Marantz SR6004 A/V Receiver Boasts Prologic IIz and Dolby TrueHD/DTS:HD

Check out our complete review of the Marantz SR6004 AV Receiver.

Marantz just put the rest of the industry in checkmate when they unveiled their new SR6004 Dolby TrueHD/ DTS HD PLIIz A/V receiver.  Their claim is the performance of separates components in a single box.  Given their glowing history towards the audio side of the A/V equation, we have little doubt about the validity of their claim. 

At only $1,249, Marantz offers you Bluetooth, four-in/two-out HDMI connectivity, an array of Audyssey technologies, 110 watts per channel, and the décor-pleasing cosmetics Marantz is justly famous for.  Best of all the new SR6004 boasts the latest post processing decoding from Dolby labs called PLIIz which adds optional front height channels which can be powered off the receivers surround back channels.  Thus you can either run a full 7.1 with surround backs, or 7.1 with front height channels or 5.1 to bi-amp the front channels or power a second zone.

What do you want in a surround sound receiver?  Power?  Connectivity?  Sophistication?  Easy operation?  Superb cosmetic design?  Look no further than the SR6004.  Finally a receiver manufacturer that gets it by not including an array of useless S-video connections to support legacy devices people don't use anymore.  As a result you have a clean backpanel that is easy to navigate and route your cables to the correct places with little hassle.

Notice how the video connections are all co-located in one area while the 7.1 analog inputs are in close proximity to the other analog inputs and the 7.1 analog outputs are in a separate area next to the speaker level outputs.  The engineers at Marantz really put forth extra effort in the layout and ergonomics of this baby and its no doubt custom installers will appreciate this. A detachable AC cord, RS232C and IR flasher inputs, DC trigger outputs, an easily-placed  chassis that’s less than 16” deep, and Front Key Lock which inactivates all the front panel controls make the SR6004 a perfect candidate for custom installation.  The new hand-held remote controller features an LCD display, backlighting, and learning capability so you can use this remote for multi-brand systems.  And it’s been pre-programmed with BD (Blu-ray Disc) command codes for players by most major manufacturers.

Want to stream your music?  Not a problem as the SR6004 sports Sirius and XM satellite radio, a front panel USB input allows you to stream music from your thumb drive, MP3 player or other portable device.  You’ll find an RX101 Bluetooth adaptor included with your SR6004 so you can wirelessly enjoy files from any Bluetooth-enabled source.  This will enable you to enjoy music directly off your iPhone and iTouch!  And the RX101 is an IR (infrared) sensor, too, so you can place all your components in a remote location and still maintain complete control.  If you’re concerned about compromised sound quality with compressed files, let our M-DAX (Marantz Dynamic Audio eXpander) circuit fill in the missing high frequency content for true-to-life fidelity.

Get your system fully tuned and calibrated using Audyssey MultEQ and Dynamic Volume to compensate for level differences as you switch from source to source.  Dynamic EQ maintains the original bass-to-treble tonal balance regardless of how loudly or softly you play your favorite music or movies. 

Enjoying all this through your main system is certainly fine but having the convenience of multi-zone operation is even better.  Here, the SR6004 gives you the option of second zone/second source output so you can enjoy a soundtrack in one room and a MP3 in another.  And you can select either mono or stereo for second zone listening.

The SR6004 video side is equally impressive with its multi-purpose video processor from i-Chips Technology that easily converts composite or component video signals to digital while upscaling them to full 1080p definition for output via HDMI.  There’s also a component video output for a second zone and automatic Lip Sync so picture and sound arrive simultaneously at your favorite viewing/listening location.  Marantz makes the whole setup process easy with their straight forward color GUI to allow you to fully enjoy all its capabilities.

With all of these great features, one would wonder if Marantz skimped on the amplifier section like so many other receiver companies are doing lately with budget priced receivers.  Fear not as the seven channel in-line design uses voltage feedback for reduced distortion.  A space-efficient and well regulated EI-core transformer pairs with an array of custom 20,000 microfarad capacitors to provide instantaneous current delivery when a demanding source calls for it.  Even the power supply devoted to HDMI and DSP circuits is a linear design that avoids the noise common to “switching” supplies.  HDMI circuits benefit from a phase lock loop (PLL) in the power supply for reduced jitter and even better  sound quality.  In addition, the analog audio circuitry sits on its own circuit board for maximum isolation.

It’s attention to details like this that distinguishes Marantz from other receivers in this price class.  If you are a Marantz fan and are looking for the latest in A/V receiver technology in this price range, you owe it to yourself to take the SR6004 for a test drive in your own home theater system to see and hear if its the right solution for you. 

For more information, visit:  http://us.marantz.com/

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.