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Denon & Marantz deliver a new ‘A’ team
Sound United has released new ‘A’-tagged range-topping AV components for both Denon and Marantz, raising their predecessor models to HDMI 2.1 status along with support for the latest immersive audio formats.
Neither of them is strictly quite an AV receiver, with Denon upgrading its tunerless AVC-X8500H to the “industry’s first 13.2 channel 8K AV amplifier” in the AVC-X8500HA, while the new Marantz component is the 13-channel AV8805A processor/preamplifier, upgrading the previous AV8805 that has been partner to the company’s MM range of separate power amplifiers since its introduction in 2018.
On both models the addition of that extra ‘A’ brings a dedicated 8K input that supports 40Gbps transmission of 8K/60Hz and passthrough of 4K/120Hz, while all rear HDMI ports are HDCP 2.3-rated and can handle the gamut of HDR standards (dynamic and otherwise) as well as gaming features such as VRR, ALLM, QFT and the QMS Quick Media Switching which avoids blank screens when changes between frame rates occur in the signal path.
The major additions on the audio side are out-of-box support for the Dolby Atmos Height Virtualiser as well as including the latest DTS: X Pro which allows 13 channels of DTS:X decoding to cover configurations such as 7.2.6 or 9.2.4.
These units continue to be compatible with Auro-3D layouts, and have the HEOS streaming and multi-room system onboard for all its musical benefits.
It seems a new tack for Sound United to announce both products on the same day, with similar features and press releases; previously Denon and Marantz have been keen to emphasise their own merits as separate brands with differentiated products. One shared benefit that will please existing owners of the original products is that Marantz AV8805 owners have the opportunity to upgrade the HDMI/digital board to AV8805A spec through an approved Marantz dealer, as will owners of the Denon AVC-X8500H through
