Home theater separates often fly under the radar, overlooked in favor of all-in-one AV receivers.
But Marantz’s new AV 20 preamp and AMP 20 power amp—crafted in Japan at the esteemed
Shirakawa Audio Works—are here to prove that separates are far from outdated. With sleek
styling, flagship-level circuitry, and unmatched flexibility, this duo is a serious contender for
high-performance cinema setups.
The AV 20 offers robust multichannel support, from Dolby Atmos and DTS:X Pro to AURO-3D
and stereo, powered by discrete HDAM modules and a high-end Analog Devices chipset. Room
correction is handled via Audyssey MultEQ XT32, with optional Dirac Live support coming
soon.
The AMP 20 delivers 12 channels of Class D power at 200W each—more than enough for
immersive surround configurations. While power specs might seem modest on paper, real-world
performance is anything but. Whether driving floorstanders or ceiling Atmos channels, the AMP
20 never faltered.
Setup can be daunting at first, with layers of menu options, auto-shutdown quirks, and volume
presets that need tweaking. However, linking the AV 20 to your TV via HDMI ARC simplifies
things considerably, offering on-screen guidance that makes system customization much easier.
In real-world listening, the Marantz combo shines. From the soaring emotional cues of How to
Train Your Dragon to the bombastic soundscape of Dune: Part 1, the AV 20 and AMP 20 combo
delivered reference-level audio with clarity, scale, and finesse.
Final Verdict:
If you’re ready to level up your home theater beyond the limits of a standard AVR, the AV 20 and
AMP 20 are a dynamic duo well worth the investment. They’re not plug-and-play toys, but with
thoughtful setup and the right system, their performance is nothing short of spectacular.