 50 AV Receiver Unboxing/Overview!
Dreamedia / 877-417-9000 / [email protected] / www.dreamediaav.com Follow along with Zak as he unboxes the new ...
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