Усилители мощности стерео — Marantz MODEL M4

The MODEL M4 is an eight-channel, four-zone distribution amplifier from Marantz with HEOS streaming built in. It is aimed at whole-home audio installations rather than a single listening room, comes ready for rack mounting with active cooling, and launched at USD 3,500. Marantz offers it in a black finish only.

Key specs that matter

Each of the eight channels is rated at 100 W into 8 ohm from 20 Hz to 20 kHz at 0.05 percent THD, and at 125 W into 4 ohm at 1 kHz and 0.1 percent THD. Bridge Mode pairs channels to give up to 4 x 200 W. Frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz within 1 dB, and the outputs accept speaker loads from 4 to 16 ohm through 4-way binding posts. Power consumption is listed at 220 W. The case is 442 mm wide, 415 mm deep and 106 mm high.

Engineering and use context

The amplifier stages are Class D, which keeps heat and bulk low enough for eight channels in a slim rack-width box. The four zones can each be set up as stereo or dual mono. Per-zone settings include a volume limit between 80 and 100 percent, balance from -15 dB to +15 dB, bass and treble from -5 dB to +5 dB, a high-pass filter adjustable from 40 to 250 Hz and a low-pass filter from 40 to 120 Hz. Inputs are four stereo RCA pairs and two optical ports, so a television or local source can feed any zone. The unit decodes Dolby Digital, LPCM and DSD. Through HEOS it plays Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, Pandora, TuneIn, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio and Deezer, and it also supports AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Roon Ready playback. File support covers FLAC up to 24-bit and 192 kHz, WAV, ALAC, AAC and MP3 up to 320 kbps, WMA up to 192 kbps and DSD at 2.8 and 5.6 MHz. Two Ethernet ports and four 12 V trigger outputs are fitted, and Crestron, Control4 and AMX control systems are supported, while the HEOS app runs on iOS, Android and Kindle Fire.

Pairing

The wide load rating suits in-ceiling and in-wall speakers as well as ordinary passive boxes spread across up to four rooms. Four stereo RCA pre-outs and four selectable mono subwoofer outputs let each zone add a powered subwoofer or an external amplifier, with the low-pass filter setting the handover. Where a zone needs more drive for larger passive speakers, bridging two channels is the route Marantz provides.

Alternatives

The Marantz AMP 30 is a slimline six-channel power amplifier using HDAM circuits and Class D output stages rated at 200 W per channel into 8 ohm.