Marantz NR1200 Review: Advanced Features and Exceptional Sound Quality

 

There is a Marantz stereo amplifier along with FM and DAB+ radios, an HDMI port, and wireless multiroom streaming. The NR1200 should satisfy many customers. Get our in-depth analysis of the Marantz NR1200 here.

One of the reasons you’re here reading this review is because you’re interested in learning more about this item called a “ampli-tuner.” Neither of us did until we read it on the package. Even more baffling was the fact that the box boasted the words “Network Audio Receiver” on its lid. Before you say, “I don’t want a multi-channel receiver,” let us assure you that the Marantz NR1200 is not one. 

 

The only channels you can use are left and right. Yep. It’s a real radio that can tune into FM and DAB+ broadcasts over the air. It has an HDMI port for hooking up to your TV and streaming music from the internet to improve the sound of your TV shows. It may also stream media from a computer or NAS device (NAS). To add to its many other uses, this device also acts as a digital audio converter, allowing for the playback of digital media.

Design And Build

The Marantz NR1200 receiver is an excellent choice for those who value listening to music at home and desire the highest possible quality of sound reproduction. This Marantz receiver is part of the brand’s slimline range, which means it saves space without sacrificing performance or convenience.

The Marantz NR1200 receiver is a great example of form following function thanks to its contemporary aesthetic. The receiver’s input source, volume, and other settings are all clearly shown on the huge screen that occupies much of the receiver’s front panel. There are jacks for headphones and a USB port on the front panel for plugging in peripherals.

The Marantz NR1200 receiver is constructed to exacting standards with premium materials to provide years of dependable use. To filter out background noise, the receiver’s metal chassis is solidly built and vibration-proof. Also, the receiver is made with superior parts, such as a state-of-the-art digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a robust amplifier.

Built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Apple AirPlay 2 are just a few of the modern networking choices available on this receiver. The receiver’s many inputs and outputs make it simple to hook up all of your electronics. It contains four HDMI inputs, an optical input, and two coaxial inputs.

The Marantz NR1200 receiver, in general, is an attractive and sturdy audio equipment that excels in both sound quality and functionality. The Marantz NR1200 is a premium receiver that will enhance your audiovisual experiences across the board.

Features And Specs

Find out more about the Marantz NR1200 and its features by reading the following. Although we have already given it away, the analogue inputs include three line-level stereo inputs in addition to a moving-magnet phono input. There are five HDMI inputs on the NR1200, each of which supports HDCP 2.3, 4K Ultra HD 60Hz video, 4:4:4 Pure Color sub-sampling, HLG, High Dynamic Range (HDR10), 21:9 video, 3D, and BT.2020 pass-through.

Additionally, there are two digital inputs (one coaxial and one optical), as well as a front-panel USB interface. If you are sick of listening to the tinny sound that is coming from your TV’s speakers, you can send the audio from your TV directly to your amplifier by using the ARC (Audio Return Channel) feature of the single HDMI output (for your monitor). This will allow you to completely avoid listening to the tinny sound that is coming from your TV’s speakers.

You are able to connect a second pair of speakers in a different room using the NR1200’s ‘A’ and ‘B’ speaker outputs. Moreover, the ‘Front’ and ‘Zone 2’ analogue outputs from Marantz add even more setup choices. In spite of this, Zone 2 is completely cut off from the rest of the digital sources (HDMI, coaxial, and optical). Oh, and we are assuming that it is an output, but we really liked the fact that the Bluetooth is two-way. This allows you to stream music from your mobile to the Marantz NR1200 as well as transfer audio to Bluetooth headphones.

Sound

With its sophisticated digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and robust amplifier, the Marantz NR1200 receiver is a high-end audio gadget that produces excellent sound. The receiver is engineered to produce sound that is both clear and detailed.

Superior digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) is one of the receiver’s many shining attributes of the Marantz NR1200. The high-end AK4490EQ DAC chip, renowned for its superior performance and low distortion, is used in the receiver. The DAC can decode high-resolution audio files with a sampling rate of up to 24-bits/192kHz, ensuring that your music sounds as good as it possibly can.

The Marantz NR1200 receiver includes a high-output amplifier that can pump out 75 watts per channel into 8 ohms. The sound quality produced by the amplifier is intended to be precise and detailed, with a wide dynamic range. The Marantz NR1200 receiver can provide a dynamic and exciting listening experience with any genre of music, from classical to rock & roll.

The Marantz NR1200 receiver has cutting-edge room correction technology in addition to a high-quality DAC and amplifier. The receiver’s built-in Audyssey MultEQ XT system evaluates your listening space’s acoustics and makes adjustments to the sound accordingly.

In general, the sound produced by the Marantz NR1200 receiver is outstanding, with a full, dynamic range that is both interesting and enveloping. The Marantz NR1200 receiver is a high-quality audio device that will enhance your experience with music and movies.

Performance

Marantz, like many other modern home theatre components, has included automatic set-up instructions. These instructions will walk you through the entirety of the set-up process using on-screen prompts to help you through the various steps. Connecting a screen to your device in order to view the instructions is as easy as using HDMI, which makes this process a breeze.

In addition to its various wired options, the Marantz NR1200 offers you a wide variety of wireless options as well, giving you the flexibility to pick the one that is suited to your requirements the best. or put each and every one of them to good use. The HEOS wireless multi-room audio platform is offered by both Marantz and Denon. The firm asserts that this platform is the optimal solution since it enables consumers to stream music from any room in the house to any other room in the house that is enabled with the HEOS technology.

The right assistant will allow you to utilise voice commands to make modifications, such as playing music or altering the volume, regardless of the device or combination of devices you use (Siri, Alexa, Google Assist). Because not all assistants have the same set of features, you need to ensure that the one you select can carry out the functions that you desire before you purchase it.

If the product’s most fundamental amplifier isn’t up to scratch, then all of the product’s other bells and whistles are for naught. While choosing a purchase, it is essential to look past the “bells and whistles,” as they are sometimes referred to. We are ecstatic to share the news that the amplifier contained within the NR1200 is easily capable of driving low-impedance speakers and possesses more than sufficient power for any practical application. We used the line-level input as a preliminary test with the analogue output of the CD player, and we were blown away by the high volume, low noise, distortion-free sound, and amazingly cleanly expanded frequency response.

Even though we liked the sound better in one of the NR1200’s ‘Direct’ modes, we don’t think you’ll miss the tone controls or the MDAX circuit (which is designed to improve the sound quality of compressed music formats) because the NR1200 sounds great even without them.

This is because the MDAX circuit is designed to improve the sound quality of compressed music formats. Due to the reliable FM and DAB+ reception provided by the radio, you won’t be dissatisfied with the calibre of the “free to air” listening experience you have. Because the internal phono stage was serviceable but not particularly fantastic, you may want to consider upgrading to an external phono stage if you spin a lot of vinyl.

In addition, there have been some fascinating innovations with relation to digital input. Connecting an older CD player with a digital output to the NR1200 and making use of the NR1200’s exceptional coaxial digital inputs will allow you to significantly improve the performance of your CD player. It is likely that the experts at Marantz put the already great AKM AK4458 DAC into Dual Differential Mode in order to boost its performance. In this regard, the device is capable of reading lossless file formats such as ALAC, FLAC, and WAV up to 24/192, in addition to DSD at both 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz. Also, each and every well-known lossy coding format is supported (MP3, AAC, etc).

Verdict

If you’re not interested in multi-channel sound but still want all the bells and whistles that state-of-the-art audio/video technology has to offer, you’ve found the correct place. Strongly suggested.

Pros Outstanding array of features High-Quality Sound Superb construction

 

Cons The phono input can be upgraded.