Marantz Model 30 & SACD 30n: reshaping hi-fi for the modern audiophile

Marantz Model 30 & SACD 30n: reshaping hi-fi for the modern audiophile
(Image credit: Marantz)

Marantz has married modern features and styling with classic sound and build quality, to deliver two products for the 21st century audiophile: the Marantz Model 30 integrated amplifier and the SACD 30n SACD player and network audio streamer.

Upgraded aesthetics, the latest digital audio features and class-leading sound, combine to deliver a familiar yet entirely new Marantz listening experience, ideal for the audio enthusiast who values form and function.

The Marantz products showcase a new industrial design language, which borrows signature elements from legendary Marantz products of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Designed, tuned and meticulously manufactured in Shirakawa, Japan, the components continue the legacy of classic products such as the Audio Consolette, Model 2250 and Model 9 amplifier, while bringing the look and feel right up to date.

The Model 30 and SACD 30n also refine the classic Marantz sound, led by the meticulous Marantz Sound Masters, to deliver a warm character, a wide and deep soundstage with natural positioning of instruments, and a smooth presentation of vocals. This is done not just by selecting high-quality components but by making sure those components work together in harmony. Listening is every bit as important as measuring – because music matters.

There’s serious science, too; Marantz Musical Mastering HD brings the crucial digital audio conversion and processing in-house, with the Marantz engineering team taking full control of how PCM and DSD digital audio is handled by the SACD 30n, for optimum results.

The Marantz SACD 30n

The Marantz SACD 30n (Image credit: Marantz)

Inside the Marantz Model 30 is an all-analogue affair, with a fully discrete two-stage build, complete with independent power supplies for both the pre-amplifier and power amplifier. The preamplifier has an exclusively designed power supply circuit, which provides a stable supply that's unaffected by fluctuations in demands from the power amplifier.

It further protects the sound purity with an oversized toroidal transformer that's dedicated exclusively to the preamp, along with a double shield steel case that's mounted around the transformer to reduce leakage flux.

The power amplifier stage's power supply delivers high current instantaneously to the switching mode amplifier, giving maximum control over any connected speakers. That should maintain signal purity even in the face of the most challenging music pieces.

The Marantz Model 30

The Marantz Model 30 (Image credit: Marantz)

The Model 30 features six audio inputs, including a moving coil and moving magnet phono stage, which has Marantz's own Musical Premium Phono EQ circuit and HDAM proprietary technologies to enhance performance. The impedance selector also lets you choose from three settings – MC Low (33 ohm), MC Mid (100 ohm) or MC High (390 ohm) – to further optimise sound performance. There’s also a headphone output.

The Marantz SACD 30n uses the proprietary SACDM-3L transport mechanism, which is designed solely to deliver the best possible performance while playing SACDs and CDs. 

The HEOS Built-in platform gives you access to high bitrate files from music streaming services like Amazon Music HD and Tidal, plus multi-room functionality, while there's also a USB-DAC and built-in pre-amplifier. Voice control comes courtesy of Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant voice assistants.

Marantz's Musical Mastering software also allows for optimal digital audio conversion, while the headphone amplifier boasts an adjustable gain in order to drive all possible headphones, regardless of impedance.

The Marantz Model 30 Integrated Amplifier (€3000/£2700) and SACD 30n Network Audio Streamer & SACD Player (€3000/£2700) is available now at select authorised retailers.

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