Introduction
Discover the Marantz NR 1711 review and explore its high-performance features, including advanced room correction technology, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and IMAX Enhanced audio formats, and a range of connectivity options. Upgrade your home entertainment system today with this powerful and compact AV receiver.
Table of Contents
When you finally discover something that helps, don’t give up! The fact that other major brands have not duplicated the form factor of the Marantz NR1711-that is, the fact that it is the size of a standard stereo hi-fi amplifier rather than having the double-height hulk of a chassis that is more common to AV receivers is perhaps the most surprising thing about it. Other AV receivers typically have a chassis that is much larger than this. There’s no reason to believe that Marantz can’t compete physically with the best of them.
But, here is what the company refers to as a “slimline” receiver, which strikes a fair balance between individuals who desire high-quality surround sound and individuals who prefer a device that is more compact.
Design And Build
The Marantz NR 1711’s sophisticated aesthetic makes it a great choice for any home theater. The receiver’s small footprint of 17.3 by 14.9 by 4.1 inches and light weight of little under 20 pounds make it simple to incorporate into preexisting setups.
The main feature of the NR 1711’s front panel is the big display, which shows all of the receiver’s current settings and condition in a simple and straightforward manner. Power, volume, and input selection buttons are all conveniently located on the front panel. There’s a USB port and a headphone jack on the front panel, too.
The NR 1711 has numerous inputs and outputs on its well-organized rear panel. It is perfect for using the most recent high-resolution video formats thanks to its 7 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output, which all support 4K Ultra HD, HDR10, and HDCP 2.3. A plethora of digital and analog audio inputs, an Ethernet port, two subwoofer outputs, and preamp outputs for 7.2-channel surround sound are also included.
The NR 1711 boasts a solid metal chassis that aids in dampening vibrations for superior sound quality. The receiver’s high-quality power supply not only ensures that its many parts receive clean, reliable electricity, but also contributes to the receiver’s overall design, which in turn improves the quality of the sound.
The Marantz NR 1711 is an excellent product in every respect, from its innovative features to its sturdy construction. Its strong construction guarantees years of reliable operation, while its slender and compact design, user-friendly front panel, and well-laid-out back panel make it a pleasure to use.
Product
As a result of the fact that the seven channels may be arranged in the typical surround sound configurations for home theaters, this device can be considered a home theater receiver. 5.1 channels plus a stereo Zone B; 7.1 channels (all surround plus subwoofer); 5.1.2 channels with two overhead channels for the height information of Dolby Atmos or DTS:X soundtracks; 7.1 channels (all surround plus subwoofer); 5.1 channels with the front stereo pair given increased power by bi-amping; 7.1 channels (all surround plus subwoofer). Two channels are being driven, and the amplifier has been rated so that each channel can deliver 50 watts into 8 ohms while operating at full bandwidth.
Is it possible that the popularity of 100W receivers makes 50W seem insufficient? Bear in mind that there is just a three decibel difference between the two sounds. The reduced size of the footprint required by this design comes at a cost; however, an increase in power is typically welcomed. Having said that, you need to make sure that you always follow the directions that were included with your loudspeakers. You can connect loudspeakers with an ohm rating of four to any channel by using the advanced configuration option on the receiver.
While its back panel is compact, the Marantz NR1711 AV receiver offers line-level outputs for the front speaker pair. Also, a stereo power amplifier is an easy add-on for when you eventually need additional volume.
That rear panel houses a number of plugs and sockets. Only six HDMI inputs are available, which is one fewer than last year. To meet halfway, we implemented support for 8K video at 24, 25, 30, 50, and 60 Hz on the HDMI output and 4K video at 100 and 120 Hz on the sixth HDMI input. We are aware that there may be limitations associated with the first generation of Processors developed at these resolutions, such as the inability to play HDR-encoded content at 4K/120Hz. Unfortunately, we were unable to verify this hypothesis.
The device not only enables the transmission of such signals but also downscales to and upscales to 8K resolution. We’ve kept the original frame rate intact.
This receiver bucks the current trend of digital-only home entertainment devices, which has seen the entire elimination of analogue video. It takes in a total of five video signals (three composite and two component). This begs the question, why? Well, composites are fine. They were the norm in the past. Elements, though? Are there still people using DVD players that predate HDMI? Our Editor says “Yes” to this, as he has one Blu-ray player with a broken HDMI output and a working component output. Keep in mind that these connections merely act as a conduit for the signals to reach their intended targets. There will be no conversion, put bluntly.
It’s likely that your TV will make use of the Audio Return Channel functionality available via the HDMI output (the eARC standard is supported, allowing surround as well as stereo signals to be handled this way). Optical digital connectors are also offered for compatibility with older devices like CD players and televisions. A phono that accepts moving-magnet cartridges is one of the three kinds of analog audio inputs.
Then there are the most recent innovations. We tried to use the front USB port to connect an iPhone, but it turns out that only hard drives may be inserted there. Ethernet may be accessed from the back, while dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are supported via two antennas. As opposed to higher-quality codecs like AAC, aptX, and LDAC, Bluetooth only supports the lower-quality SBC stereo audio codec.
We’ll go back to the networking specifics in a moment, but in the meantime, know that this receiver features the scalable HEOS streaming and multiroom platform.
Setup and Installation
Just plug everything in; we’re experts, so you can take our word for it. Upon first turning on the device and connecting the speakers, a setup wizard is there to help out in case you get stuck. Connect the receiver to the TV using the included HDMI cable, then follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup.
The receiver comes with color-coded labels that may be placed on the speaker lines. The terminals are color-coded for easy identification, making it possible to pair up inputs and outputs for the speakers in no time. It comes with a calibrated microphone and a cardboard microphone stand.
To calibrate your speakers, use Audyssey MultEQ and the receiver’s built-in voice assistance. The optimal speaker placement, equalization requirements, and speaker dimensions were all calculated. Even if standard Audyssey MultEQ should be kept on, the Dynamic Volume and Dynamic EQ settings should be disabled. MultEQ’s equalization adjusts for factors like room size and speaker placement. We don’t buy into dynamic EQ’s pitch shifting and volume matching.
There are a number of options for connecting to a wireless network. They worked well, and we found out later that we had more than enough bandwidth to transmit music at DSD128, the greatest quality that this receiver could handle.
When we tested this receiver’s forerunner around a year ago, it was announced that a new feature will be available in a future firmware update. The revised model had already been returned to the manufacturer before we could test it. However this receiver already has Bluetooth functionality integrated.
Marantz AV receivers allow for the connection of external devices, but they do not support Bluetooth playback. Nevertheless, this is only useful for receivers with Bluetooth capabilities. These could be speakers, which would be absurd, or headphones, which would be quite useful if you want to watch TV late at night without waking anyone up. You can listen via headphones alone, or with the included external speakers. We can safely presume that the latter is designed for usage in a separate area (within 30 metres, anyway).
But, if you need complete silence while playing back, you should choose the former.
In spite of the typical Bluetooth delay, we achieved near-perfect synchronization. It piqued my interest, but alas, neither our headphones nor our receiver support the low-latency aptX LL codec. Perhaps the sound will be automatically advanced by a few hundred milliseconds when you put on headphones, bringing it in sync with the picture. Perhaps a short delay was an intentional design goal.
Sound
Using the HEOS app is one of the two most convenient ways to play music to the Marantz receiver over Wi-Fi. HEOS is a streaming and multiroom platform developed by Denon. The other option is to stream media wirelessly from an iOS device or a Mac using Apple’s AirPlay 2 technology. (We tested prototypes of all three gadgets, and found that they functioned perfectly.)
Sending music encoded at up to 192kHz and 24 bits, as well as standard and double-speed DSD, was possible with both HEOS and our ordinary DLNA music player software. The HEOS software had no trouble sending DSD in its native format, while the DLNA app could only do so in stereo PCM format.
With the HEOS app, you have a number of input options. In addition, you can choose which input from your other HEOS devices will be played on this receiver, and vice versa. HEOS is unusual among multi-room audio systems in that it offers this degree of customization.
That’s not all, by the way. If you have an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant-enabled device and it is on the same Wi-Fi network as the Marantz, you can use voice commands to perform a subset of its functions.
Performance
This receiver’s strong amplifier can drive a wide variety of speakers, from bookshelf to floor-standing models, with ease because it produces up to 90 watts per channel at 8 ohms.
The Audyssey MultEQ XT room correction technology built into the NR 1711 analyzes the acoustics of your listening space and automatically adjusts the sound parameters to get the best possible result. As a result, your audio will sound excellent from whichever location you choose to set your speakers.
The NR 1711 supports multiple audio formats, including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and IMAX Enhanced, so you can enjoy high-quality, immersive sound. The receiver’s Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoders allow for immersive, multi-dimensional sound that puts you in the center of the action. Meanwhile, the IMAX Improved audio system creates a world of its own, perfect for watching blockbuster films.
The NR 1711 supports a wide variety of wireless and wired connections, including HDMI, USB, Ethernet, and both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You can quickly hook up your TV, Blu-ray player, gaming system, and music player with this setup. You can also wirelessly stream music from your phone or other supported devices thanks to the built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The Marantz NR 1711 is a high-end AV receiver that excels in both sound quality and functionality. The NR 1711 is an excellent choice if you’re in the market for a new home theater system or you just want to listen to high-quality sound in your own house. With its robust amplifier, cutting-edge room correction algorithms, and extensive connectivity choices, it is a top pick for audiophiles.
Verdict
While not Marantz’s top-tier dedicated AV receiver, the NR1711 keeps the company’s popular “slimline” design while updating the tech stack to accommodate modern video standards.
Pros And Cons
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Pros Very powerful considering its size and portability Input for Bluetooth headphones A helpful step-by-step setup |
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Cons No DAB+ Bluetooth does not support any advanced codecs at this time. |
