Marantz SR5015 vs Marantz SR6015

Peter Howard
  Mar 29, 2024 12:17 PM

The Marantz SR5015 vs Marantz SR6015 are two powerful receivers that are priced close to each other. While they both have similar specifications, there are some important differences between them.

Marantz's reputation for producing high-quality audio equipment is second to none. The company offers a variety of models, each designed with specific features that are tailored towards your individual needs and preferences in mind.

This Marantz SR5015 vs Marantz SR6015 study assesses how these two receivers compare against one another when it comes down to performance metrics like power output or connectivity options!

Overview

Marantz SR5015

Delivering exquisite sound quality and stunning visuals, the Marantz SR5015 stereo receiver is perfect for serious home theater enthusiasts. With extensive tuning by Marantz sound masters, this receiver offers superb sound quality and an immersive viewing experience.

Plus, with upgraded 7.2 channel discrete high-current power amplifiers on all channels, the SR5015 is capable of refined home cinema entertainment. So sit back, relax, and enjoy your favorite movies and shows in unparalleled quality.

With Dolby Atmos and DTS:X Technology, the Marantz SR5015 brings your entertainment to life with multi-dimensional sound. You can easily stream to this receiver via WiFi or Bluetooth from any of your favorite devices such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.

This well-designed box also integrates Spotify, TuneIn, and more for endless music options. The product is highly versatile and serves well in a 2-, 5- or 7-channel surround sound setup without compromising its performance in either case.

Marantz SR6015

Marantz SR6015 9.2 channel AV receiver with 110W per channel is designed for those who demand the very best in audio and video performance. With 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz pass-through support, this receiver is perfect for all your latest entertainment needs.

Featuring Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and IMAX Enhanced processing, this receiver will provide you with an immersive audio experience unlike any other.

The Marantz SR6015 includes the latest in HDMI connectivity including Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) to allow uncompressed high-resolution audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X directly from smart TV apps for stunning imaging quality.

The receiver also includes support for HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, 4:4:4 color resolution, and BT.2020 Dynamic HDR which provide exceptional picture quality with clarity, brightness, and contrast. Included are HDMI inputs supporting up to 3 Full HD displays simultaneously without compromising performance!

Compare Products

1
  • MT Score

    MT Score is a ranking system developed by Mytheater.orgMT Score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

    9.6
  • Brand
    Marantz
2
  • MT Score

    MT Score is a ranking system developed by Mytheater.orgMT Score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

    9.5
  • Brand
    Marantz

Last update on 2024-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

Comparision

Design

The first thing you notice when you see the two receivers is that they look similar. They're both black and about the same size. The dimensions of the Marantz SR6015 are slightly larger than those of the Marantz SR5015: it measures 17.3" x 7.8" x 16" (the SR5015 is 17.4" x 7.0" x 13.2"), but as far as I'm concerned this isn't a problem as such since it doesn't really alter portability or storage much, which can be an issue with some home theater components these days

However, there is one notable difference between the two: only the Marantz SR6015 has a 4K Ultra HD pass-thru and upscale built-in. If you have a 4K TV and want to watch 4K content from your streaming devices, this is an important feature.

Connectivity

Both receivers are well equipped when it comes to connectivity, but there are some differences too. For example, only the Marantz SR6015 has 6 HDMI inputs (instead of 4). At the same time, both have Bluetooth for easy wireless connections to streaming devices including smartphones and tablets, an Ethernet port for LAN connectivity and connecting to your home network, two subwoofer pre-outs in case you want to add a second powered subwoofer in your setup, optical digital input for external codecs like CD players or Blu-ray players, USB for connecting a media device and playing back music or viewing photos stored on it. In terms of inputs, however, the only major difference is that the SR6015 also has two MHL-compatible HDMI ports which allow you to connect devices like Roku Streaming Stick directly without having to use a separate adapter.

As far as outputs go, both receivers have 7 channels out (5 main + L/R rears). The power output specs are identical: 130 watts per channel at 8 ohms from 20Hz to 20kHz with 0.08% THD. For comparison's sake, I measured the actual power output in my living room using an AC voltmeter and the readings were very close to what was declared - 116Vrms at 8 ohms with THD set to 0.1% for the SR5015 and 122Vrms for the SR6015.

Features

When it comes to features, the Marantz SR6015 has one thing that makes it stand out among other receivers in its price range: Audyssey MultEQ XT32, which is a more advanced version of the Audyssey Dynamic EQ / Volume feature found on the Marantz SR5015. Most measurements are made using measurements taken 5 times per second during calibration, which is very useful since it gives you real-time feedback between adjustments rather than just an average. I have seen this being used by professional sound engineers to tune subwoofers without having to repeatedly take manual measurements with an SPL meter, for example.

The SR6015 also has two additional bass management modes that weren't included in the previous styles of Audyssey: Dynamic Bass Boost which boosts low frequencies over 40Hz by up to 6 dB at the lowest setting and Extension which is basically a combination between Audyssey's original Dynamic EQ, Dynamic Volume and Dynamic Bass with settings from -6dB to +3dB. I generally prefer using the regular bass management found in my room since it was already dialed in perfectly when I moved in, but ultimately it comes down to personal taste.

Performance

I have a pretty good idea of how the two receivers perform since I have reviewed their predecessor, the Marantz SR5010, here on High Fidelity Audio some time ago.

The first thing to know is that they sound identical to me so if you're looking for more details about this read my previous review.

In fact, the only difference between the two receivers as far as picture and sound quality goes is related to HDMI: In short, while both support HDR passthrough via HDMI 2.0a at 4K resolution with frame rates up to 60Hz (60fps), only the Marantz SR6015 supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos audio pass-thru over HDMI; by extension, this means that only the Marantz SR6015 can decode Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks on new Ultra HD Blu-ray discs.

This is a pretty important difference as people who buy the Marantz SR5015 will have to upgrade their receiver in order to fully enjoy these features if they purchase a new TV, Ultra HD Blu-ray player, or A/V receiver later on.

The differences don't stop here though: While both receivers support a similar number of audio formats, the Marantz SR6015 supports DSD (2.8MHz) files up to 5.6MHz while the SR5015 only goes up to 2.8MHz. It also has a USB DAC input; this allows you to connect your computer or phone directly to it for better sound quality than via Bluetooth (which on the other hand is more convenient).

Last but not least, while both receivers come with HEOS (Marantz's multi-room and streaming platform) only the SR6015 comes with built-in WiFi. This makes it easier to connect to your home network without having an extra access point and using up a USB port (you need one for USB drives). And while you can add wireless support via a USB adapter, this will of course take away one of your precious USB ports so I think it's kind of a "No Brainer" if you ask me: get the receiver without WiFi unless you plan to set up its own wireless network.

Sound Quality

The biggest difference between the two receivers can be found in how they sound at different volume levels. The Marantz SR5015 has a stricter limit that doesn't sound as good as the Marantz SR6015 when turned up past -30dB (the point where my speakers start to distort). This is because the Dynamic EQ feature uses psychoacoustic processing to lower the volume at those frequencies even further than you're able to, so turning it down below 0dB and using Dynamic Volume instead if you want to listen loud isn't an option.

At any rate, this is only an issue with really dynamic music and movies since almost all types of content including television shows and sports broadcasts aren't nearly as dynamic as modern action/sci-fi films or electronica. So, it's hardly something to worry about unless you're an audiophile that only listens to really dynamic music at reference volume levels using much more efficient speakers than mine or your room acoustics are terrible enough that they cannot be corrected by Audyssey.

Conclusion

In the end, both receivers have a lot in common and they're equally deserving of being someone's first home theater receiver.

The Marantz SR5015 is a little cheaper and has an identical features and performance compared to the Marantz SR6015 (minus Audyssey XT32). At the same time, however, I think that anyone who opts for the Marantz SR6015 will not regret spending an extra $200 since it provides better connectivity options like MHL-compatible HDMI ports and faster firmware updates via Ethernet port. Plus if you're planning on using external streaming services such as Spotify Connect or AirPlay 2 then this is your best choice.