- Marantz unveils replacements for acclaimed PM6007 and CD6007 amplifier and CD player
- The amplifier has HDMI ARC and high-quality Bluetooth streaming, plus phono MM input
- From $750 / £499 / AU$1,000
One of the things I love about quality hi-fi is that it’s often made to be a treat for your eyes as well as your ears. The new Marantz Model 70 integrated amplifier and CD 70 CD player definitely fall into that category: I think they look fantastic.
I’m probably a little bit biased because my CD player is a Marantz (the CD6007 that this makes obsolete, no less) and I love it dearly. But both new models promise serious fabric to match their style.
The Model 70 and CD 70 are the successors to the acclaimed PM6007 and the aforementioned CD6007, and Marantz promises that both deliver what the brand calls its signature “warm, detailed and deeply musical” sound.
But there are significant upgrades that should make this new generation an even more luxurious listen.
Marantz Model 70 and CD 70: key features and prices
The Marantz Model 70 is an integrated amplifier with HDMI ARC and Bluetooth, the latter offering transmission and reception via aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, AAC and SBC. In addition to the usual audio connections, there are preamplifier and subwoofer outputs.
The 50-watt Class A/B amplifier features an upgraded topology with an improved power supply and larger toroidal transformer, which Marantz says delivers greater dynamic expression, improved speaker control and increased authority across all speaker types. It includes a high-quality MM phono stage for your turntable and a high-performance ES Saber DAC for digital audio sources.
The Marantz CD 70 features the same DAC as the Model 70 plus additional proprietary High Definition Amplifier Module (HDAM) circuitry to deliver “detailed, expressive and emotionally engaging reproduction of CDs, extracting every nuance from treasured music collections,” says Marantz. There’s a USB-A port on the front for your digital files and support for high-resolution formats including FLAC HD, ALAC, AIFF and DSD.
As with the Model 70 amplifier, the circuitry has been optimized to reduce noise and preserve detail; there’s an upgraded power supply, “strategically placed” copper hardware, and a dual-layer chassis base with rigid isolation feet.
As with their predecessors, the Model 70 and CD 70 are not terribly expensive. The official price of the CD 70 compact disc player is $750 / £499 / AU$1,000, while the Model 70 integrated amplifier is £749 / AU$1,455 (no US price was given, but based on UK/AU price differences from the CD 70, we’d guess around $1,100).
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds.
