The Cinema 30 from Marantz joins the company's stylish Cinema range, unveiled in 2022 and encompasses the Cinema 40, 50, 60, and 70. As you can see, the Cinema 30 is dressed in a minimalist casement finished in a choice of black or silver/gold.

Bookended by the volume and input selection dials, the smooth midsection features a circular display beneath which a fold-down panel reveals a second display. This section also houses buttons to control various features and settings. Alternatively, the Cinema 30's remote will likely cover many of these functions.

Contrasting that smooth central portion of the fascia are the light-catching textured side panels. The contrasting gold accents really do pop on the black model. Adding to the overall effect, the textured sections are subtly lit for added ambience. This can be turned off if you need to concentrate on the movie.

Marantz doesn't see the Cinema 30 as “all show and no go”, though. Under the hood is a symmetrical, monolithic amplifier, which the company brags is the “most advanced amplifier layout available in the AVR category”. The amplifier channel on this unit is mounted on a separate PCB opposite the power supply. We are told that the positioning reduces distortion, with the company stating the amp delivers “remarkably clean and instantaneous low-distortion power”.

The Cinema 30 offers eleven channels of 140W amplification, good for a complete 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos speaker system. Meanwhile, 13.4 channel onboard processing with pre-amp mode enables compatibility with external power amplifiers. All signals (digital and analogue) pass through the Marantz HDAM SA-2 pre-amplifier stage to deliver the “warmth and musicality” that the brand aims to deliver across its product lineup.

The Cinema 30 packs an Analog Devices SHARC dual DSP chipset alongside a 32-bit ESS Sabre DAC and dedicated jitter reduction. According to the brand, this results in comprehensive source and format decoding, including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X Pro, IMAX Enhanced, and Auro 3D.

The Cinema 30 is generous on the connectivity front, too. Kicking things off with seven HDMI inputs supporting up to 8K/60Hz (also covering 4K/120Hz AB Pass-through In/Out) and a trio of HDMI outs, the unit supports AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Bluetooth as well as Marantz's (and Denon's) HEOS wireless streaming system for cableless hook-up. It can also be integrated with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri-enabled smart speakers for voice control. Joining that array are seven analogue inputs, a pair each of optical and coax ins, USB Audio, a moving magnet phono stage, and four subwoofer outputs. The spec sheets says that the Cinema 30 is also “Roon Tested”.

If you were in any doubt, Marantz underlines that “all aspects of the power amplification, power supply, and signal path have been carefully honed by the Marantz Sound Master.”

To ensure that you can benefit from all of that, no matter what sort of space you sit the Cinema 30 in, Audyssey's MultEQ XT32 advanced room optimisation calibration system is on board. Furthermore, this can be partnered with an optional Dirac Live Bass Control calibration system, allowing you to connect and optimise up to four independent subwoofers.

The Marantz Cinema 30 is available now for £3,900/ €4,500

Visit Marantz for more information