Mahwah, N.J. – Marantz is replacing one of two networked slim-line A/V receivers, planning July shipments of its first slim-line AVR with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Compared with its $649 predecessor, the $699-suggested NR 1605 also adds HDMI 2.0 inputs and output supporting 60 fps 4K video and 4:4:4 pure color pass through. The 7.1-channel model also adds playback of networked and USB-stored high-resolution files in the 2.8MHz DSD and 96/24 AIFF formats. It also adds gapless playback of those formats as well as the 192/24 FLAC and 96/24 ALAC formats, which were available in the predecessor.
Other new features include ISF video certification, enabling dealers to calibrate picture controls for both day and night viewing. The NR 1605 also adds 4-ohm speaker-drive capability and Eco mode, which significantly reduces power consumption without reducing sound quality when the receiver is playing at low levels, the company said.
Like its predecessor, the NR 1605 features AirPlay, DLNA 1.5, Internet radio, Pandora, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Flickr photo streaming, and Spotify, though the new AVR adds Spotify Connect technology.
Other features include FM/AM tuner, Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio decoding, Audyssey MultEQ room calibration, and eight HDMI inputs, including one front-panel input. It also features one HDMI output with audio return. The HDMI connections support 60Hz 4K video, 3D and Deep Color.
The new model also features USB port, HDMI up-scaling to 1080p and to 30Hz 4K, and decoding of MP3, WAV, AAC and WMA audio files. The AVR can also be controlled from the Marantz Remote app for iOS and Android devices.
The NR1605 will join the $499-suggested slim-line networked NR 1504, which is being carried over and lacks built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
A third slim-line AVR is a non-networked model retailing for a suggested $399.
