Marantz Cinema 30 is everything you want from a home cinema amplifier

There’s a new reference AV amplifier in town, and it comes from Marantz. The latest in its Cinema series of high performance home theatre separates, the Cinema 30 combines cutting edge processing with a slick new design.

Available in black or silver gold finishes, the new flagship boasts Marantz’s iconic porthole display and utilises a multi-layer chassis, incorporating extensive use of copper. The fascia features selectable side illumination and a fold down front panel. It comes with a backlit aluminium remote control.

Built and tuned in Shirakawa, Japan, the Cinema 30 is an eleven channel design with the option of 13.4 channel processing when coupled with additional amplification; all digital and analogue signals pass through the Marantz HDAM SA-2 pre-amplifier stage.

The model employs the latest Analog Devices SHARC dual DSP chipset, coupled to state-of-the-art 32-bit ESS Sabre DACs with dedicated jitter reduction. Codec support is universal, and covers Dolby Atmos, DTS:X Pro and Auro 3D. It’s also IMAX Enhanced certified.

All seven HDMI inputs can support 8k video, and 4k 120Hz sources. There are also copious analogue and digital inputs. The Cinema 30 uses HEOS, for multiroom audio and high-resolution streaming.

There’s also Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2 with HomePod, and Bluetooth onboard. Voice assistant support cover both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Installation is achieved using Audyssey MultEQ XT32 advanced room optimization, although there is the option for Dirac Live calibration with Dirac Live Bass Control. This allows for low frequency integration for up to four independent subwoofers.

Available mid-March, the Marantz Cinema 30 retails for £4,000 ($4500 / €4,500).