News

Marantz introduces SR6001 HDMI-enabled 7.1 A/V receiver with up-conversion to HDMI and Audyssey room calibration (8/3/2007) Outstanding functionality and versatility meet high performance in competitively priced new Marantz home cinema receiver The new SR6001 home cinema receiver from Marantz, which saw its world launch at this year's Bristol Sound and Vision Show, not only implements a raft of fantastic latest generation technologies and delivers spectacular sound from either movies or music, but it also manages to do so at an exceptionally competitive price of £800. The design's impressive specification includes a conservatively stated 100 Watts across each of its seven channels, two HDMI 1.2 inputs with switching that are compatible with 720p, 1080i and 1080p signals, up-conversion from all analogue sources to HDMI with interlace to progressive processing, the latest in advanced 32-bit Digital Signal Processing circuitry, automatic Room Acoustic Calibration with MultEQ by Audyssey, and Cirrus Logic 192kHz/24-bit audio DACs for each channel. As with all Marantz products the very best audio reproduction is the key. The SR6001 features a fully discrete seven-channel amplifier section capable of delivering over 700 Watts of high-current amplification, for continuously clean and stable power. The design employs a massive power transformer in combination with high-grade, oversized filter capacitors as well as an advanced Cirrus Logic Multi-bit Delta Sigma 192 kHz/24-bit D/A converter for each of the seven channels. The design also implements Marantz's proprietary Current Feedback amplification circuit technology, which offers wide-bandwidth, high-speed reproduction with excellent transient response and superb sonic transparency for the full bandwidth up to 100kHz. Elsewhere you'll find independent power supply circuits for the audio and video sections, as well as the display, for maximum separation, clarity and dynamic range. Meanwhile, all of the digital, analogue and control circuits are separated and extensively shielded in their own enclosures to prevent cross talk and other unwanted interference. There's also a Pure Direct mode, which turns off high-noise video components and the display, which can both cause interference, while the A/D, D/A converter and the DSP will be by-passed, too. Together with specially selected high-grade components, all elements work in harmony to recreate the emotion, exactly as the artist had intended. At the heart of the SR6001 is highly advanced 32-bit Digital Signal Processing circuitry decoding the latest generation of digital surround sound including Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES, DPL IIx, CSII, DTS 96/24, Dolby Headphone, and Dolby Virtual Speaker. Set-up couldn't be simpler thanks to the Room Acoustic Calibration function with MultEQ by Audyssey. This system - developed by a handful of audio experts at the University of Southern California including THX inventor Tom Holman - automatically determines how many loudspeakers are connected, whether they are connected in phase and whether they are satellites or subwoofers. When it has processed this it then calibrates speaker level, size, and distance. The system compensates for more than one listening location at the same time, giving nearly every listener in the room a "sweet spot" no matter where they're sitting. A dedicated high sensitive audio microphone will come with the receiver. In addition, Marantz has focused on flexibility. The SR6001 features multi room/multisource, A/B switching, two assignable DC triggers, two flasher inputs, an RS232c communication port, and an extensive array of both analog and digital in-outputs. With seven assignable digital inputs (eight in total), four component inputs, and a multi room speaker, versatility is taken to a new stunning level. Completing the package is an extensive, backlit learning remote handset, making the SR6001 the ideal choice in every home entertainment system. The SR6001 will be available from March 2007. www.marantz.com