Marantz AV 20 13.4CH Pre/Pro & AMP 20 12CH Amplifier Official Thread

[gene]

Marantz has announced the latest additions to its line of reference home theater products. The 13.4-channel AV 20 AV Preamplifier ($6K) and 12-channel AMP 20 Power Amplifier ($6K) deliver similar performance to the brand’s flagship AV 10 and AMP 10, but for slightly smaller systems, at slightly lower prices. After a firmware update, the AV 20 will offer Dirac Live Active Room Treatment (ART). Read on to learn more.

Read: Marantz AV 20 13.4CH AV Processor & AMP 20 12CH Amplifier Detailed Overview

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

According to Audio Advice, both the AV10 and AV20 use the same DAC ESS ES9018K2M.

 

[gene]

According to Audio Advice, both the AV10 and AV20 use the same DAC ESS ES9018K2M.

I thought I heard them say AKM but I will check with Marantz Japan.

 

[Goodfellas27]

Gene, any plans on placing this beautiful processor on the bench? It'll interesting to see the difference between the A 10 and this.

 

[gene]

 

[gene]

Gene, any plans on placing this beautiful processor on the bench? It'll interesting to see the difference between the A 10 and this.

Not anytime soon but check out our review where Shane Lee goes into extensive listening and use testing.

 

[TheAVInsider]

What everyone wanted to know!
Buried in a YT reply. lol

 

[dlaloum]

Given the weight of the components.... I am not believing that opening pic!

 

[PENG]

Their marketing is continuing the exaggerated HDAM benefits, anyone who thinks logically should know the bs part about the false claim that it drastically improves the speed of amplification, false in the sense that no matter how fast the hdams can do, it is not the speed bottleneck in the signal path.

Good marketing as bs, but sad for engineers and others who understand bottleneck analysis. Other than that, imo if 13 channel is enough, the AV20 is, imo, a great alternative to the Anthem AWM90 and the AV10. If the dac is the same es9018k2m in the 10, then it is a plus. That one is consider “reference” according to ESS, cheaper than the AVM90’s 9038pro, but no one can hear the 122 dB SINAD the 9038pro offers vs the 9018kem’s 120 dB anyway.

 

[gene]

Just confirmed with Marantz Engineering that the AV 10 and AV 20 have identical DACs.

 

[ryanosaur]

This is gonna be my next machine.

 

[EBN]

Their marketing is continuing the exaggerated HDAM benefits, anyone who thinks logically should know the bs part about the false claim that it drastically improves the speed of amplification, false in the sense that no matter how fast the hdams can do, it is not the speed bottleneck in the signal path.

Good marketing as bs, but sad for engineers and others who understand bottleneck analysis. Other than that, imo if 13 channel is enough, the AV20 is, imo, a great alternative to the Anthem AWM90 and the AV10. If the dac is the same es9018k2m in the 10, then it is a plus. That one is consider “reference” according to ESS, cheaper than the AVM90’s 9038pro, but no one can hear the 122 dB SINAD the 9038pro offers vs the 9018kem’s 120 dB anyway.

Just confirmed with Marantz Engineering that the AV 10 and AV 20 have identical DACs.

There is going to be AV30 using ESS 9017S DAC like Cinema 30 at $3,5k! Now this looks interesting. Remember how poorly the AV7705 measured at ASR?! AV30 should be noticeable step up from it objectively especially if they add the two DAC filter options and they really should considering Cinema 30 has it.

 

[EBN]

@PENG They spend months designing each HDAM board separately for each models. Seems madness if it does nothing. They clearly believe it does. Marantz could also use same simpler board for each models and then add the usual marketing blurb. I assume you have already watched the latest technical video about AV20. Have a look of the links. Had to upload them to another site as this forum complained size being too large.

HDAM-1 hosted at ImgBB

Image HDAM-1 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

HDAM-2 hosted at ImgBB

Image HDAM-2 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

HDAM-3 hosted at ImgBB

Image HDAM-3 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

HDAM-4 hosted at ImgBB

Image HDAM-4 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

 

[dlaloum]

There is going to be AV30 using ESS 9017S DAC like Cinema 30 at $3,5k! Now this looks interesting. Remember how poorly the AV7705 measured at ASR?! AV30 should be noticeable step up from it objectively especially if they add the two DAC filter options and they really should considering Cinema 30 has it.

Nice!

Many of us would be perfectly happy maxing out at 11.4 channels.... in my case currently 9.1... but would love to add a pair of wides, and some additional subs.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

There is going to be AV30 (using ESS 9017S DAC) at $3,5k!

Those look like prices before tariffs increase. The new price for AV30 is more like $4K if released this year, but still less than the AV20’s $6K. The AV10 is probably going to be $8K.

But by the time the AV30 is actually released, the price might go up again close to $6K.

 

[Verdinut]

With those increased prices, IMO they won't sell well. People instead will get AVRs with preouts that cost a lot less and with most likely no audible differences.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

With those increased prices, IMO they won't sell well. People instead will get AVRs with preouts that cost a lot less and with most likely no audible differences.

We all know the prices of AVP have usually always been higher than AVR.

I think the AVR prices from all manufacturers will also increase due to tariff and inflation, but the increase probably won’t be as big.

 

[ryanosaur]

They should "unify" the R and P. Now that we have Switchable Amps, they should add Balanced Preouts to AVRs.

Worst case scenario, we have to call it an AVRP or AVPR going forward.

 

[LCSeminole]

I‘m not seeing “QMS” listed as a feature or in the specs for the AV20, or for the AV10 for that matter. Does this mean Marantz is still using the faulty Nuvoton chipset for their HDMI 2.1 boards? Interested because I want to complete the necessities for QMS requiring source & display and anything in between to be compliant. My next OLED, probably an LG G4 or G5 will depend on this working.

Report: Faulty HDMI 2.1 chip in receivers also prevents QMS from working

The HDMI 2.1 bug is back with a vengeance

www.flatpanelshd.com

Quick Media Switching (QMS)

QMS eliminates bonks by using the VRR mechanism to change frame rates, allowing rapid, smooth changes from a nominal 60Hz rate to any media rate below it (down to 24Hz). HDMI 2.1b

www.hdmi.org

 

[mtrycrafts]

This is gonna be my next machine.

If you live long enough?

Or, tomorrow.