Marantz CINEMA 50 Series 2 – 9-channel AV receiver with 11.4-channel processing

Marantz CINEMA 50 Series 2 is an advanced 9-channel AV receiver for the ambitious home theater. It combines nine discrete Class A/B power amplifier stages with 110 watts per channel into 8 ohms with two channels driven, along with processing for up to 11.4 channels. Four independent subwoofer outputs also provide great flexibility for setting up multiple subwoofers.

Series 2 upgrades the digital platform with new DACs and supports Dolby Atmos, DTS, Auro-3D, and IMAX Enhanced, among others. Audyssey MultEQ XT32 is integrated, while support for Dirac Live opens up more advanced room correction. The result is a flexible foundation for movies, gaming, and multichannel music.

Highlights

• 9-channel discrete Class A/B amplification
• 110 watts per channel into 8 ohms
• Up to 11.4-channel surround processing
• Dolby Atmos, DTS, Auro-3D, and IMAX Enhanced
• Audyssey MultEQ XT32 and support for Dirac Live
• 6 HDMI inputs with 8K/60 Hz and 4K/120 Hz
• 11.4-channel pre-out
• 4 independent subwoofer outputs
• HEOS, Roon Ready, AirPlay 2, TIDAL Connect, and Qobuz Connect
• MM phono input

9-channel AV receiver with discrete Class A/B amplification

Marantz CINEMA 50 Series 2 uses nine separate Class A/B power amplifier stages. Output is specified at 110 watts per channel into 8 ohms from 20 Hz to 20 kHz at 0.08% THD with two channels driven, or 150 watts into 6 ohms at 1 kHz.

Marantz combines the power stages with Current Feedback topology and its own HDAM-SA2 modules, which serve as key elements in the receiver’s analog circuit design.

Up to an 11.4-channel home theater

The nine built-in power amplifier stages can be supplemented by processing for up to 11.4 channels. Via the receiver’s 11.4-channel pre-out, the home theater can therefore be expanded with external power amplifiers if you later want a larger surround setup.

The four subwoofer outputs can be controlled independently and provide more options for integrating multiple subwoofers into the room.

Dolby Atmos, DTS, Auro-3D, and IMAX Enhanced

Marantz CINEMA 50 Series 2 supports immersive audio formats such as Dolby Atmos, DTS, Auro-3D, and IMAX Enhanced. It also includes Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Surround, DTS Neural, and 360 Reality Audio.

The broad format support makes the receiver well suited to both traditional surround systems and larger home theaters with dedicated height channels.

Audyssey MultEQ XT32 and support for Dirac Live

Audyssey MultEQ XT32 is integrated and is used for automatic measurement and correction of the speakers’ interaction with the room.

Marantz CINEMA 50 Series 2 is also ready for Dirac Live if you want a more advanced calibration platform. Dirac Live requires a separate license and is not included.

HDMI 2.1 for movies and gaming

The six HDMI inputs support 8K/60 Hz and 4K/120 Hz with up to 40 Gbps bandwidth. The video section also supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dynamic HDR, and HLG.

For gaming, you get features such as VRR, ALLM, and AMD FreeSync on selected HDMI inputs. With eARC, audio from a compatible TV can be sent directly back to the receiver via HDMI.

HEOS, Roon Ready, and hi-res streaming

HEOS is integrated into Marantz CINEMA 50 Series 2 and provides access to network streaming and multiroom. The receiver supports TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, and internet radio, among others, and is also Roon Ready.

FLAC, WAV, and ALAC are supported up to 24-bit/192 kHz, while DSD can be played at 2.8 and 5.6 MHz.

Also connect a turntable and other analog sources

The extensive digital platform is complemented by five analog inputs and a dedicated MM phono input. A compatible MM turntable can therefore be connected directly without a separate RIAA amplifier.

In addition, the receiver has two optical and two coaxial digital inputs for other digital audio sources.

A flexible AV receiver for the ambitious home theater

Marantz CINEMA 50 Series 2 is designed for a home theater system that should be able to evolve over time. You can start with the receiver’s nine built-in amplifier channels and later expand with external power amplification via the 11.4-channel pre-out.

The combination of 11.4-channel processing, four independent subwoofer outputs, HDMI with 8K/60 Hz and 4K/120 Hz, extensive streaming, and support for Dirac Live provides a flexible starting point for both home theater and multichannel music.