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Marantz Cinema 40 AVR Review

Rate this AVR:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 8 3.7%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 52 23.7%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 129 58.9%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 30 13.7%

  • Total voters
    219
Well, I don't think the tests results would be so much different than the Cinema 40.
All the new AVR Marantz (and probably Denon) are based on the same principles and basic modules.
Any big surprises can't be expected from other tests, and even less from listening to these different devices.


Amir can't test everything on demand, and the manufacturers won't send Amir (or any other reviewer) all of their products.
Anyway, you are lucky, you will soon read the A1H test.
 
Well, I don't think the tests results would be so much different than the Cinema 40.
All the new AVR Marantz (and probably Denon) are based on the same principles and basic modules.
Any big surprises can't be expected from other tests, and even less from listening to these different devices.


Amir can't test everything on demand, and the manufacturers won't send Amir (or any other reviewer) all of their products.
Anyway, you are lucky, you will soon read the A1H test.

What is your reference for "much difference"? If you are to compare the know facts, one thing that stands out is the DAC IC. The Cinema 30 (and the AVR-X6800H) use the ES9017S that has SINAD spec 17 dB better than the PCM5102A used in the Cinema 40.

The DAC IC is most likely not the limiting factor because there are other ICs in the chain, including the Volume control IC and op amp ICs, but the measured results of the Cinema 30 should be around the 102-105 dB ball park based on Marantz's own measurements mentioned in one of the Audioholics.com's videos.

That's just the preamp/DAC, on the power amp side, based on test results of the previous models, I would bet you are correct, that the test results would not be so much different, so most likely in the range 85-90 dB SINAD, may be +/- 2 to 3 dB better or worse than the Cinema 40.

That's just my educated guess obviously.
 
I have an A1H here for testing. :)
Testing such a real flag ship class AV receiver is a rare thing so I would like to put in a special request as follow.:)

- Please test the preamp/DAC SINAD vs output voltage from below 100 mV to 4.0 V, in both preamp mode and non preamp mode. I think for a flagship AVR, it should be able to be tested at 4 V without risk of damage and if the risk is there, surely you would trigger the protective scheme long before.
- Some people are fixated on the reactive, or even the so called "power cube" tests, that imo, is often overrated (in terms of real world applications) by forum members, but useful for sure), so please include that test that you seem to have been doing quite often recently anyway.
- Include one test of the preamp/dac in a stereo mode with something like bass management, using analog inputs in such a way that ensures there will be double conversion so we can see how low SINAD would go, due to the subpar ADC used by D+M in even their flagship grade products.

Thank you.
 
So you sent A1h. I personally thank you too man
We need more people like you in this world ❤️

No no. I sent Amir the Meyer Sound stuff and a Mcintosh power meter for him to test with the “next amp” that comes along.

He has my Meyer Sound MM-4XP and the McIntosh MPM4000
 
I hope it was sent to him by Denon.
 
That's just the preamp/DAC, on the power amp side, based on test results of the previous models, I would bet you are correct, that the test results would not be so much different, so most likely in the range 85-90 dB SINAD, may be +/- 2 to 3 dB better or worse than the Cinema 40.

That's just my educated guess obviously.
@peng What you be your educated guess on the point preamp/DAC SINAD becomes fully transparent?
 
@peng What you be your educated guess on the point preamp/DAC SINAD becomes fully transparent?

I guess for me it probably would be around 65 dB assuming it is mostly distortions, and sitting at >10 ft so as to not hear noise. I did quite well in those Kippel tests, so I think for some people even 55 to 60 dB my be good enough, but again, it depends on the noise factor, as noise can be heard easily by a lot of people.
 
I guess for me it probably would be around 65 dB assuming it is mostly distortions, and sitting at >10 ft so as to not hear noise. I did quite well in those Kippel tests, so I think for some people even 55 to 60 dB my be good enough, but again, it depends on the noise factor, as noise can be heard easily by a lot of people.
Wow that low? OK, I would have guessed you'd say more like mid 80s.
I've never done any controlled testing and have no formal electronics education so I can only go by the opinions of those that have.
 
I hope it was sent to him by Denon.
Was not (didn't ask them either). Member purchased it through our company and kindly allowing me to test it first.
 
No no. I sent Amir the Meyer Sound stuff and a Mcintosh power meter for him to test with the “next amp” that comes along.

He has my Meyer Sound MM-4XP and the McIntosh MPM4000
Anyway you sent something to measure.☺️ You did a lot for the audio community. Thank you ☺️
 
Only 10 years? Since when is using a piece of technology for 10 years become something to be saying you 'only' got 10 years use out of it.
I get your point, but for me at least, there are expectations of real long term use (for me at least) out of everything I buy that is expensive and of course that is relative but for example, when I buy a car I expect a minimum of 10 years out of it, but 15-20 is the sweet spot. Sometimes things happen that prevent that from being realized but that is the expectation initially otherwise its a low return on my dollar spent and is a mistake. Audio gear I think of in much the same way. Buy quality gear and expect it to last and give many years of service. Amplifiers I expect a minimum of 15-20 years out of them, and if they are good designs and built well, they will do that. HT processors I have somewhat lower expectations for, but 10 years I would say is a good start. If you drop 7k for an AV10 for example, why wouldn't you expect a very long and happy troublefree life out of it? There is very little in it that is subject to significant thermal stress and much of the software and firmware should be upgradable as time passes. If the hardware is reliable why would it not last 15 years or more? TVs have pretty high thermal stresses and are largely today I think made to be disposable rather than repairable and for what they cost I consider them to be a very low value purchase. Granted we all want one or more of them and could argue that we need them...but based on what I am seeing from my reading and studying the marketplace, most TVs won't make it 5 years now. This is a huge change from how things were just 10 years ago. You could buy a tv then and expect a 10 year life out of it, but not anymore...standards have slipped mightily and I don't see it as a good thing at all.
 
I for one would love to see a processor only version of the C40, I would be all over that with both feet and my checkbook. Very decent performance with enough features to satisfy many if not all, though I am guessing by removing the power amps from the box, noise and crosstalk numbers would improve and with the speaker connectors gone there would sufficient real estate on the back panel for XLR connectors for all outputs. I think Marantz is missing a market segment worth capturing with a pre/pro that is not quite SOTA, just a notch down from their AV10. At a $2500 price point for this item they would give Emotiva and a bunch of others a reason to step up their game. They already have 95% of the work done to deliver such a product it just seems like a no-brainer to me.
 
I for one would love to see a processor only version of the C40, I would be all over that with both feet and my checkbook. Very decent performance with enough features to satisfy many if not all, though I am guessing by removing the power amps from the box, noise and crosstalk numbers would improve and with the speaker connectors gone there would sufficient real estate on the back panel for XLR connectors for all outputs. I think Marantz is missing a market segment worth capturing with a pre/pro that is not quite SOTA, just a notch down from their AV10. At a $2500 price point for this item they would give Emotiva and a bunch of others a reason to step up their game. They already have 95% of the work done to deliver such a product it just seems like a no-brainer to me.

I would love to have an AVP at price point below the C40, may be say at the same price point as an AVR-X3800H lol..

However, I wouldn't expect if Marantz just swapped the power amp section with a set of boards that provides XLR outputs, because if they do something similar to what they did with the SR7013/7015 AVRs and AV7705/7706 preamp processors that noise and crosstalk numbers would improve. That's based on ASR, and other sites measurements, as well as Marantz own specifications.

Just take a look of the two samples measured by Amir, one brand new, one refurbished:

So, I would say for better specs/measurements, they should do that but based such a $2,500 AV preamp processor on the Denon AVRs that have been getting better measured results in the past few years. Even the much more expensive AV8805 did worse than the Denon 3000 and 4000 series AVRs. The latest Marantz AVRs did measure better though but again, shouldn't based on the C40, but I would be fine with the C30.

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The AVP did better in DNR, but then we are comparing pre out to power amp output, not really apples to apples.

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The SR7015, that is the AVR the AV7705 is based on, actually measured a little better:
 
livinon2wheels, I just checked Amazon, the outdated AV7706 is still going for $3,199 so there seems no chance to have one based on the current AVRs for $2,500. At that price point you picked, sorry to say it, but Marantz fans will have to hope for Masimo to let Denon does it, and hopefully they wouldn't mind coming up with a style that looks more appealing to the M leaning people.;)
 
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