Marantz Cinema 40 Review – Audiophile’s Dream

Marantz Cinema 40 Review

The Marantz Cinema 40 stands as a testament to the brand’s commitment to superior audio quality and technological innovation. As a high-performance AV receiver, the Cinema 40 is designed to cater to both audiophiles and cinephiles, offering an immersive audio experience that transforms any home entertainment setup into a near-professional theater environment.

This Marantz Cinema 40 Review delves into the nitty-gritty of the Marantz Cinema 40, examining its design, features, and performance. At its core, the Cinema 40 boasts cutting-edge technology, with support for the latest audio formats, including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro-3D, ensuring a three-dimensional sound experience that envelops the listener. The device’s sleek and modern design is not just about aesthetics; it’s engineered to enhance acoustic performance while seamlessly integrating into a variety of home decor styles.

Furthermore, the Cinema 40 is equipped with advanced connectivity options, including HDMI eARC and wireless streaming capabilities, making it a versatile hub for all multimedia needs. This review will also assess the user interface and setup process, evaluating the ease with which users can navigate and customize their audio experience.

With a reputation for exceptional sound quality, the Marantz Cinema 40 promises to elevate home cinema to new heights. This review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of its capabilities and to determine whether it lives up to the lofty standards set by its predecessors in the Marantz lineup.

Marantz Cinema 40 Design And Build Quality

The Marantz Cinema 40 AV Receiver, a part of Marantz’s Cinema series, showcases a design that balances modern aesthetics with classic elements, emphasizing functionality and quality build.

Design Aesthetics

1. Classic Marantz Porthole and Symmetry: The Cinema 40 inherits the iconic Marantz porthole, a circular OLED display, central to its design. This feature, along with symmetrically positioned knobs for input selection and volume control, create a harmonious and uncluttered front panel.

2. Modern Touches: Its design is a contemporary interpretation of timeless principles, marked by clean lines and a minimalistic approach. The front panel incorporates lightly curved and textured sides, adding a subtle flair to its overall appearance.

3. Two-Layer Faceplate Style: The receiver sports a handsome two-layer faceplate, giving it a sleek and modern look. This design style contributes to the unit’s premium appearance.

4. Illuminated Front Panel: The inclusion of subtle sidelights that illuminate the front panel enhances its aesthetic appeal, particularly in low-light environments.

Build Quality

1. Robust Chassis: The Cinema 40 is built with a robust chassis, which contributes to its slightly heavier weight of 33.3 lbs (15.1 kg). This is indicative of the quality materials and internal components used.

2. Metal Front Panel**: The front panel of the unit is made entirely of metal, consistent with the premium build quality typical of high-end Marantz models.

3. Internal Hardware: Internally, the Cinema 40 features Marantz’s proprietary HDAM circuitry, specifically the new HDAM-SA2 board, offering enhanced audio performance. It also includes a single 2-core SHARC Griffin Lite XP DSP, combined with 32-bit/192kHz digital-to-analog converters for superior sound processing.

4. Advanced Components: The receiver is equipped with an oversized power transformer with copper band shielding to minimize radiation and distortion. It also includes specially-made audio capacitors and a Clock Jitter Reducer, ensuring high-quality sound reproduction.

In conclusion, the Marantz Cinema 40 combines a visually pleasing design with high-quality construction and functional elements, making it not only a powerful AV receiver but also a stylish addition to any home theater setup.

Marantz Cinema 40 Features

The Marantz Cinema 40 AV Receiver boasts a range of features that cater to both audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts. Below are the key features and their benefits for users:

Reference 9.4 Channel AV Receiver with 125W, 8K and 7 HDMI Inputs

User Benefit: With its 9.4 channel capability and 125 watts per channel, the Cinema 40 ensures powerful and immersive audio for an ultimate home theater experience. Its support for 8K Ultra HD enhances the visual quality of your movies and shows.

Advanced Room Calibration with Dirac Live

User Benefit: Dirac Live optimizes the sound quality of your system for your specific room, ensuring that audio is clear, balanced, and true to the source, regardless of the room’s acoustics.

Peerless Performance

User Benefit: The legendary Marantz sound, characterized by immersive spaciousness, warm tones, and extraordinary detail, ensures a lifelike and dynamic audio experience.

Latest Immersive Audio Formats and 8K Video Support

User Benefit: The Cinema 40 supports the latest audio formats like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro-3D, providing an enveloping audio experience. Its 8K video support future-proofs your home theater for the latest video technologies.

Exquisite Design with Iconic Marantz Porthole

User Benefit: The stylish design with premium materials and iconic Marantz porthole adds an aesthetic appeal to your home theater setup.

Meticulously Tuned for High Performance

User Benefit: The careful selection of parts and tuning by the Marantz Sound Master ensures the most musical sound, enhancing your listening experience.

Customizability with Connectivity Options

User Benefit: Offers ample connectivity options for various devices and custom tuning abilities to tailor the audio experience to personal preferences.

Effortless Setup and Use

User Benefit: The included remote, accessible controls, and intuitive setup process make operation simple, even for those new to advanced AV receivers.

Comprehensive Network Connectivity

User Benefit: Its network connectivity allows for streaming music and controlling the receiver remotely, adding convenience and flexibility to how you use it.

Extensive Audio and Video Support

User Benefit: It supports a wide range of audio formats and technologies, enhancing the versatility and quality of audio playback for various media types.

Four Independent Subwoofer Outputs

User Benefit: These outputs allow for detailed control over subwoofer placement and sound, enhancing the bass experience in your home theater.

HDMI 2.1 Ports with Advanced Video Features

User Benefit: The HDMI 2.1 ports support up to 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video passthrough, ensuring compatibility with the latest video devices and formats.

Audyssey MultEQ XT32 and Dirac Live

User Benefit: These advanced calibration systems offer precise audio tuning for your specific room, enhancing the listening experience.

Remote App Control

User Benefit: The Marantz AVR Remote app allows for convenient control of the receiver from a mobile device, adding an extra layer of user-friendliness.

Overall, the Marantz Cinema 40 combines high-quality audio and video features with user-friendly design and connectivity options, making it an excellent choice for both casual viewers and audio enthusiasts.

Marantz Cinema 40 Connectivity

The Marantz Cinema 40 AV Receiver offers a comprehensive range of connectivity options, catering to both modern and legacy systems. Here’s a detailed overview:

HDMI Connectivity

1. HDMI Inputs and Outputs: The Cinema 40 is equipped with 7 HDMI inputs, all supporting 8K resolution at 60Hz, and 3 HDMI outputs. This setup enables you to connect a variety of modern devices, including gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and streaming devices.

2. Advanced HDMI Features: These HDMI ports support HDCP2.3, and the receiver is capable of analog to HDMI video conversion. It also features HDMI upscaling from 1080P/4K to 8K, ensuring compatibility with the latest video formats and technologies like HDR, Dolby Vision, and more.

3. Gaming Optimizations: For gaming enthusiasts, the Cinema 40 includes ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), enhancing the gaming experience with smooth, lag-free visuals.

Audio and Video Inputs

1. **Composite and Component Inputs**: The receiver includes 2 composite inputs and 1 component input, providing backward compatibility with older video devices.

2. Digital Audio Inputs: There are 2 optical and 2 coaxial digital audio inputs, allowing for flexible connections with various audio sources.

3. Analog Inputs: The unit comes with 5 analog inputs and a dedicated Phono (MM) input, catering to a range of audio devices, including turntables.

4. Multi-Room Capabilities: It offers multi-room video out via HDMI and multi-room out for both analog and digital audio.

5. 11.4 Multichannel Preamp Output: The receiver features an 11.4 multichannel preamp output, providing flexibility for advanced audio setups.

6. Subwoofer Outputs: There are 4 independent subwoofer outputs, which is a significant upgrade from previous models. This allows for more intricate bass management in multi-subwoofer setups.

Wireless and Network Connectivity

1. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: The Cinema 40 supports Wi-Fi connectivity, compatible with both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. Its Bluetooth module has been upgraded to version 5.0, providing more stable and faster wireless connections.

2. Ethernet Port: For wired network connections, the receiver includes an Ethernet port, facilitating stable streaming and network integration.

Additional Features

1. Voice Assistant Compatibility: The receiver is compatible with various voice assistants like Alexa, Google Voice Assistant, and Apple HomePod, offering convenient voice control options.

2. HEOS Multi-Room Integration: Integrated with HEOS technology, the Cinema 40 supports multi-room audio setups and is compatible with popular streaming services like Pandora, Spotify, and others. The HEOS app, available for both iOS and Android, adds to the receiver’s versatility.

3. Marantz AVR Remote App: This app allows you to control the receiver with a smartphone or tablet, further enhancing user convenience and accessibility.

4. IR Flasher Input: Unique to the Cinema 40, as compared to similar models like the Denon AVR-X4800H, is the inclusion of an IR flasher input, which provides more options for remote control and automation systems.

The Marantz Cinema 40’s connectivity options are well-rounded, catering to both high-end modern setups and legacy systems, making it a versatile choice for a variety of home theater configurations.

Marantz Cinema 40 Sound Quality

The Marantz Cinema 40 AV Receiver is lauded for its exceptional sound quality, characterized by a blend of modern audio capabilities and the traditional musicality Marantz is known for. Here are the key aspects of its sound quality:

Immersive and Dynamic Sound

1. Legendary Marantz Sound: The Cinema 40 is recognized for its immersive spaciousness, warm and rich tone, extraordinary detail, and lifelike dynamics. These qualities are hallmarks of the Marantz sound, ensuring a deeply engaging listening experience.

2. Meticulous Tuning: The Marantz Sound Master has meticulously tuned the Cinema 40, selecting components specifically to create the most musical sound in your home. This attention to detail in tuning contributes significantly to the receiver’s superior sound quality.

Advanced Audio Processing

1. Multichannel Audio Formats: The receiver is equipped to process the latest discrete multichannel audio formats, including Dolby Atmos with Height Virtualization, DTS:X with Virtual:X, IMAX Enhanced technology, and Auro-3D processing. This allows for a versatile and immersive surround sound experience.

2. High-Resolution Audio Playback: The Cinema 40 supports high-resolution audio formats such as FLAC, ALAC, and WAV files up to 192 kHz / 24-bit quality, as well as DSD streaming for both 2.8 and 5.6MHz. This ensures that the receiver can handle a wide range of audio formats with exceptional clarity and fidelity.

Balanced and Natural Output

1. Comparison to Separate Amplifiers: While AV receivers generally don’t compete with top-quality separate amplifiers, the Cinema 40 offers performance that challenges many separate setups. It provides a natural and smooth tone, characteristic of Marantz, favoring a balanced and pleasant rhythm over extreme outputs. This balanced approach to sound output makes the Cinema 40 appealing to a wide range of listeners.

2. Versatility Across Genres: The receiver handles various music genres, from jazz and heavy metal to classical and electronic music, with meticulous care. It captures every detail, minor instrument, and sound source, presenting them spatially in a way that feels authentic and consistent. This versatility underscores Marantz’s expertise in creating AV receivers that excel across a broad spectrum of audio experiences.

Surround Sound and Bass Management

1. Surround Sound Performance: The Cinema 40 excels in surround sound performance, offering steady and accurate surround steering, great immersion, and excellent sonic balance across the frequency spectrum. Its onboard amplifier is powerful enough to fill large rooms with theater-like volume levels, delivering impactful sound when necessary.

2. Bass Management: The receiver offers comprehensive bass management with four discrete subwoofer low-level outputs. Users can choose between standard and directional modes for subwoofer output, enhancing the bass distribution and low-frequency directional effects for a more immersive listening experience.

In conclusion, the Marantz Cinema 40 stands out for its rich and immersive sound quality, versatile audio format support, and balanced output that caters to various listening preferences and genres. Its advanced features and meticulous tuning make it a top choice for both home theater enthusiasts and audiophiles.

Marantz Cinema 40 Pros And Cons

Pros of Marantz Cinema 40

1. Superior Sound Quality:

The Cinema 40 is renowned for its immersive and dynamic sound, offering warm, rich tones, and extraordinary detail, making it ideal for both music and movie audio.

2. Advanced Audio Processing: 

It supports a wide range of audio formats, including high-resolution audio and the latest surround sound technologies like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, ensuring compatibility with diverse audio content.

3. Robust Connectivity Options: 

The receiver includes 7 HDMI 2.1 ports, wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth), and compatibility with various streaming services, providing extensive connectivity options.

4. Intuitive User Experience: 

Equipped with features like Audyssey MultEQ XT32 for automatic room calibration, the Cinema 40 offers an intuitive and user-friendly experience, even for those not familiar with advanced AV receivers.

5. Elegant Design: 

The Cinema 40 features a modern design with the iconic Marantz porthole, combining aesthetics with functionality, making it an attractive addition to any home theater setup.

Cons of Marantz Cinema 40

1. Lack of Front HDMI Port: 

The absence of a front HDMI input might limit convenience for some users who prefer easy, quick connections for temporary devices.

2. Price: 

As a high-end receiver, the Cinema 40 might be considered expensive for those on a tight budget, although its features and performance justify the cost for serious enthusiasts.

3. Learning Curve for Advanced Features: 

While the receiver is user-friendly, some users might find the array of advanced features and settings, like Dirac Live room calibration, a bit overwhelming or requiring a learning curve to fully utilize.

These pros and cons highlight the Marantz Cinema 40 as a powerful and versatile AV receiver with a few considerations that potential buyers should take into account.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Marantz Cinema 40 AV Receiver stands out as a high-performance, feature-rich device that effectively blends traditional Marantz audio quality with modern technological advancements. Its superior sound quality, comprehensive connectivity options, and advanced audio processing capabilities make it an exceptional choice for both audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts. 

While it does come with a premium price tag and some complexities in advanced features, the Cinema 40’s elegant design, user-friendly experience, and versatility in handling various audio formats and setups justify its position as a top contender in the high-end AV receiver market. The Cinema 40 is a testament to Marantz’s legacy in delivering quality and innovation, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking an immersive audio experience.