Daniel J SaitMarantz has announced its latest slimline 8K Ultra HD AV receiver, the NR1711. Designed to deliver sound for movies and music without sacrificing entertainment centre space, the new AVR boasts 8K connectivity and high resolution streaming.
Priced at £649 and available in black or a silver-gold version, the NR1711 is nearly half the height of a standard AV receiver. A high-current discrete power amplifier section produces the required sound for movies and music. Identical power is provided on all seven channels (90W per channel) with low-impedance driver capability.
The NR1711 enables users to transform and upgrade their home cinema experience with its support of multidimensional object-oriented audio formats including Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology, DTS:X and DTS Virtual:X. The NR1711’s Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology and DTS:X Virtual give users a 3D listening experience without the need for dedicated height or surround speakers.
The NR1711 includes six HDMI inputs with one output to cover all users’ favourite sources.
In addition to 8K upscaling, all six HDMI inputs support Dolby Vision, HLG, Dynamic HDR, HDR10+, 4:4:4 Pure Color sub-sampling, BT.2020 pass-through, as well as the latest HDMI features VRR, QFT, ALLM, QMS and current HDCP 2.3 copy-protection standard. eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) allows lossless and object-based audio transmission like DTS:X and Dolby Atmos from TV apps or to the TV connected sources.
One dedicated 8K HDMI input delivers the latest HDMI specifications, and the manufacturer says that users can enjoy movies in 8K with 8K/60Hz pass-through or upscaling, as well as the latest in HDMI technology like Dynamic HDR for best contrast and colours – and Quick Media Switching (QMS), which is used to avoid blank screens while switching sources.
The new Marantz NR1711 has also been optimised to ensure a lag-free gaming experience with 4K/120Hz pass-through, as well as Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Quick Frame Transport (QFT), and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which reduces or eliminates lag and frame tearing.
Leveraging HEOS Built-in multi-room streaming or AirPlay 2 technology, users can enjoy music in any room of the home for a wireless, whole-home audio experience, by adding more compatible devices. Users can play the same song in every room, or select a different song in each connected room from a variety of streaming services, such as TIDAL, Spotify, Amazon Music HD, Deezer – and many others.
As an optional configuration, listeners can enjoy 5.2 or 7.2 channel surround sound in the home theatre and simultaneously play stereo sound from the same or another source in a separate room. To do this, they need to connect a pair of speakers to the multi-room amplified outputs, or hook up an additional stereo amp and speakers to the Zone 2 pre-outs.
For users who prefer enjoying their favourite content with Bluetooth headphones, the NR1711 supports Bluetooth audio transmission. It also allows users to play audio on Bluetooth headphones and connected speakers simultaneously. This is especially helpful for family members or friends with hearing impairments, as the overall volume level does not have to be raised to uncomfortable volumes.
The NR1711 also works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri. Using the HEOS app, users can use their voice to stream music from various popular services. Other commands include the ability to switch between connected components, adjust volume, pause, mute, play a previous or next track – and more.
The NR1711 features premium loudspeaker terminals with a set of matching cable-labels supplied to ensure easy and correct hook-up. The included Setup Assistant offers clear, graphical on-screen direction, and the Quick Start Guide ensures optimal setup for any configuration.