Description
Marantz AV 20 13.4-Channel AV Preamplifier / Processor
Build a home cinema with the scale, control and flexibility to make every soundtrack count. The Marantz AV 20 combines 13.4-channel processing, balanced XLR connectivity and four independently controlled subwoofer outputs in a dedicated AV preamplifier designed for ambitious surround systems.
Partner it with external power amplifiers to create a system tailored to your speakers and room. From a 7.4.6 Dolby Atmos installation to a 9.4.4 layout with front-wide speakers, the AV 20 provides a substantial foundation for immersive cinema, high-resolution music and everyday television.
Key Features
- 13.4-channel processing: Build immersive layouts with up to 13 main and height channels plus four independent subwoofers.
- Balanced XLR and RCA pre-outs: Connect a wide choice of power amplifiers, including the matching Marantz AMP 20.
- Extensive surround support: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X Pro, AURO-3D and IMAX Enhanced bring compatible soundtracks into a three-dimensional sound field.
- Seven 8K HDMI inputs: Connect your movie, gaming and streaming sources with support for 8K/60 Hz and 4K/120 Hz.
- Audyssey MultEQ XT32 included: Calibrate the system to your listening space, with optional paid Dirac Live room correction available.
- HEOS built-in: Enjoy network music, high-resolution files and compatible multi-room playback.
- Marantz engineering: Current-feedback circuitry, HDAM modules, a toroidal transformer and copper-plated chassis support a carefully engineered signal path.
A Dedicated Control Centre for Serious Home Cinema
The AV 20 handles source selection, decoding, room correction and volume control, while separate power amplifiers drive your speakers. This lets you choose amplification to suit each part of the system, allocate more capability to demanding front speakers and expand the installation with a clear plan.
Its 15.4-channel sets of RCA and XLR output connections allow flexible assignments, while simultaneous processing remains 13.4 channels. Your final speaker layout and amplifier allocation should be designed together to make full use of the available channels.
Immersive Sound with Room to Grow
Overhead effects, front-wide coverage and precise surround placement can make a well-designed cinema feel convincingly spacious. With compatible content and an appropriate speaker layout, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X Pro place sound around and above the listening position. AURO-3D, IMAX Enhanced, 360 Reality Audio and MPEG-H broaden the range of supported immersive material.
Four independently adjustable subwoofer outputs provide the tools to integrate multiple subwoofers across the room. Individual level and delay adjustment, together with careful placement and calibration, can help achieve more consistent bass across several seats.
Calibration That Makes the Room Part of the Design
Audyssey MultEQ XT32 is included, along with a measurement microphone and stand to guide initial setup. Dynamic EQ, Dynamic Volume and Audyssey LFC provide additional ways to tailor playback for different volumes and listening situations. Dirac Live room correction is available as an optional paid upgrade for owners who want another calibration approach.
Movies, Gaming and Music in One System
Seven HDMI inputs accommodate a substantial source collection. Support for 4K/120 Hz, VRR, ALLM and QFT suits compatible gaming equipment, while Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG maintain support for major HDR formats. The eARC connection returns compatible television audio to the processor, and three HDMI outputs support flexible display and zone arrangements.
HEOS adds network streaming and multi-room music, with AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth and Roon Ready support providing further playback choices. High-resolution FLAC, ALAC and WAV support extends to 24-bit/192 kHz, while DSD playback supports 2.8 MHz and 5.6 MHz. A moving-magnet phono input also makes room for a compatible turntable.
Specifications
| Product type | AV preamplifier / processor; external power amplification required |
|---|---|
| Processing | 13.4 channels |
| Example speaker layouts | 7.4.6 or 9.4.4 |
| Physical pre-out connections | 15.4 RCA and 15.4 balanced XLR |
| Subwoofer control | Four independent outputs on RCA and XLR |
| HDMI | 7 inputs / 3 outputs; eARC |
| Video | 8K/60 Hz and 4K/120 Hz |
| Room correction | Audyssey MultEQ XT32 included; Dirac Live optional paid upgrade |
| Network playback | HEOS, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready |
| Power supply | AC 230 V, 50/60 Hz |
| Dimensions (W × D × H) | 442 × 457 × 191 mm, antennas horizontal |
| Weight | 15.0 kg |
| Finish | Black |
The Audio Experts Take
The AV 20 makes sense when you want to build a cinema around your choice of power amplification and give speaker layout, subwoofer integration and calibration the attention they deserve. Its combination of 13.4-channel processing, balanced connections and four independent subwoofer feeds offers considerable scope for a dedicated room. Pair it with the AMP 20 or a carefully selected mix of amplifiers, and plan the room and channel allocation together for the strongest result.
Detailed Technical Specifications
Surround processing and sound engineering
- Maximum simultaneous processing: 13.4 channels; speaker configurations include 7.4.6 and 9.4.4 with suitable external amplification.
- Physical multichannel pre-outs: 15.4 RCA and 15.4 balanced XLR. Additional sockets provide assignment flexibility; they do not increase simultaneous processing to 15.4 channels.
- Dolby decoding and processing: Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Music, Dolby Surround and Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization.
- DTS decoding and processing: DTS-HD, DTS:X, DTS:X Pro, DTS Virtual:X and 13-channel DTS Neural:X.
- Additional formats: IMAX Enhanced, AURO-3D, 360 Reality Audio, MPEG-H and multichannel stereo.
- Copper-plated chassis; toroidal power transformer; current-feedback preamplifier topology; Marantz HDAM SA3 monolithic modules.
- Pure Direct mode; gold-plated RCA terminals; clock jitter reduction; MDAX2 compressed audio enhancement.
- Included room correction: Audyssey MultEQ XT32, with Dynamic EQ, Dynamic Volume and Low Frequency Containment.
- Four independent subwoofer outputs, each available on RCA and XLR, with individual level and delay adjustment and Audyssey Sub EQ HT integration.
- Dirac Live room correction upgrade capability; optional licence purchase required.
- Assignable pre-outs for front speaker A/B and bi-amping; variable crossovers; optimised bass redirection; Bass Sync.
HDMI and video
- Seven rear HDMI inputs and three HDMI outputs: two main-zone outputs and one zone output.
- 8K/60 Hz and 4K/120 Hz passthrough on seven inputs and two outputs, up to 40 Gbps; HDCP 2.3 support.
- 1080p and 4K upscaling to 8K; graphical menu overlay over HDMI.
- HDR, HLG, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dynamic HDR support.
- Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC); Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM); Variable Refresh Rate (VRR); Quick Frame Transport (QFT).
- HDMI standby passthrough, DSD audio over HDMI and automatic lip synchronisation.
- Legacy video: two composite inputs and one component input; no composite or component outputs.
- Multi-room video output via HDMI; HDMI diagnostics.
Audio and USB connections
- Six analogue audio inputs, including one balanced XLR input; moving-magnet phono input.
- Two optical digital inputs and two coaxial digital inputs.
- Two analogue multi-room audio outputs; no digital multi-room audio outputs.
- Front USB input for USB audio playback; rear USB power supply connection.
- External power amplifiers and speakers are required; the AV 20 has no speaker-level power amplifier outputs.
Streaming and networking
- HEOS built-in for music streaming and compatible multi-room systems; Wi-Fi, Ethernet and Bluetooth connectivity.
- Bluetooth audio reception and retransmission to compatible Bluetooth headphones.
- AirPlay 2 and Apple HomePod compatibility; Spotify Connect; TuneIn internet radio; Roon Ready.
- Streaming services listed by Marantz include Amazon Music, TIDAL, Deezer, Napster and SoundCloud. Availability depends on region, service support and subscriptions.
- Supported lossy audio formats: MP3, WMA and AAC.
- Lossless audio: FLAC, ALAC and WAV, including high-resolution files up to 24-bit/192 kHz.
- DSD streaming: 2.8 MHz and 5.6 MHz; gapless playback for FLAC, ALAC, WAV and DSD.
- Marantz AVR Remote app compatibility; tablet support listed for Android, iOS and Amazon Kindle.
Multi-room, control and operation
- Three-zone operation; HEOS multi-room integration; HEOS Link IR and IP compatibility.
- Zone sources: two-channel HDMI, two-channel optical/coaxial, network, USB and analogue audio.
- Zone audio supplied through pre-outs; zone HDMI output available from an HDMI source.
- IP, RS-232, web and app control; IR flasher input; Marantz remote bus; three DC trigger outputs.
- Two-line FLD display and OLED porthole display; modern HD on-screen interface with three GUI languages.
- Setup Assistant; Smart Select presets; network and USB firmware updates; auto power-off and sleep timer.
- RC051SR system remote control with backlighting.
Measured audio performance
- Analogue input sensitivity: 200 mV via RCA; 400 mV via balanced XLR.
- Analogue frequency response: 10 Hz–100 kHz (+1/−3 dB, Direct mode).
- Analogue signal-to-noise ratio: 105 dB (IHF-A weighted, Direct mode).
- Analogue distortion: 0.005% over 20 Hz–20 kHz in Direct mode.
- Rated preamplifier output: 1.2 V RCA; 2.4 V balanced XLR.
- Digital-to-analogue rated output: 2 V at 0 dB playback; total harmonic distortion: 0.002% at 1 kHz, 0 dB.
- Digital signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range: 110 dB each; digital audio interface input.
- Phono sensitivity: 2.5 mV; RIAA deviation: ±1 dB, 20 Hz–20 kHz.
- Phono signal-to-noise ratio: 74 dB (IHF-A weighted, 5 mV input); distortion: 0.03% at 1 kHz, 3 V.
Construction, power and supplied accessories
- Finish: Black; metal front panel.
- Power supply: AC 230 V, 50/60 Hz; power consumption: 90 W.
- Normal standby: 0.2 W; CEC standby: 0.5 W. The regional manual specifies 2.0 W for network-control standby and up to 2.5 W with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and CEC enabled.
- Operating temperature: 5–35°C.
- Dimensions with antennas horizontal (W × D × H): 442 × 457 × 191 mm.
- Dimensions with antennas vertical (W × D × H): 442 × 457 × 254 mm.
- Dimensions without antennas (W × D × H): 442 × 437 × 191 mm.
- Weight: 15.0 kg.
- Supplied accessories: remote control, batteries, cable labels, quick-start documentation, Audyssey measurement microphone, cardboard microphone stand, two detachable wireless antennas and AC power cord.
What's in the Box
- Marantz AV 20 AV preamplifier
- Backlit remote control and batteries
- Audyssey measurement microphone and cardboard stand
- Two detachable wireless antennas
- Cable labels and quick-start documentation
- AC power cord
System requirements: External power amplifiers, speakers and any subwoofers are sold separately. Optional Dirac Live licences and streaming service subscriptions are additional. Streaming services and features depend on regional availability and installed firmware.
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