Introduction

The Marantz Cinema 60 is a 7.2 channels AV receiver that aims to deliver an immersive home theater experience. With a power output of 7x100 watts per channel, it promises robust performance and captivating sound quality. This receiver supports popular audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, allowing you to enjoy three-dimensional audio with compatible content. Additionally, its Audyssey MultEQ XT calibration system ensures optimal sound reproduction in your room. With 6 HDMI inputs, including 3 that support 8K UHD, the Cinema 60 offers extensive connectivity options for your devices. It also features HEOS Built-in streaming for seamless audio streaming from your favorite services. Let's dive into the details and see how the Marantz Cinema 60 performs.

Design and Build Quality

The Marantz Cinema 60 sports a sleek and elegant design that blends seamlessly with modern home theater setups. Its minimalist front panel features a large display and a few buttons for essential controls. The receiver's build quality is commendable, with sturdy construction that exudes durability. The chassis is well-built and designed to minimize vibrations and interference, ensuring clean and accurate sound reproduction. Overall, the Cinema 60's design and build quality are in line with Marantz's reputation for delivering high-quality audio equipment.

Audio Performance

When it comes to audio performance, the Marantz Cinema 60 doesn't disappoint. With its robust power output of 7x100 watts per channel, it has the capability to deliver dynamic and impactful sound. Whether you're watching movies, gaming, or listening to music, the Cinema 60's sound quality is top-notch. The support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X adds another layer of immersion, allowing sound to be precisely placed in a three-dimensional space. This feature enhances the overall audio experience and brings movies and music to life.

One of the highlights of the Cinema 60 is its Audyssey MultEQ XT calibration system. This system analyzes your room's acoustics and adjusts the audio settings accordingly, ensuring the best possible sound quality. It takes into account factors like speaker placement, room size, and listening position. While the Audyssey MultEQ XT is effective in optimizing the sound, some may find that other room correction systems offer more advanced customization options.

Another notable feature of the Cinema 60 is its customizable loudspeaker layout. This allows you to configure your speaker setup to match your room's acoustics and personal preferences. Whether you have a traditional 7.2 setup or want to experiment with different configurations, the Cinema 60 provides the flexibility to tailor the sound to your liking.

Video Performance

In terms of video performance, the Marantz Cinema 60 excels with its 8K video compatibility. With three HDMI inputs supporting 8K UHD, it ensures that you're future-proofed for the latest display technology. Whether you're watching native 8K content or upscaling lower-resolution content, the Cinema 60 delivers crisp and detailed visuals. The upscaling capabilities of the receiver enhance the picture quality of your non-8K sources, providing a visually pleasing experience.

For gamers, the Cinema 60's low latency is a welcome feature. With its 8K video compatibility and low latency, it minimizes input lag, ensuring smooth and responsive gameplay. Whether you're playing fast-paced action games or competitive multiplayer titles, the Cinema 60 keeps you immersed in the action with minimal delay.

Connectivity and Streaming

The Marantz Cinema 60 offers extensive connectivity options, making it easy to connect all your devices. With 6 HDMI inputs, including 3 that support 8K UHD, you can connect your gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and streaming devices without the need for additional switches or splitters. The HDMI inputs support the latest HDCP 2.3 copy protection, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices.

The Cinema 60 also features HEOS Built-in streaming, allowing you to stream music wirelessly from popular services like Spotify, Tidal, and Amazon Music. The HEOS app provides a user-friendly interface for controlling your streaming experience. While the streaming capabilities of the Cinema 60 are comprehensive, some users may miss support for certain niche platforms or services.

In addition to HEOS, the Cinema 60 supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and AirPlay 2, providing multiple options for streaming audio. Whether you prefer to connect your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth or stream wirelessly over Wi-Fi, the Cinema 60 offers convenient and reliable connectivity options. AirPlay 2 support adds compatibility for Apple devices, allowing you to seamlessly stream audio from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

The multi-source, multi-room audio playback capabilities of the Cinema 60 further enhance its versatility. You can enjoy different audio sources in different rooms, or synchronize audio playback throughout your home. This feature is particularly useful for those who want to create a whole-home audio system.

User Interface and Setup

Setting up the Marantz Cinema 60 is a straightforward process, thanks to its intuitive setup wizard. The on-screen prompts guide you through the necessary steps, making it easy to configure your speaker setup, connect your devices, and optimize the audio settings. Even for users who are less familiar with AV receivers, the setup process is user-friendly and hassle-free.

The user interface of the Cinema 60 is designed with ease of use in mind. The large display on the front panel provides essential information at a glance, including input selection, volume level, and audio format. The intuitive menu system allows you to access various settings and features with ease. Whether you prefer to control the receiver directly from the front panel or use the included remote, navigating the interface is a breeze.

The Cinema 60's voice control compatibility adds another layer of convenience to your home theater setup. With support for popular voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri, you can control your receiver using simple voice commands. Whether you want to adjust the volume, switch inputs, or play your favorite music, voice control simplifies the operation of the Cinema 60.

Additional Features

The Marantz Cinema 60 supports high-resolution audio, allowing you to enjoy your music in its full fidelity. Whether you have a collection of high-resolution audio files or stream from services that offer lossless audio, the Cinema 60 delivers exceptional sound quality. It captures the nuances and details of your music, providing a more immersive listening experience.

For users who have smart TVs and home automation systems, the Cinema 60 offers control integration. This means you can control the receiver using your TV's remote or integrate it into your existing home automation setup. This seamless integration simplifies the operation of your home theater system and enhances the overall user experience.

Room Correction Technology

The advanced room correction technology of the Marantz Cinema 60 ensures optimal sound reproduction in your room. With its Audyssey MultEQ XT calibration system, the receiver analyzes your room's acoustics and makes precise adjustments to the audio settings. While this feature improves the overall sound quality, some users may find that other room correction systems offer more advanced customization options. Additionally, the Cinema 60 requires an additional cost for the optional advanced room correction and microphone, which may not be ideal for budget-conscious users.

Limitations and Drawbacks

While the Marantz Cinema 60 offers impressive features and performance, it does have a few limitations and drawbacks to consider. Firstly, it has limited processing for extra surround channels, which may not be suitable for higher-end home theater setups that require more than 7 channels. Additionally, the subwoofer outs are wired in parallel without independent adjustments, which may limit the fine-tuning capabilities for your bass reproduction.

The absence of a built-in tuner is another drawback of the Cinema 60. While many users rely on streaming services and external devices for audio content, some may still prefer the convenience of a built-in tuner for radio listening.

The room correction system of the Cinema 60, while effective, may not be as sophisticated as some other options on the market. Users who prioritize advanced customization and fine-tuning capabilities may find the room correction system lacking in this regard.

Furthermore, the Bluetooth streaming capabilities of the Cinema 60 are limited to music and lack support for advanced codecs like aptX HD. While Bluetooth connectivity is convenient for streaming audio from your mobile devices, some users may miss the enhanced audio quality that advanced codecs provide.

It's worth noting that the Cinema 60 does not have built-in support for IMAX Enhanced, Auro-3D, or 360 Reality Audio. If you're specifically looking for these immersive audio formats, you may need to consider alternative options.

Lastly, the front panel of the Cinema 60 has limited text display space. While the essential information is displayed, some users may prefer a larger display for more detailed feedback.

Conclusion

The Marantz Cinema 60 is a capable AV receiver that offers impressive audio and video performance. With its Marantz sound quality, robust power output, and versatile connectivity options, it delivers an immersive home theater experience. The customizable loudspeaker layout and intuitive setup process add to its user-friendly appeal.

The Cinema 60's support for high-resolution audio, multi-room streaming capabilities, and voice control compatibility make it a great choice for music enthusiasts who want to enjoy their favorite tracks throughout their home. The extensive HDMI connectivity and upscaling capabilities ensure compatibility with the latest video sources and display technologies.

However, the Cinema 60 does have a few limitations, such as limited processing for extra surround channels and the absence of a built-in tuner. The room correction system may not satisfy users looking for more advanced customization options. Additionally, the Bluetooth streaming capabilities lack support for advanced codecs.

Overall, the Marantz Cinema 60 is a solid AV receiver that caters to both audio and video enthusiasts. Its combination of features, performance, and user-friendly interface make it a worthy addition to any home theater setup. Whether you're a movie buff, a gamer, or a music lover, the Cinema 60 offers a compelling package that will enhance your entertainment experience.