Marantz Cinema 50 Series 2 9.4ch AV Receiver

The Marantz Cinema 50 Series 2 is where the Cinema line stops compromising. Nine discrete 110W channels, eleven channels of processing with a full 11.4 preamplifier output, four assignable subwoofer outputs, and the only model in the range that supports Dirac Live Bass Control and Active Room Treatment rather than room correction alone. Series 2 adds the new 32-bit eight channel converter, plus a Dolby Atmos Channel Expander and a Center Bi-Amp mode that exist nowhere else in the line-up.

Why You'll Love It

• Four subwoofer outputs, independently assignable. Combined with Dirac Live Bass Control this is the part that actually fixes a room, because multiple subs handled properly beat one expensive sub every time.
• It decodes everything. Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, IMAX Enhanced, Auro-3D, 360 Reality Audio and MPEG-H, which the Cinema 60 and 70s do not cover.
• Eleven channels of processing in a nine channel receiver. Run 9.4 on the internal amplifiers now and add a two channel power amplifier later to reach 11.4 without replacing the brain.

Under the Hood

• Nine discrete amplifier channels rated at 110W into 8Ω from 20Hz to 20kHz at 0.08% THD with two channels driven, and 150W into 6Ω, on current feedback topology with HDAM-SA2 modules and an EI power transformer.
• Six HDMI 2.1 inputs at 40Gbps carrying 8K60 and 4K120 on every input, three outputs including a dedicated Zone 2 output, with VRR, ALLM, QFT, AMD FreeSync on inputs 4 to 6, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and eARC.
• Audyssey MultEQ XT32 included, with Dirac Live Room Correction, Bass Control and Active Room Treatment supported as paid licences, feeding an 11.4 channel preamplifier output with four assignable subwoofer outputs.

CHT Insider Verdict

If you are building a room rather than furnishing one, this is the receiver in the range worth the money. Active Room Treatment is the genuinely different capability, and paired with four subwoofer outputs it solves problems no amount of speaker upgrading will. Dirac licences are bought separately.

Pro Tip: Budget for the Dirac licence at the same time as the receiver if you're looking to take things to the next level. The hardware support is what you are paying a premium for here, and running it on Audyssey alone means owning the capability without using it.