THREE high-end products are coming your way from the veteran hi-fi manufacturer, the first of which is the Model 10 Reference integrated amplifier from the new 10 Series Collection. Two more in the series – the SACD 10 Reference SACD player and the Link 10n streaming preamplifier – are scheduled for later. The 10 Series is Marantz’s first high-end line since 2016.
“Developed over five years of extensive collaboration between all departments of the engineering team at the renowned Shirakawa Audio Works in Japan, the new 10 Series components embody unparalleled heritage, performance and contemporary luxury design. Built to the most demanding of standards, the design of each product is inspired by some of the most iconic hi-fi components in Marantz’s storied history – yet at the same time, the engineering inside ensures that each component is both truly contemporary and ready to make the most of hi-fi’s digital future,” the press literature informs us.
The Model 10 Reference is the most powerful one-box amplifier that Marantz has ever made – 250 watts per channel into 8 ohms and doubling up at 4 ohms. The fully balanced amp is built around a newly designed dual-mono symmetrical amplifier topology and uses a “completely new copper-plated, triple-layered chassis with a compartmentalised design structure designed to provide complete engineering separation of each critical internal function.” The two internal compartments and strategically placed shields isolate high and low power circuits from each other and prevent internal interference from limiting performance.
Each channel of the amp has its own power supply and all the line-level input circuitry is powered by a separate linear power supply unit. Distortion is extremely low while up to 30A of peak current means exceptional dynamic range, plus frequency response that is immune to load impedance.
“Driving the novel amplifier section is an all-new preamplifier design based around the latest generation of Marantz’s HDAM analogue circuitry. Designed to deliver the optimum combination of response speed and transparency of signal, HDAM is a proprietary Marantz technology first introduced in the PM-99SE amplifier of 1992.”
The amp has an extensive array of analogue inputs, including two XLR balanced ins, three RCA analogue ins and a high-quality phono stage, complete with both MM and three impedance options for broad MC compatibility. Preamplifier outputs are also provided, again in both XLR and RCA.
The Model 10 can also be configured to run solely as a power amplifier, bypassing its internal preamplifier, when partnered with its sibling in the new 10 Series Collection, the Link 10n Reference network audio player. Selectable speaker A/B outputs are also included, alongside a very high-quality headphone output.
The Model 10 Reference integrated amplifier will retail at US$15,000 / €14,500 / £12,000.
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