A guide to the Marantz hi-fi amplifier range. Which model should you choose?

Marantz is one of the world’s leading hi-fi brands. Renowned for its timeless design, warm sound signature and quality components, the Japanese firm has built its reputation by putting musicality at the heart of all its creations. Previously, we focused on Marantz AV receivers. For many years, Marantz has offered a comprehensive range of stereo amplifiers, from accessible models designed for those just discovering high-fidelity, to high-end electronics capable of satisfying the most discerning music lovers, not to mention all-in-one connected amplifiers dedicated to streaming.

But how do you find your way around this family of amplifiers? What are the differences between a Marantz PM6007, a Model 50 and a Model 30? Why opt for a Marantz connected amp, and which one? And above all, what benefits can you expect depending on your system and budget? Here is a clear, structured overview to help you understand the brand’s philosophy, discover the specific features of each model and identify the stereo amplifier that best matches your speakers and listening expectations.

What are the characteristics of Marantz hi-fi amplifiers?

For over 70 years, Marantz has cultivated a warm, musical sound signature, without any form of ostentation. Where some manufacturers focus on power or a very demonstrative reproduction, Marantz favors balance, finesse and fluidity, in order to fully respect the structure of the recording. This philosophy results in a natural listening experience, with very soft highs and rounded bass that’s pronounced but not excessive.

Marantz owes much of this recognizable DNA to the visionary work of Ken Ishiwata, the brand’s historic ambassador for over 40 years. Engineer, music lover and a true craftsman of sound, he shaped the Marantz signature as we know it today: an approach centered on musical emotion, tonal coherence and an amp’s ability to “disappear” behind the music. Even after his death, his legacy continues to resonate in every one of the brand’s devices. Today’s generation of engineers perpetuate his exacting standards of component selection, design rigor and listening optimization, making every Marantz amplifier a true heir to this unique philosophy.

Read more: How Ken Ishiwata revolutionized Marantz and hi-fi

To achieve this, Marantz relies on a range of proprietary technologies, including the famous HDAM (Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Module). Designed and optimized in-house over several decades, these circuits replace conventional operational amplifiers with discrete modules that are faster, more stable and, above all, more musical. Coupled with carefully dimensioned power supplies and an internal architecture designed to limit interference, they contribute directly to the warm, smooth and detailed reproduction for which the brand is renowned.

Beyond sound, Marantz has profoundly renewed its visual identity with the arrival of the faceted design inaugurated on the Marantz Cinema Series (see our guide to Marantz AV receivers) and then applied to its stereo amplifiers from the Marantz Stereo 70s onwards. This design pays homage to the iconic Marantz electronics of the 1950s to 1970s. The elegant front panel is distinguished by textured lateral plates, evoking the honeycombed surface of a golf ball, adding both modernity and refinement. At the heart of this meticulous design is the iconic circular screen, Marantz’s aesthetic signature.

An overview of the Marantz hi-fi amplifier range

Today, Marantz offers a full range of hi-fi amplifiers for a wide variety of uses: from creating a small installation in a secondary room to the PA system of a vast living area, or to power demanding speakers, compact bookshelves or even a modern audio/video system. The range follows a perfectly clear progression: the most accessible models are designed for compact installations and small rooms, with excellent value for money and the brand’s signature musicality. As you move up the range, the amplifiers gain in power, refinement and control, while benefiting from more comprehensive connectivity and higher-performance components. A major distinction structures this range: the “n” models (such as the Marantz Model 60n and Marantz Model 40n) integrate a complete digital section and a network player for streaming. These features are also found on the Marantz Melody X M-CR612 all-in-one amp and the compact Marantz Model M1.

Marantz PM-6007: the entry-level model

The Marantz PM6007 stereo amplifier is the entry ticket to the brand’s hi-fi world at under €500. With a power of 45W per channel into 8 ohms, it is perfect for powering a pair of bookshelf speakers or small floorstanding speakers, while delivering a musicality already marked by Marantz DNA: a warm, balanced sound that is pleasant to listen to over long sessions. Its comprehensive connectivity, with several analog inputs, an MM phono stage, optical and coaxial digital inputs and a subwoofer output, makes it a versatile amplifier equally at home with a CD player, a DAC or a TV. The Marantz PM6007l offers a remarkable compromise between simplicity, performance and affordability, and will fit naturally into a medium-sized room, coupled with modest speakers, while guaranteeing a coherent and uniform musical listening experience. What’s more, its slim format, with a thickness of just 10cm, makes it easy to install in furniture or other small spaces.

Marantz Melody X M-CR612: the all-in-one WiFi/Bluetooth amplifier

A true best-seller, the Marantz Melody X M-CR612 amplifier occupies a special place among the brand’s pure stereo models. This compact all-in-one device is aimed at those seeking a compact, extremely versatile hi-fi solution. Despite its small size, it incorporates a CD player, a DAB/FM tuner, and a full-featured network player with access to streaming services, web radios and AirPlay 2 or Bluetooth streaming. Its power output of 2 x 60 watts RMS into 6 ohms makes it easy to drive bookshelf speakers or small floorstanding speakers, with the option of powering up to two pairs of speakers simultaneously or separately. This makes the Marantz Melody X M-CR612 an ideal all-in-one solution for small and medium-sized rooms, or for users looking for a simple, ultra-versatile system.

Marantz Stereo 70s: where two worlds meet

At the crossroads of hi-fi and home theater, the Marantz Stereo 70s amplifier is designed to be integrated at the heart of a modern audio and video system to enhance TV sound. This model features six HDMI inputs, three of which are certified HDMI 2.1, plus an HDMI eARC port to connect a wide range of audio/video sources. This makes it an attractive solution for music lovers wishing to power a pair of speakers to broadcast the sound of several consoles, a Blu-ray player, a TV box and a multimedia player. It supports video up to 4K 120 fps and 8K 60 fps, as well as the various VRR, QFT and ALLM gaming standards. The amp’s hi-fi character is embodied by numerous analog audio inputs, including an integrated MM phono preamplifier. With 2 x 75W into 8 ohms provided by HDAM modules, the Marantz Stereo 70s is ideal for powering a pair of compact or floorstanding speakers, with the option of adding up to two subwoofers to boost bass.

Marantz Model M1: the solution for integration

In an even more integration-oriented approach, the Marantz Model M1 completes the range with a philosophy different from that of the brand’s traditional stereo amplifiers. Designed to fit discreetly into a cabinet, behind a TV or in a multi-room installation, it adopts an extremely compact format. The Marantz Model M1 departs slightly from the brand’s historic signature, this time opting for class D amplification instead of class AB HDAM modules. This choice drastically reduces overheating – a crucial point for installation in a closed cabinet – while offering a comfortable 100 watts per channel. It offers analog and digital inputs, including an HDMI eARC port for TV. Finally, the HEOS ecosystem provides access to multi-room and streaming.

Marantz Model 60n: elegant design

Where the Marantz Stereo 70s emphasizes versatility thanks to its numerous HDMI 2.1 inputs and its positioning as a stereo amp for TV, the Marantz Model 60n takes a decidedly more audiophile approach. It has a more high-end approach, with an internal design dedicated exclusively to traditional hi-fi. Its analog stage uses more advanced HDAM-SA3 and SA2 modules, combined with a fully optimized circuit powered by an ultra-low-noise toroidal transformer. Although its claimed power output is slightly lower than that of the Stereo 70s (60W per channel vs. 75W), it is the listening experience offered by the Model 60n that fully justifies its price-point. It offers a more refined, softer and warmer sound reproduction, faithful to the sonic DNA that Marantz has been cultivating for decades.

Like the Stereo 70s, the Model 60n benefits from the HEOS network platform, providing access to streaming services, local files, multi-room, AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth. But where the Stereo 70s acts as an HDMI hub, the Model 60n favors simplicity and purity, retaining just a single HDMI ARC input for retrieving sound from the TV, leaving the latter to centralize video sources. Its connectors are completed by several analog inputs, including an excellent MM phono stage, as well as digital inputs, offering sufficient versatility without compromising audio quality.

Marantz Model 50: the heart of the range

The Marantz Model 50 amplifier represents the heart of the Japanese manufacturer’s hi-fi range. It is aimed above all at music lovers who want to build a stereo hi-fi system with separate components, focused on musicality and high-quality speakers. Unlike the connected models in the range, it focuses exclusively on analog performance, an assertive choice that will appeal to enthusiasts who prefer to combine a dedicated CD player, an external network player, a high-end DAC or a turntable in orderto update their system over time. The absence of digital connectivity ensures the shortest, cleanest and most coherent signal path possible, avoiding interference from digital stages and internal processing.

In this pure hi-fi tradition, the Marantz Model 50 delivers particularly refined amplification, capable of effectively driving both bookshelf and floorstanding speakers from leading brands. With 70 watts per channel into 8 ohms, it boasts a comfortable current reserve, reinforced by a generous power supply with a toroidal transformer – a key element that improves stability, boosts dynamics and ensures a more precise bass response. Its HDAM SA3 modules offer an extended frequency response from 5Hz to 100kHz and a very low distortion rate of 0.02%, guaranteeing a nuanced, highly detailed reproduction. The connectors follow the same premium approach, with six analog inputs including an excellent MM phono stage optimized for vinyl lovers. The whole system is housed in a sturdy chassis carefully organized to limit vibration and interference.

Marantz Model 40n: the high caliber connected stereo amplifier

The Marantz Model 40n retains the connected base and connectivity of the Marantz Model 60n, while adding more ambitious amplification inspired by the Marantz Model 50. In addition to analog RCA inputs (line and phono), there are four digital inputs, including an HDMI ARC port for TV. Under the hood, the architecture is very similar to that of the Model 50, with Marantz’s renowned HDAM modules and a precisely scaled power supply to deliver 70 watts per channel into 8 ohms. The sound, as warm, smooth and organic as ever, benefits from a fine dynamic reserve, offering excellent control of both bookshelf and floorstanding speakers. Thanks to HEOS integration, it can access streaming services, local files, multi-room, AirPlay 2 or Bluetooth, all with a clear, stable interface. Finally, its integrated DAC ensures playback of Hi-Res music at up to 24-bit/192kHz and DSD256, enhanced by an extended frequency response from 5Hz to 100kHz.

Marantz Model 30: the reference hi-fi amplifier

The Marantz Model 30 is the flagship of the Marantz hi-fi range, embodying the culmination of the brand’s technological and musical expertise. Unlike the Marantz Model 40n, which combines amplification, a network player and extensive connectivity for a modern, connected approach, the Marantz Model 30 features a 100% analog architecture. This assertive choice enables it to concentrate all its resources on signal quality and controlling the most demanding speakers. With a damping factor of 500 (100 for the Marantz Model 40n) and a power rating increased to 2 x 100W into 8 ohms, it offers far greater authority and bass response, ideal for driving large floorstanders equipped with wide woofers.

The internal architecture is based on the prestigious HDAM-SA3 modules, optimized to deliver a signal of exemplary speed, stability and musicality. To optimize reproduction precision, this amplifier uses a separate power supply for the preamplifier and power stage to limit interference. It’s also the only model in the range to offer a phono preamplifier compatible with MC cartridges, in addition to MM cartridges.

With this latest generation of stereo amplifiers, Marantz once again confirms its ability to combine audiophile heritage and modernity. From the accessibility of the PM6007 to the all-in-one character of the Melody X, via the hybrid approaches of the Stereo 70s and Model M1, then the premium aspect of the Model 50, Model 60n and finally the prestigious Model 30, the brand offers a comprehensive range covering all uses. Each model responds to a precise need, whether it’s to create a first hi-fi system, to modernize a living room around a connected TV, or to power large floorstanding speakers.