Marantz Launches AV 20 & AMP 20: New Home Theater Separates

AVRs—also known as home theater receivers—have long been the go-to all-in-one solution, handling amplification, signal processing, streaming, and multi-room audio. But for 2025, Marantz is shaking things up with its new separates: the AV 20 Preamp/Processor and AMP 20 Power Amplifier. Backed by Harman’s acquisition of Sound United, Marantz combines decades of hi-fi expertise with serious engineering muscle, delivering dedicated components designed for enthusiasts who demand no compromises.

Not everyone wants a single box to do it all—some home theater purists prefer separates, keeping amplification and processing strictly apart, like milk and meat. For those users, the AV 20 and AMP 20 build on the success of the AV 10 and AMP 10 from 2022, offering top-tier performance with flexibility and precision for high-end home theater setups.

From Giles Pocock, Vice-President Brand Marketing: “The new AV 20 and  AMP 20 are the next stage in Marantz’s continuing evolution in the high-performance audio category. They represent all that is best about the brand’s premium design, engineering excellence, and attention to detail, and they also usefully expand the breadth and versatility of our offering in home theater”.

Marantz AV Separates

Before we dive into the specifics of the new Marantz AV 20 and AMP 20, let’s cover a few technical fundamentals about using separates in a home theater system.

In a preamp/power amp setup—what we call “separates”—the AV preamp (or preamp/processor) takes care of all the input switching, decoding, and signal processing. It’s the brains of the operation. The power amplifier is the muscle, driving your speakers with the juice they need to perform. The key thing to remember: the preamp/processor doesn’t power speakers directly—unless we’re talking self-powered speakers with analog inputs, which most traditional home theater setups don’t use.

That said, AV preamps like the AV 20 do include dedicated outputs for powered subwoofers, so you’re still getting full control over your low-end response.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at what the Marantz AV 20 and AMP 20 bring to the table for serious home theater fans who prefer to build their systems with precision—and power.

Marantz AV 20 Preamp/Processor

Sporting Marantz’s signature industrial design—elegant, minimalist, and unmistakably premium—the AV 20 delivers 13.4 channels of audio decoding and processing (13 assignable channels plus support for up to four powered subwoofers). Here are some key features worth noting before we get into the full spec breakdown.

HDAM: The AV 20’s HDAM SA-3 preamplifier stage feeds up to 13.4 channels via RCA or XLR outputs, supporting flexibility for power amp/speaker setups.

DSP: SHARC dual-core DSP with 32-bit two-channel DACs, optimal audio quality from digital sources.

Surround Sound Support: The AV 20 supports a full suite of immersive surround sound formats, including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and DTS:X Pro, Auro-3D, and IMAX Enhanced.

HDR Support: HDR10/10+, Dolby Vision, HLG, and Dynamic HDR pass-through. 

HDMI 2.1: Includes HDMI eARC and full gaming support, with features like 4K/120Hz, 8K/60Hz, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and Quick Frame Transport (QFT).

Hi-Res Audio: The AV 20 supports high-resolution audio playback up to 24-bit/192kHz. Compatible digital formats include MP3, WMA, WAV, MPEG-4/AAC, FLAC, ALAC, and DSD (2.8 and 5.6 MHz).

HEOS: The AV 20 fully supports the HEOS multi-room wireless streaming platform and is expected to add Qobuz Connect support. 

Wireless Music Streaming: Some of the streaming services supported include  Amazon Music, Qobuz Connect, TIDAL, Deezer, Napster, and Soundcloud. The AV 20 is also Roon Ready

M-DAX 2 Compressed Audio Enhancer: This feature enhances compressed audio formats like MP3, Windows Media™ Audio, and AAC by recalculating the frequency range to deliver clearer, more detailed sound through M-DAX2 processing.

Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Wi-Fi (Wired Ethernet is also included if needed).

Wired Connectivity (Inputs): The AV 20 offers a versatile range of inputs, including six analog connections (one balanced XLR), two digital optical, two coaxial audio inputs, and a dedicated MM (moving magnet) phono input.

Wired Connectivity (Outputs): The AV 20 features three HDMI outputs for video devices—TVs, monitors, or projectors—and offers both RCA and XLR audio outputs for all channels, making it easy to connect to compatible power amplifiers and subwoofers.

Room Correction: The AV 20 includes built-in Audyssey room correction features—MultiEQ XT32, Dynamic EQ, Dynamic Volume, and Low Frequency Containment (LFC). A power amplifier connection is required to perform the calibration measurements. Additionally, the AV 20 is upgradable to Dirac Live and Dirac Bass Control with a purchased license, with access to Dirac Live Active Room Treatment coming soon.

Comparison

Marantz AMP 20 Power Amplifier

Serving as the perfect match for the AV 20 preamp/processor, Marantz’s new AMP 20 is a 12-channel power amplifier designed to deliver clean, robust power—up to 200 watts per channel. It supports bi-amp and BTL (bridge-tied load) modes, giving you flexible options to drive a wide range of speaker configurations.

As with most power amplifiers, the AMP 20’s job is straightforward: take the audio signal from the preamp/processor and supply the muscle your speakers need. Unlike standalone amps with volume controls, the AMP 20’s gain is managed entirely by the connected preamp, ensuring tight integration and streamlined operation.

The AMP 20 sports the same sleek exterior design as the AV 20 and Marantz’s CINEMA Series AVRs, but its front panel “porthole” display doubles as a level meter, giving you real-time visual feedback on output levels.

Here’s a rundown of the key tech features and specifications.

Comparison

How to Mix Marantz AV 20 and AMP 20 with Previous Generation Gear

The AV 20 Preamp/Processor is compatible with any power amplifier, and the AMP 20 will work with other AV preamp/processors, giving you plenty of flexibility to build your system. You can also mix and match Marantz’s 20 series with the previous 10 series—for example, pairing the AV 20 with the AMP 10, or the AV 10 with the AMP 20—depending on your needs and budget.

Just remember, no matter how fancy your gear, a solid set of speakers is crucial to getting the most out of your setup. With this level of compatibility, you can tailor your home theater system exactly how you want it—whether that’s stepping up gradually or going all-in from the start.

The Bottom Line

Marantz has been a staple in the audio world for over 70 years, but the company’s ownership story has been a bit of a rollercoaster — first under Sound United, then Masimo, and now, thanks to Harman’s acquisition, under a new umbrella altogether.

The whole Samsung-Harman-Sound United shuffle caught a lot of people off guard, and while Marantz kept mum during a recent online reveal, the short-term message is clear: it’s business as usual. The AV 20 and AMP 20 carry on Marantz’s signature design and sound, handcrafted and sound-tuned in Shirakawa, Japan.

As previously noted, the AV 20 and AMP 20 build on the design and technology foundation of the flagship AV 10 and AMP 10, but with key differences in channel count and construction. While both ranges benefit from Marantz’s proprietary HDAM (Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Modules), the AV 10 takes things further with higher-grade components and a more advanced implementation.

Specifically, the AV 10 uses four-layer HDAM circuit boards for improved signal integrity, compared to the two-layer boards found in the AV 20. Additionally, the AV 10 features a more robust three-layer chassis design for enhanced isolation and rigidity, while the AV 20 scales back to a two-layer chassis.

The result? The AV 20 still delivers premium performance, but the AV 10 pulls ahead with deeper engineering refinements aimed squarely at the no-compromise crowd.

Marantz has notably held back on adopting HDMI 2.2 in the AV 20, opting for a wait-and-see approach rather than jumping in immediately. Also, like the AV 10, the AV 20 supports only MM (moving magnet) phono cartridges—no MC (moving coil) support here, which is a bit surprising given its price point.

On the tech-forward side, Marantz continues to deepen its partnership with DIRAC, offering optional upgrades like Dirac Live, Dirac Bass Control, and compatibility with Dirac Live Active Room Treatment for the AV 20. These advanced room correction options complement, rather than replace, the AV 20’s built-in Audyssey platform.

Physically, the AV 20 and AMP 20 are designed with a slightly shallower depth and lighter weight compared to the AV 10 and AMP 10, making them easier to fit into racks or cabinets.

For existing AV 10 and AMP 10 owners, upgrading isn’t essential, but the new models offer the advantage of seamless interoperability—you can mix and match across generations if you’re ready to invest a bit more in your setup.

Price & Availability

The Marantz AV 20 and AMP 20 are coming soon to Authorized Marantz Dealers near you.

• AV 20: $6,000 
• AMP 20: $6,000 

If you are interested in getting the previously released AV 10 and AMP 10.

• AV 10: $7,000 at Crutchfield
• AMP 10: $7,000 at Crutchfield

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