Marantz AMP 10 Reference 16 Channel Power Amplifier

Sixteen Channels Under One Lid

A sixteen-channel system used to mean three amplifiers, three power cords and a rack that ran hot. The Marantz AMP 10 is the flagship answer: sixteen channels of 200 watts in one chassis, built in Shirakawa, Japan.

Each channel delivers 200 watts into 8 ohms or 400 watts into 4 ohms, and bridged pairs reach 400 watts into 8 ohms. That covers a 9.1.6 layout with room to spare. The copper-plated chassis measures 17.4 by 19.2 by 7.4 inches and weighs 43.7 pounds.

The front porthole works as an analog level meter. Its matching partner is the AV 10 processor, which handles 15.4 channels, so the AMP 10 gives you one channel more than the processor can use.

Custom Class D, HDAM-SA2, and a Regulated Supply

Marantz built the AMP 10 around custom Class D switching amplifiers rather than a linear design. Class D is far more efficient, which is why sixteen channels of this power fit in one box. Alongside them sit HDAM-SA2 modules, discrete circuit blocks built from individual parts instead of off-the-shelf op amps.

The power supply matters as much as the output stage. A regulated switching supply feeds the modules through brass bus bars, and brass turns up again in the speaker terminals. Tight regulation is why the amplifier holds its power as you drive more channels.

Each channel pair runs Normal, Bi-Amp, or BTL. Bridge what you are not using and send that power to the front three.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Gene DellaSala bench-tested the AMP 10 for Audioholics on 29 May 2023. His summary: "The Marantz Amp 10 produced mostly excellent results on my test bench." He measured 215 watts per channel at 0.1% THD+N into 8 ohms, and the amplifier made the same power with one channel driven as with seven.

He was clear about the limits. On continuous full-bandwidth sweeps, output fell to 172 watts with five channels driven and 146 with seven. Bridged into a 4-ohm load at maximum power, it shut itself down. Marantz specifies 8-ohm nominal speakers for bridging, and that advice is worth following.

Who Is This Power Amplifier Best For?

• Large immersive layouts — 9.1.6, 7.4.6, anything that outgrows a twelve-channel amplifier.
• AV 10 owners — This is the amplifier that processor was designed around.
• Anyone replacing a stack of amps — One chassis, one power cord, less heat than three linear amps.
• Front stages that want more — Bridge spare channels to 400 watts for the left, center and right.
• Not the right choice if twelve channels covers you — A 7.1.4 layout fits inside the AMP 20, which we also stock, for less money.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Inputs are sixteen