Review on 🔊 Enhanced PM6007 Integrated Amplifier by Marantz with Advanced Digital Connectivity by Manur Bartov

Marantz is one of the oldest in the Hi-Fi industry.



If you are planning to buy your first Hi-Fi amplifier in your life, then you should start your acquaintance with Marantz, I did it)



The PM6005 model, despite its budget price category, is packaged in a durable metal case, equipped with digital inputs and sounds better than its predecessor, the PM6004 Award-winning.



Marantz PM6005 is a true royal flush. It has a more detailed, rhythmic and intelligible sound, as well as an ace up the sleeve in the form of a DAC - which is very important given the digitalization of audio content.







The addition of the DAC shows that Marantz is aware of the change in the way music is listened to: today the user prefers playlists, copies of CD albums and downloaded songs, all stored on hard drives, laptops and smartphones.



The DAC supports high resolution formats up to 24bit/192kHz via any digital input.



The only pity is that Marantz did not go a little further and did not supply the amplifier with a USB port - connecting a PC to it would be even more convenient. In this case, you have to use an optical input and an adapter to connect an optical cable to the 3.5 mm headphone output (on my Macbook it also serves as a digital output). A USB-to-USB connection would be much easier and would indicate full support for mobile music. There is also no 3.5mm input for smartphones and tablets; you will have to do with a not too convenient cable with an adapter. And ideally WiFi! It would be just a treasure trove!



Compared to the NAD D 3020, which supports Bluetooth broadcasting, the PM6005 has just entered the digital age. In future versions of the Marantz amplifier, compatibility with digital sources is much wider. My second amplifier was the Marantz ND8006, but more on that in a separate review.



The analog heritage, meanwhile, has not been forgotten: there are four line inputs and an input for an MM phono stage for a vinyl player. The list is completed by a pass-through channel and a 6.3mm headphone jack.



Whichever source you choose (in my case Iphone Xmax through cabel), the PM6005 will approach music playback with all the enthusiasm and rhythmic flair it can muster. It retains that smooth and pleasant character that I love so much, yet the sound is detailed, precise and agile - and far more legible than you've ever heard from budget amps.



Radiohead's 15 Step on the PM6005 vinyl record manages to combine complex, intricate elements of the arrangement into a single, rhythmic and harmonious whole, including elastic drum beats, melodious guitar sounds and lulling vocals. As the composition develops and new instruments enter, the amplifier creates a wide and voluminous soundstage with flawless stereo imaging.





The White Stripes' music (from CD and webcast) sounds fast and rhythmic, the amp conveys the emotions inherent in it, and the smoothness of the treble does not deprive them of sharpness. The bass is deep and resilient, the string strikes are very realistic. Amazingly clear and musical sound can not be blamed for excessive sterility.



On the front panel there are adjustments for high mids and lows, I'm like an avid basshead bass to the fullest) And I get high from the sound, it should be noted that I have acoustics Bowers and Wilkins - 703 series speakers, connected by bi-amp specifically for better separation of high and low frequencies.



But for all its transparency, Marantz doesn't highlight the shortcomings of low-quality recordings. Music in any format - even with a bit depth of 24 bits, even streaming broadcasts at a speed of 320 kbps - it reproduces equally lively and respectfully. The sound character is approximately the same on all inputs, although the linear ones still provide the best quality.







Behind the back



1. Digital inputs. Optical and coaxial inputs lead to a new built-in DAC that accepts audio files up to 24-bit/192kHz; but a USB port for laptops would also be nice. 2. Analog inputs. As Marantz embarks on its journey into the digital world, the analog world is not forgotten either: it has four line inputs, an MM phono stage input and a pass-through. 3. Two sets of speakers. Switchable speaker outputs allow you to connect two pairs of speakers, individually or simultaneously, as well as organize a two-cable connection.



Summing up, to start an audiophile story with this amplifier, I got the luxurious quality of analog and digital music for a modest price, listened for almost a year and switched to more serious equipment that costs 3 times more and sounds better) But more on that later in another review) And if you liked the way I write - read my review on Bowers&Wilkins PX7 full-size wireless headphones here!!!