Marantz unveils four receivers with a single HDMI 2.1 connection

Marantz introduces four receivers that support HDMI 2.1. All receivers have a single connection that allows passthrough of 4k images in combination with 120Hz or 8k video at 60Hz.

The four new receivers from Marantz fall into the SR series: SR5015, SR6015, SR7015 and SR8015. The ascending serial numbers represent increasingly expensive models, which include a higher power available and more audio channels are supported. For example, the SR5015 has an output power of 180W and support for seven amplifier channels, while the SR8015 has an output power of 205W and supports eleven amplifier channels. The SR5015 also comes in a variant with support for radio via dab+.

The main feature of these new receivers is the presence of a single HDMI 2.1 input port. This means that the receivers can transmit images from a future Xbox Series X or PS5 console in 4k resolution at 120fps to a television. In addition, there is support for the other elements associated with HDMI 2.1, such as variable refresh rates, automatic low latency mode, quick frame transport, quick media switching and enhanced audio return channel. There is also support for hdr10, hlg, hdr10+ and Dolby Vision.

Phil Jones of Sound United, the parent company of Denon and Marantz, among others, has informed Forbes in a response that it concerns HDMI 2.1 connections with a maximum bandwidth of 40Gbit/s. When asked why there is only a single HDMI 2.1 input on the new receivers, Jones reports that most current HDMI 2.1 chipsets support 1x input and 2x output or 2x input and 1x output. He says that Marantz has opted for the first option, so that in the future customers can, for example, transfer image material to a television and a projector.

He also states that a single HDMI 2.1 input is sufficient for most consumers and gamers, partly because there are no 8k or 4k120 broadcasts on television or movies with those resolutions and refresh rates. Jones acknowledges that Marantz could have chosen to integrate more HDMI 2.1 input ports, but he says that would have pushed the price up massively while offering little real added value for consumers.

Strangely enough, consumers who will soon be purchasing one of the new consoles will be advised by Jones to connect their game system to the television and send the audio to the receiver via e-arc. He gives a number of arguments for this, such as that fewer ultra high-speed HDMI cables are needed with this set-up. These cables are required for HDMI 2.1. This setup is somewhat remarkable, as a relatively small number of high-end televisions support e-arc. If they support that, DTS:X porting is also not a guarantee. In addition, it is generally common for external devices such as media players and consoles to be connected to the receiver, after which the device transmits the image to the television.

In terms of audio standards, there is support for Dolby Atmos, the Dolby Surround upmixer, DTS:X and the DTS Neural:X upmixer, among others. As is quite common these days, there is also support for DTS Virtual:X and Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology; this creates virtual height channels without the listener actually having speakers. Imax Enhanced is available on all receivers except the SR5015. Auro 3D is only available with the two most expensive models. Furthermore, only the SR8015 can handle DTS:X Pro. That gives support up to 13.2 audio channels for, for example, 9.2.4 speaker configurations. Support for DTS:X Pro will be added later this year via a firmware update.

All new receivers will be released in September; only the SR7015 will be available a month earlier. The SR5015 costs 899 euros and the prices of the successive models are 1199, 1699 and 2999 euros.

SR5015 SR6015 SR7015 SR8015

SR5015

SR6015

SR7015

SR8015