New Marantz Slimline Receivers Add Alexa, Heos, And Apple Airplay 2 Support

Since Marantz first debuted its NR range of slimline receivers in 2009, these half-height beauties have challenged the notion that a good receiver must be a hulking eyesore. At just 4 inches tall, a slimline receiver might easily be mistaken for a CD player or 2-channel integrated amp. But, these compact chassis surprise with an impressive feature list, and performance that’s anything but puny. The two latest models, the $549 NR1509 and the $749 NR1609, add new features (including Alexa voice control and multi-room music capabilities), proving once again that room-friendly design, cutting-edge tech, and reasonable prices can all peacefully coexist.

Marantz NR1509 Back View - about 1/2 the height of traditional AV receiver

The 7.2-channel NR1609 delivers 50W per channel and is equipped to decode the immersive surround formats Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The 5.2-channel NR1509 is for simpler setups that don’t require object-based audio processing. It also delivers 50W per channel, but is limited to Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. While both models provide automatic room calibration from Audyssey, the NR1609 offers additional audio tweaking via Audyssey’s optional ($20) MultEQ Editor app. Both of the new low-profile receivers work with Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant, so users can play or pause program material, adjust volume, and switch inputs just by speaking a command (via the Heos Home Entertainment Skill for Alexa). Both the NR1509 and NR1609 support the Heos wireless multi-room streaming platform, a Sonos clone which recently emerged relatively unscathed from a long legal battle with the pioneering streaming company. Apple iPhone and iPad users will be pleased to know that these affordably-priced receivers will also be among the first to work with the new Airplay 2 standard, allowing the user to stream synchronized music to compatible devices around the house. Both new models feature high-current power amplifiers with low-impedance drive capability, that according to Marantz, provides superb speaker control and a more powerful sound than the 50-watt rating might suggest.

Whether you’re a vinyl-loving analog purist or a high-tech digital music enthusiast, the new slimline receivers have you covered. Both sport a built-in (moving magnet) phono stage, as well as high-resolution support for PCM files up to 24-bit/192-kHz and DSD up to 5.6MHz. Support for Spotify, Pandora, Deezer, and TuneIn streaming is built-in, as is Bluetooth streaming from any device that may not gel with the Heos or Airplay ecosystems. Dual subwoofer outputs round out the audio-related offerings. On the video side of things, Marantz hasn’t cut any corners. Three HDR (high dynamic range) formats are supported: HDR10, Dolby Vision, and the forthcoming Hybrid Log Gamma (or HLG) standard, which is positioned to become a broadcast standard (HLG support will be added via a later firmware update). The HDMI connections support 4K/60Hz full-rate passthrough, 4:4:4 color resolution, and HDCP 2.2 copy protection, as well as the Audio Return Channel (ARC) and Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) protocols. Custom installers can take advantage of IP control and Control4 compatibility.

These new slimline receivers may not have the colossal power capabilities of their larger stablemates, and 7.2 channels may not be enough for the largest home theater installs; for that they've got their 11.2CH flagship SR8012 . What these slimline receivers do offer is a winning combination of good looks, solid performance, and a rich feature set that will surely appeal to a wide audience.

Could you live with a slim receiver, or do you crave the biggest and best?

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