An audio system is mainly composed of two types of components: the speakers, which, as the same name says, have the task of spreading the sound in the environment, and the Marantz amplifiers, which are used to modulate the strength of the electrical signal that contains the sound message.
Other parts make up the system, for example, the source (the CD or DVD player), however, to obtain the best possible result in terms of sound quality, it is essential that speakers and amplifiers share some characteristics, and above all that they are compatible in terms of sound quality
Here we had listed out the best Marantz amplifiers that are present below.
Buyer Guide to Choose Marantz Amplifiers
Power Output
We can simplify everything by saying that the output power is directly related to the volume that the speakers will deliver. But as we have just mentioned above, the final result is also linked to the speaker itself and its characteristics, including sensitivity.
Do not be fooled by the numbers of the compact supermarket: the power of 10 W RMS already corresponds to a reasonable volume with the vast majority of speakers, wherewith 100W, you risk going crazy!
Tdh + N
THD + N is an acronym for Total Harmonic Distorsion + Noise and is a measure that establishes how much the amplifier “colors” the signal as the volume increases. The higher the value, the lower the sound quality of the amplifier since it generates a higher level of distortion.
The lower it is, the more the sound output from the amplifier will be similar to that from the source. It is clear, however, that it is the speaker itself, throughout the system, that has the most significant impact on the sound produced. Therefore the numerical value can tell us very little if it is not combined with the result obtained with a specific speaker.
Snr
SNR means Signal to Noise Ratio and defines the background noise produced by the electronics transferred to the speakers. The producers aim to reduce as much as possible any rustling and background Noise so that it is imperceptible even at very high listening volumes.
In this case, a high value indicates a better result, therefore a higher musical volume in the absence of background noise.
Crosstalk
The Crosstalk identifies what the right channel is independent of that of the left, and vice versa. Traditional amplifiers contain the electronics of both power amplifiers in the same enclosure. Therefore each of the channels may be dirty by the signals coming from the other.
A low crosstalk value (careful, -100dB is more economical than -60dB) is, therefore, the ideal situation and translates into greater simplicity in distinguishing the precise position in the space of one of the musical instruments present.
Connections
Of course, the connections do not establish the quality of a product but make it more or less versatile. An amplifier that only has speaker connections or RCAs for sources forces you to purchase a traditional source, such as a CD or DVD Audio player.
In reality, there are now several models that support the Bluetooth standard, integrate USB ports, or even the Lightning connector for iPhone and iPad. It is clear that in choosing the amplifier, the available connections are indispensable.
Other Characteristics
If you are very attentive to the final quality of the sound output from your amplifier, I suggest you also look for two options: Pure Direct (or Source Direct, not all manufacturers call it the same way), and Loudness.
There are two ways of listening literally at the antipodes: Pure Direct allows you to circumvent most of the electronic components (for example, the one to configure the high and low tones) to offer output audio that is as clean as possible.
While Loudness is a listening mode with exaggerated tones at the two extremes (high and low) to make the sound result more engaging (but at the same time false).
Finally, there are two essential features to consider when buying an audio amplifier:
- Impedance: is an electrical quantity that measures the ease with which alternating current passes through an electrical circuit. When buying an amplifier, it is good to check that the value supported by the speakers is compatible.
- Frequency Response: man can hear in optimal conditions a range of audio frequencies ranging from 20Hz (solemn sounds) to 20,000 Hz (very high tones). The amplifier should, therefore, try to cover the entire audible frequency range without strong attenuation, and it is even better if it goes a little further.
Multichannel Amplifiers and Receivers
For sinto-amplifiers or multichannel amplifiers, of course, all the considerations that we have made so far for those devoted to stereo apply. The sound quality of a sinto-amplifier is, in fact, based on the same technical characteristics, but as we have already said, at the same price, the products are less “musical”.
But not worse, since in addition to being able to connect to the same source usually more than five channels, they are also much more versatile and can meet different needs. Being also designed especially for films and cinema sound, they can be connected to a TV and manage its video streams.
Also, in this case, the choice is to be made in consideration of the speakers that you will connect: if our “speakers” are too pushed on the highs, it is good to choose a softer and warm sounding amplifier, and vice versa.
Some sinto-amplifiers can connect from 5 to 7 channels, and there is the possibility of combining one or two LFE channels, for low frequencies, with as many subwoofers.
The sound of the films is, in fact, more scenographic and less precise, and explosions, thunder, and barrels of all kinds are exaggerated thanks to the use of the subwoofer. Compatibility with various supports should not be underestimated, a sector in rapid and constant evolution.
The receivers often offer digital outputs, because it is the most used type of connection for home audio systems. With a single connector, it is possible to route the audio to a large number of channels; however, to do this, the system must be compatible with the format expected by the source.
Many films use the Dolby Digital or DTS format, mainly with five channels plus 1 for the subwoofer (LTE), but there are also more advanced variants and with a higher number of channels. If your goal is to watch a lot of movies, I suggest you buy a sinto-amplifier that has both supports, in order always to enjoy the highest possible audio quality.
A sinto-amplifier is usually much more complicated than a traditional stereo amplifier and uses an advanced user interface to allow maximum customization of the options offered.
Some models also allow you to automatically configure the equalization of the frequencies of each channel using a microphone offered, which will enable you to “listen” to the acoustic characteristics of the environment and choose the best settings. As is now the case with stereo amplifiers, many models are equipped with remote control with which to manage all options even from a distance.
