Marantz M1 Streaming Amplifier Review

[rf1938]

Are you connected with WiFi, or are you connected with Ethernet?

I had various reliability issues with the M1 when I used WiFi. During Black Friday sales, I picked up an eero 6 router (I have an older eero mesh network) and set it up as a repeater/endpoint that speaks over WiFi back to the main eero Pro router attached to my cable modem/gateway. I plugged the M1 into that new eero 6 wireless endpoint via Ethernet. All of my reliability issues with HEOS disappeared immediately.

I’m unaware of the library functions of HEOS, and so, obviously can’t speak from any experience there. As far as connectivity, mine is WiFi and has been 100%. The app is responsive and songs are found and played virtually instantly. Maybe the AV10 implementation is different. Sorry to hear of others with difficulties; HEOS has been a major asset for me with the AV10.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Been extensively testing UPnP from Audirvāna on my computer to the M1 today and it is working great. I need not keep my computer physically tethered to the M1 via optical cable for playing my personal/local library this way while avoiding having to deal with terrible HEOS!

 

[antcollinet]

Been extensively testing UPnP from Audirvāna on my computer to the M1 today and it is working great. I need not keep my computer physically tethered to the M1 via optical cable for playing my personal/local library this way while avoiding having to deal with terrible HEOS!

Can you "push" the stream from your PC this way - or do you need to "pull" it from the M1 interface?
(My - somewhat historic- experience of UPnP is that it worked fine, but I had to select what to play from the UI of the client device)

 

[SHDK]

I'm not saying that HEOS is by any means great. I have experienced minor Quirk's with it ones in a while. Like rarely not updating album arts.

But I can't really say it's bin unstable. It always works fast and responsive. I use my M1 via cable.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Can you "push" the stream from your PC this way - or do you need to "pull" it from the M1 interface?
(My - somewhat historic- experience of UPnP is that it worked fine, but I had to select what to play from the UI of the client device)

I actually only know how to do it by, “pushing,” from the computer. I don’t even think there’s a way to locate the computer/Audirvana in HEOS to initiate/“pull,” from it.

The best part about this setup is that volume control works over UPnP, so I can use my Fosi VOL20 Bluetooth remote, which has a lovely look and feel, and control playback AND volume with a single remote. Normally this cannot be done without something like an IR learning remote (to control the M1) combined with something like a FLIRC USB IR receiver for the computer.

 

[Ropeburn]

This would be appropriate performance for a cheap product way under 500, but certainly not for 1000. Lol. Not if you can get killer combos like Wiim Ultra + poweramp to taste for that money. Or Wiim Ultra Amp for half.

What a shame seeing the Marantz name, as shiny as it once was, get ruined in this way.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

This would be appropriate performance for a cheap product way under 500, but certainly not for 1000. Lol. Not if you can get killer combos like Wiim Ultra + poweramp to taste for that money. Or Wiim Ultra Amp for half.

What a shame seeing the Marantz name, as shiny as it once was, get ruined in this way.

That may have been the case at first release, but months later when they added DIRAC Live support, that flipped the equation as you would then have to consider it comparable to the cost of WiiM Pro + miniDSP Flex + (insert affordable yet competent TPA3255-based amp here), which isn't a whole lot cheaper--you can consider the extra cost as the cost of having a single-box solution instead of three to six boxes (the last case being four boxes for a pair of Fosi V3 Monos plus their power supplies).

 

[GiBo61]

That may have been the case at first release, but months later when they added DIRAC Live support, that flipped the equation as you would then have to consider it comparable to the cost of WiiM Pro + miniDSP Flex + (insert affordable yet competent TPA3255-based amp here), which isn't a whole lot cheaper--you can consider the extra cost as the cost of having a single-box solution instead of three to six boxes (the last case being four boxes for a pair of Fosi V3 Monos plus their power supplies).

I understand your point but I'm wondering how many M1 owners use Dirac Live and how many among them would be more than satisfied to use Room fit on a Whim Amp Ultra and save almost $500.

 

[Mart68]

At least Marantz are pushing the boundaries in one area - this is possibly the ugliest-looking bit of kit I've ever seen.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

I understand your point but I'm wondering how many M1 owners use Dirac Live and how many among them would be more than satisfied to use Room fit on a Whim Amp Ultra and save almost $500.

I certainly wouldn’t have bothered with this thing were it not for DIRAC; HEOS isn’t worth the trouble otherwise. The problem was that during my entire time with a WiiM, RoomFit wasn’t good enough, not even close. I spent months trying to get the maximum out of RoomFit and it never came anywhere close to DIRAC Live’s performance (which I trialed on my computer before committing to a miniDSP) despite comparing them both with a calibrated UMIK-1.

I got tired of the huge mess of having streamer, DSP, two DACs (my miniDSP Flex was digital output model, which was the only used unit I could find at the time, saving me a lot of money as tariffs had hit hard here in the US on new miniDSP orders, and I have a sub, so one DAC for speakers and one DAC for the sub), and two monoblocs plus their separate power supplies. I replaced seven little boxes with one clean ans nice looking one, and if I did a blind test I would bet money that I can’t tell between the two setups consistently, especially given the use of DIRAC under 300Hz.

 

[Roland68]

That may have been the case at first release, but months later when they added DIRAC Live support, that flipped the equation as you would then have to consider it comparable to the cost of WiiM Pro + miniDSP Flex + (insert affordable yet competent TPA3255-based amp here), which isn't a whole lot cheaper--you can consider the extra cost as the cost of having a single-box solution instead of three to six boxes (the last case being four boxes for a pair of Fosi V3 Monos plus their power supplies).

I understand your point but I'm wondering how many M1 owners use Dirac Live and how many among them would be more than satisfied to use Room fit on a Whim Amp Ultra and save almost $500.

And if I'm going to use Dirac Live, I want to do it with an amplifier that's no worse and has less power than 30-year-old amplifiers, or even current ones like the A7.

 

[Art of sound]

I wouldn't call the HF distortion much better. It is only slightly better between 10khz and 20khz where almost no content lives. From 100hz to 10khz the wiim is better.

The Multitone measurement shows low distortion >18bits in >1khz where our hearing is sensitive which is a real world test. Testing something with noise shaping creates a havoc with measurements so those aren't trustworthy. This actually looks great for the price and features given the brand value as i want to upgrade from the TP3255 chip based amps.

 

[Ropeburn]

The Multitone measurement shows low distortion >18bits in >1khz where our hearing is sensitive which is a real world test. Testing something with noise shaping creates a havoc with measurements so those aren't trustworthy. This actually looks great for the price and features given the brand value as i want to upgrade from the TP3255 chip based amps.

That's the thing: evidently this one is NOT an upgrade. What makes you think it is? "Brand value"?

 

[BossBunos]

The Multitone measurement shows low distortion >18bits in >1khz where our hearing is sensitive which is a real world test. Testing something with noise shaping creates a havoc with measurements so those aren't trustworthy. This actually looks great for the price and features given the brand value as i want to upgrade from the TP3255 chip based amps.

Maybe I don't understand but how is the multitone of this amp better than the wiim amp ultra? (Except for 10khz+ as I stated) Looks more like a downgrade...

 

[Art of sound]

That's the thing: evidently this one is NOT an upgrade. What makes you think it is? "Brand value"?

look at the multitone test graph and you will see the distortion lowers after 1k to over 100db

 

[amirm]

Did you experience any difference between the two filters then?

Not in that one test.

 

[Art of sound]

Maybe I don't understand but how is the multitone of this amp better than the wiim amp ultra? (Except for 10khz+ as I stated) Looks more like a downgrade...

this is not a valid way to compare any amplifier. if it crosses 16 bits you won't hear it but even 10 bits of clearance is enough for me. its just a judgement of engineering. however you hear audio through your ears through a proper blind AB test. i recently listened to a class AB nakamichi amplifer with SNR 90DB in a friends car and added it to my car as well albeit a different model with more power and now the JL front speakers sound so much better with more mid bass. the stock amplifier 20w RMS wasn't doing the job even with a high volume. night and day with a 100 watt amplifier driven to the same 75db volume within the car. i don't know if the warmness was coming from the class AB design or with added distortion but given the ambient noise while driving i am not looking for the same things that i have at my desk or the TV. At the same time, the subwoofer amplifier in my friends car i.e the class AB nakamichi ( 5 channel, 1 sub amp) is rolling off at 40Hz but the SNR 100db morel mono amplifier in my car with the same subwoofer is playing down to 30 or below without any hesitation and no major peaks and no DSP in either except for some EQ from the receiver.

 

[BossBunos]

this is not a valid way to compare any amplifier. if it crosses 16 bits you won't hear it but even 10 bits of clearance is enough for me. its just a judgement of engineering. however you hear audio through your ears through a proper blind AB test. i recently listened to a class AB nakamichi amplifer with SNR 90DB in a friends car and added it to my car as well albeit a different model with more power and now the JL front speakers sound so much better with more mid bass. the stock amplifier 20w RMS wasn't doing the job even with a high volume. night and day with a 100 watt amplifier driven to the same 75db volume within the car. i don't know if the warmness was coming from the class AB design or with added distortion but given the ambient noise while driving i am not looking for the same things that i have at my desk or the TV. At the same time, the subwoofer amplifier in my friends car i.e the class AB nakamichi ( 5 channel, 1 sub amp) is rolling off at 40Hz but the SNR 100db morel mono amplifier in my car with the same subwoofer is playing down to 30 or below without any hesitation and no major peaks and no DSP in either except for some EQ from the receiver.

The whole discussion was about HF multi tone if you look back. Not about comparing amplifiers as a whole...

 

[caioferrari]

Does the Wiim have HDMI eARC, Dolby Digital Plus, and Apple AirPlay? I think that the answer is no!

The ultra miss AirPlay only

 

[caioferrari]

The M1 also has a Virtual Surround function, which in conjunction with Dolby Digital+ and eARC input support are all features that are meant to enhance movie and show watching. If you're a pure music-listener, it means nothing to you, but for people who do watch movies and shows on their M1, they'll have a nicer experience than on a Wiim.

Additionally, and it absolutely amazes me that we've reached page 4 and nobody has mentioned this, but the M1 (and its more affordable sister, the Denon Home Amp) both support DIRAC Live room correction, which is leagues better performing than Wiim RoomFit.

The cost of adding a DIRAC Live license to this amp is a lot less than buying an entire miniDSP Flex plus DIRAC Live license.

If you don't take advantage of DIRAC Live and don't use your system for anything other than music, the M1 is not a great value.

For people who want, "just one box that does it all," this thing truly checks all the boxes. If you're willing to have two or three boxes to do the job, then I guess a miniDSP Flex combined with one of the newer inexpensive class-D amps with ARC input might get you close. I suppose there is also the miniDSP SHD Power, but I don't know if that amp has load-neutral frequency response.

I should not be the one that has to point out also that the room correction functionality easily trumps SINAD differences between this amp and others of lesser or similar cost that don't have DIRAC Live.

If you really believe room correction doesn't improve your sound, well I'm happy you're blessed with such a perfect, dedicated listening room.

May be it’s about the price difference and the performance. Marantz + Dirac costs about 1200 vs 599 os Wiim.
I think Marantz should be better at any aspect. Just my opinion