Marantz Announces New NR1510 and NR1710 Slimline AV Receivers

Shortly after Sound United dropped the bombshell announcement that it would be acquiring Onkyo Corporation’s consumer audio division — including Onkyo, Pioneer, Pioneer Elite, and Integra brands — the audio conglomerate held its first ever North America Dealers Conference in New Orleans, where it introduced a number of new products from its existing portfolio of brands. Among the product introductions were two new slimline receivers from Marantz, the NR1510 ($599) and NR1710 ($749). For years now, Marantz’s slimline receivers have been perennial favorites thanks to their compact form factor and impressive feature list. Last year’s NR1509 and NR1609 offered voice control from Alexa and Google Assistant, but the new 2019 models also work with Apple’s Siri and the high-end smart home automation assistant, Josh.ai. The NR1510 and NR1710 have updated multi-room audio capabilities; built-in HEOS streaming is now joined by Apple AirPlay2 support.

The receivers’ HDMI connectivity has also seen upgrades over last year’s models. The NR1510 and NR1710 sport six and eight HDMI inputs, respectively, with support for HDCP 2.3, 4K Ultra HD 60Hz video, 4:4:4 Pure Color sub-sampling, BT 2020 pass-through, and HDR (high dynamic range) video in the forms of HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG. On the audio side, the biggest HDMI upgrade is support for eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel), which allows the transmission of lossless audio soundtracks (such as Dolby True HD) and object-based audio (such as Dolby Atmos) from a TV to the receiver via the connected HDMI cable. Another HDMI audio upgrade for 2019 is Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which will be a boon to gamers with the latest Microsoft Xbox One console. HDMI inputs automatically rename themselves with information provided by the source component, be it a gaming console, Blu-ray player, or streaming media player.

Sound United Interview with Classe, Denon and Marantz

Both the NR1510 and NR1710 employ high-current discrete power amplifiers with identical power on all channels. The NR1510 has 5.2 channels at 50 watts per channel (8-ohm, 20Hz - 20kHz, 0.08% THD, 2 channels driven), while the NR1710 raises the number of channels to 7.2, but delivers the same 50 watts of output. That’s a relatively modest amount of power, but Marantz claims that the amps have low-impedance driver capability and offer superb speaker control. The new AVRs have been “extensively tuned by Marantz sound masters to deliver the iconic Marantz sonic signature designed to please discerning audiophiles and everyday listeners alike,” according to the company.

The NR1510 is a fairly basic 5.2-channel receiver; it handles Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio, but not Dolby Atmos, nor DTS: X. For those immersive, object-based formats, you’ll need to step up to the 7.2-channel NR1710. The NR1710 can be set up in a 5.2.2 Dolby Atmos configuration, with one pair of overhead speakers or up-firing elevation speakers to reproduce height effects in Dolby Atmos soundtracks. The Dolby Surround up-mixer adds overhead effects to legacy content. New for this year is the inclusion of Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization, an audio processing technology that allows a traditional 5.2- or 7.2-channel speaker setup (without separate in-ceiling or upward-firing height speakers) to simulate the immersive experience of Dolby Atmos. With Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization, a 5.2-channel setup can mimic the effect of two overhead speakers, and a 7.2-channel setup can reportedly simulate the effect of four overhead speakers. Never one to play favorites, the Marantz can also handle the competing surround formats from DTS. The DTS:X multi-dimensional audio format can take advantage of height speakers, if you have them, and the DTS Neural:X engine up-mixes legacy content. For those with simpler speaker arrangements, DTS Virtual:X works in much the same as Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization to simulate the DTS:X experience without additional height speakers.

Both the NR1510 and NR1710 have the ability to decode high-resolution audio ALAC, FLAC and WAV lossless files up to 24-bit/192-kHz, and DSD at 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz. If analog is more your thing, you’ll appreciate the integrated phono input with support for moving-magnet cartridges. Both AVRs have Audyssey MultEQ for simple setup and room calibration, and the NR1710 adds support for the Audyssey MultEQ Editor App, which allows the user to view and adjust settings for detailed audio customization. The NR1510 and NR1710 can be controlled by the Marantz AVR Remote iOS and Android app, but power users will take advantage of the advanced custom installation support, including compatibility with Control4, Domotz Pro, ihiji Invision, and a number of other systems.

"The latest additions to our slim network receiver line continue to demonstrate Marantz's mastery of blending the most musical sound with advanced technological features and elegant slender design. We've packed plenty of power into both models and included the latest HDMI suite alongside voice control compatibility with industry-leading AI platforms. Both of these new models easily meet the needs of most enthusiasts without sacrificing space, and are an ideal option for listeners looking to move away from a sound bar to a product with greater sonic performance and ease-of-use."

-Emmanuel Millot, global brand director at Marantz

The Marantz NR1510 and NR1710 are currently available at all authorized Marantz retailers. Will one of these half-height receivers be squeezing its way into your entertainment system? Share your thoughts in the related forum thread below.

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