Short and sweet

Marantz's compact AV receiver returns with a new look and boosted features – Jamie Biesemans slips it into his AV rig

The Cinema 70s is Marantz's entry-level AVR for 2023. But it isn't merely the most affordable model in the range, only here to get you interested in the brand. With its streamlined half-height design, it's one of the few options out there for movie buffs looking for a receiver that both ticks all the boxes and doesn't obliterate your living room's feng shui.

True, this is nothing new for Marantz, as the company has offered a 'slimline' AV receiver for quite a few years now. The Cinema 70s succeeds the NR1711 (see HCC #318) and the NR1200 – a stereo product with HDMI switching that has yet to be replaced. And while some won't see the need for a slender AVR, it earns immediate points for being incredibly gorgeous.

The most notable change is, of course, the new retro-tinged design language, which started kicking around with Marantz's Model 30 integrated hi-fi amp, and SACD 30n disc spinner, in 2020, but has now been applied to all new Marantz models, including the latest batch of AV  receivers. This new aesthetic harks back to Marantz's storied past (founded in New York in the 1950s by Saul Marantz, now based in Japan) without overdoing it, and adds a real feel of luxury to the unit. Previous 'NR' series models have looked neat but a bit nondescript; this update is suitably glamorous, especially the silver-gold version (black is also an option). Missing, however, is the integrated illumination of Marantz's two-channel amps, which highlights the textured ends of the front panel. Maybe that's not a bad thing on an AV machine, though, as it would be quite distracting.

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