Marantz AV 10 Home Theater Preamplifier / Processor

Fifteen Channels, and a Phono Input

The AV 10 is the top of Marantz's CINEMA line, and it processes 15.4 channels. Every one of them leaves on both RCA and XLR: 17.4 pre-outs of each. Four of those subwoofer feeds are independent, so a room with multiple subs gets them placed and timed separately.

What surprises people is the phono socket. Marantz fits an MM phono input, so a turntable plugs straight into a home theater processor. The AV 10 is as happy running a two-channel system as it is decoding Atmos.

Video is current. Seven HDMI inputs and three outputs handle 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz pass-through. Dolby Atmos, DTS:X Pro, Auro-3D and IMAX Enhanced are all supported. The chassis measures 17.4 by 19.8 by 7.4 inches and weighs 37 pounds.

Why the Preamp Stage Is the Real Story

Marantz builds the output stage from its own HDAM modules rather than off-the-shelf op-amps. Audioholics measured the result. The balanced outputs distort at less than 0.0008% THD+N, which is 101dB SINAD. The unbalanced RCA outputs come in at 0.0009%.

Drive is not a worry either. The XLR outputs deliver more than 12Vrms unclipped, and the RCA outputs 6Vrms. Gene DellaSala's verdict was blunt: this is "a very strong output capable of driving any amplifier into clipping long before the preamp itself is the source of distortion."

Room correction is Audyssey MultEQ XT32, with Dirac Live upgradability if you want to go further. Streaming runs through HEOS, with AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth alongside it. Three HDMI outputs mean a display and a projector can both stay connected. It comes in black.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Gene DellaSala reviewed the AV 10 for Audioholics on June 10, 2024. "The Marantz AV 10 produced excellent to class leading measurements on our bench test," he wrote, with "oodles of low noise drive."

He rated the feature set as highly: the AV 10 "offers every conceivable feature one could hope for in a home theater processor, boasting incredible build quality and great aesthetics." Bass management drew particular praise.

One wish he did note, worth knowing if you tune by hand: "I do wish Marantz would replace the manual GEQ (Graphic Equalizer) with a manual PEQ (Parametric Equalizer) on the AV 10 to provide greater EQ control". Audyssey and Dirac are unaffected.

Who Is This Preamplifier/Processor Best For?

• You run one room for movies and music — an MM phono input and a measured 101dB SINAD balanced output mean your turntable and your Atmos rig share a single box, without a second preamp in the rack.
• Your amplifiers are across the room — over 12Vrms from the XLR outputs drives a long balanced run to monoblocks, so the amps can sit at the speakers instead of near the screen.
• You run more than one subwoofer — four independent subwoofer outputs let each sub be placed, delayed and levelled on its own, which is what actually smooths bass across seats.
• You want the room corrected properly — Audyssey MultEQ XT32 is included, and the processing headroom is there for Dirac Live if you decide to add it later.
• You are replacing a receiver — the AV 10 is a processor, so it has no amplifier channels of its own and will not drive a speaker on its own. Pair it with the power amplifiers you need from our amplifiers and you choose exactly how much power each channel gets.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Run XLR pre-outs to your power amplifiers wherever you can — that is where the extra drive and the lower noise live. Sources go in on the seven HDMI inputs, and the three HDMI outputs feed a display, a projector, or a second zone.

A turntable connects to the MM phono input with its ground wire. Run Audyssey with the supplied microphone once the speakers are placed, then set the four subwoofer outputs individually.

Pairs Well With

Building around the AV 10? Here are some great companions:

• Power Amplifiers: The AV 10 needs them, one per channel — see our Amplifiers.
• Subwoofers: Four independent outputs are waiting — see our Subwoofers.
• Turntable: The phono stage is already fitted — see our Turntables.
• Interconnects: Balanced XLR for the long runs — see our Interconnect Cables.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many channels does it process?

15.4 channels of processing, with 17.4 pre-outputs available on RCA and 17.4 on XLR, including four independent subwoofer feeds.

Can I connect a turntable?

Yes. There is a moving-magnet phono input on the back, so a turntable connects directly without an outboard phono stage.

What room correction does it use?

Audyssey MultEQ XT32 is built in, and the AV 10 is upgradable to Dirac Live. Dirac licenses are purchased separately from Dirac.

Does it handle 8K video?

Yes. Seven HDMI inputs and three outputs support 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz pass-through, with the current HDMI 2.1 feature set.

Which surround formats are supported?

Dolby Atmos, DTS:X Pro, Auro-3D and IMAX Enhanced, plus the standard Dolby and DTS formats beneath them.

How big and heavy is it?

17.4 by 19.8 by 7.4 inches without the antenna, and 37 pounds. Check shelf depth and rating, and leave room behind for HDMI and XLR plugs.

See It in Action

Audioholics runs the AV 10 with the matching AMP 10 as a long-term reference:

Mad Audio compares the AV 10 against the AV 20 in a working home theater:

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