Marantz SR6014 Reviews – Secrets of Home Theater

The all-new Marantz SR6014 receiver is a powerful and sophisticated 9.2-channel amplifier that drives exquisitely detailed surround sound with precision and clarity. It supports advanced object-based audio formats like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro 3D for a truly immersive audio experience.

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The SR6014 also features high-definition video processing with multi-room connectivity, making it the perfect choice for those who want the very best in home theater entertainment. So if you're looking to make the most of your 4K Ultra HD TV investment, look no further than the Marantz SR6014 receiver. With its advanced features and superb sound quality, it's sure to provide an exceptional cinematic audio experience for years to come.

Marantz SR6014 AV receiver is packed with features for the modern home cinema enthusiast. With 8 HDMI inputs and 3 outputs, including 1 with full eARC support, this receiver can easily connect to all of your HDCP 2.3-protected devices. The advanced setup assistant makes it easy to get started, while built-in Wi-Fi and HEOS Multi-Room Audio Technology let you stream music or videos wirelessly throughout your home.

Features

• HEOS built-in - Stream music wirelessly around your home with HEOS technology
• Dolby Atmos (5.1.2 configuration) - Elevate the sound-field in Dolby Atmos with two in-ceiling or Dolby Atmos elevation speakers, 5.1.4 configuration for 7 channels of surround sound
• Dual Subwoofer Outputs - Two subwoofers can be driven by one AVR and assigned to the same or separate zones to provide more bass output
• Latest HDMI Connections - Includes 8 HDMI inputs and 2 outputs, all with HDCP 2.2 support for 4K Ultra HD 60Hz video, 4:4:4 Pure Color sub-sampling, High Dynamic Range (HDR10), HLG, and Dolby Vision compatibility
• eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) - Supports the latest Object-Based Audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X from your TV audio signal before it's sent to your AVR
• Audyssey MultEQ XT32 - automatic room acoustic correction with Audyssey MultEQ XT32 puts the focus on where the sound should be, resulting in optimal sound quality no matter where you sit
• High-Resolution Audio decoding with multiple lossless file types such as ALAC, FLAC, and WAV at up to 24-bit/192-kHz along with compatibility for 2.8/5.6-MHz DSD files (DSD is the audio coding format of SACD)

• Advanced Video Processing - Get superb detail and clarity from all your video sources with advanced video processing technology including multi-rate 8b/10b and 4:2:2 chroma sub-sampling Advanced Color Palette Support - Enjoy a wide range of color, shading, and detailing as it was meant to be seen on any type of content, plus more vibrant colors with HDR (High Dynamic Range). Dolby Vision capable (video will follow)
• 7 Channel Discrete Amplifier - 70 watts per channel (8 ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.08% 2ch Drive)
• Front Panel USB Input - Easily connect your digital music player or portable USB device and listen to music through the SR6014 with its front-panel USB port
• Zone 2 Line Out / Pre-out - Listen to audio from another source in a second room such as Zone 2 on the main system or use the pre-outs with external amplifiers for more power and greater flexibility
• Color-Coded 5 Way Speaker Terminals - Large screwdriver not required when connecting speaker wires. The color-coded connection system makes it easy to see which terminals you're using
• Marantz Remote App-Enabled - Control the basic functions of your Marantz AVR with the Marantz Remote App downloaded to your smart device

Design

With its all-black facade and tinted top panel, the Marantz SR6014 is a handsome and understated AVR. The front panel features a power button, input selector, volume knob, and four buttons - two for navigating the menu system and two for basic playback controls (play/pause, stop). The display is small but legible and shows all pertinent information including the selected input, audio format, volume level, and current time.

Around the back, you'll find eight HDMI inputs (including one on the front), two HDMI outputs (one of which can be used to send a video signal to a second TV), three digital audio inputs (coaxial, optical, and USB), seven stereo analog audio inputs, dual subwoofer outputs, a 12V trigger output and an RS232 port for use with a home automation system. The speaker terminals are color-coded for easy identification and feature large screw-type connectors.

Sound Quality

The SR6014's sound quality is first-rate. I used the receiver in two different systems - a traditional 5.1 layout with all of its speakers located toed-in towards the primary listening position and a Dolby Atmos 7.2 configuration (with 4 overhead or Dolby enabled speakers + 2 subwoofers).

In both cases, music came through with excellent detail and clarity. The burbling bass lines that open up Nine Inch Nails' "Ringfinger" were fully resolved, as was Trent Reznor's tortured vocal performance on "Last." Overall, the receiver sounded very neutral across all types of content including movies (using lossless Blu-ray rips), TV shows (via streaming), and music (streaming and local). And when paired with the front channel speakers, the dialog was crisp and easy to understand.

The receiver's power is more than adequate for larger rooms or demanding speaker loads, but if you are thinking of using tower speakers without a subwoofer in addition to 7-channel surround sound system - it might be overkill. To test the Marantz SR6014's true limits I dialed things back quite a bit in my living room - switching from Atmos-enabled channels plus two subs to just five non-Atmos speakers (including four full-range towers) plus one powered subwoofer. Even with only 5 speakers fully active, the receiver had enough juice to drive all of them without breaking a sweat.

When pushed hard for volume levels, the Marantz SR6014 did exhibit a touch of compression and clipping - but this is something you'll hear in just about any receiver or amplifier. It's not a deal-breaker by any means, but it's worth noting if you like to crank up the volume on your music.

Ease of Use

The Marantz SR6014's menu system is easily navigated using the color-coded buttons on the front panel. These allow you to scroll through inputs, select speaker sizes, and set up individual speaker distances (assuming your AVR has Audyssey MultEQ XT32 or some other form of room acoustic measurement).

Adjusting volume, crossover points, and DSP modes like "night" mode are also relatively straightforward - although more advanced features like DLNA streaming require a deeper dive into the manual since they are not clearly explained. Otherwise, all of the input selection, time functions, and audio processing features behave as expected.

Performance

The Marantz SR6014 is an 8-channel receiver that can be configured in 7.2, 5.1, or 3.1 speaker layouts (5.2 and 2.1 are also supported). If you choose to run it in Atmos mode with overhead speakers, the height layer will come from Dolby enabled channels plus any conventional surround pairs (front or back) where height is not called for by the content - i.e., if you use all seven main channels plus two subs, the top layer will come from two other front or back channels as dictated by the soundtrack's object audio metadata.

In this configuration, you need a total of four ceiling-mounted speakers to create a complete Dolby Atmos stage - one pair upfront and one pair behind the listening position. If you want to use four overhead speakers exclusively without any main channels, you can configure the receiver for 7.2-channel Dolby Atmos playback with *no* conventional surround speakers.

The receiver's video processing is limited to 8-channel PCM plus limited down-mixing capabilities (to stereo only) for legacy analog 5.1 soundtracks found on Blu-ray titles - it does not support original DTS:X or Auro 3D audio formats. However, the DTS Neural X upmixer works well and can even extract height information from standard 5.1 soundtracks that are enhanced via DTS Neo:6 decoding. This allows unsupported Atmos titles encoded in DTS HD MA or standard DTS 96/24 to be mixed into the height layer which is then decoded by the SR6014 for playback over Atmos-enabled speakers.

Setup

The Marantz SR6014 features Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room acoustic measurement and correction technology. This system uses twin "high definition" microphones with multiple points of measurement to create a detailed 3D map of the speakers in your given listening space. The included setup microphone must be connected to the front panel of the receiver (or via an optional wireless kit) before running the Audyssey calibration. You can also manually adjust speaker distances if you prefer to measure them yourself with a tape measure, but this is not recommended.

Audyssey can correct for both level and distance mismatches between channels as well as perform advanced bass management (including dual subwoofer crossover points). At higher volume levels, it will even check for dangerous overloads that may damage your speakers. All of the measurements are time aligned using distance delays, EQ'd to compensate for room acoustics, and then checked against loudness verification at reference volume to ensure that everything sounds right without any nasty surprises after you turn it up.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room correction
• 7.2 or 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos configurations
• DTS Neural X upmixer for Atmos content
• Wide range of analog and digital audio connections
• 8 HDMI inputs (including 2 MHL compatible ports) and 3 outputs
• 4K/60Hz video passthrough with HDR, BT.2020, and HDCP 2.2 support
• AirPlay, Bluetooth, DLNA, and Spotify Connect streaming services
• Ethernet and Wi-Fi networking options

Cons:

• No original DTS:X or Auro 3D support
• Limited video processing (8 channels PCM only)

 

The Marantz SR6014 is an excellent receiver that offers a wide range of features and performance. It's especially well suited for those looking to set up a Dolby Atmos system as it can be configured for 7.2, 5.1, or even 5.2.1 speaker layouts (with four overhead speakers) using its Atmos height layer extraction capabilities.

The included Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room correction ensures that all your channels are perfectly matched in terms of level and distance, while the DTS Neural X mixer does a great job of bringing standard stereo content to life with height information.

The only real downside is the lack of original DTS:X or Auro 3D support, but this may not be an issue for everyone. Overall, the Marantz SR6014 is an excellent receiver that should satisfy even the most demanding home theater, enthusiasts.