Marantz AV 20 Home Theater Preamplifier / Processor

The AV 10's Engineering, Two Channels Down

Marantz built the AV 20 to bring the flagship's design to a smaller room. It processes 13.4 channels rather than 15.4, and the saving shows up in the price, not the parts. The preamplifier stage is the same discrete HDAM-SA3 topology.

Outputs are generous for the channel count. There are 15.4 pre-outs on RCA and 15.4 on XLR, with four independent subwoofer feeds available on both. That is more output than the processing, so you have room to route and re-route as a system grows.

An MM phono input sits on the back panel too. A turntable connects straight to the processor, which makes the AV 20 a genuine two-channel preamplifier as well as a cinema brain. It is built at the Shirakawa Audio Works facility in Japan.

Where the Room Correction Goes Further

Audyssey MultEQ XT32 is included and calibrates the room out of the box. The AV 20 also carries the DSP headroom for Dirac Live, including Dirac Live Bass Control and Active Room Treatment. Those licenses are bought from Dirac separately, not bundled.

Video keeps pace with the AV 10. 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 decoded, with HEOS streaming, AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth alongside.

The chassis measures 17.4 by 18.0 by 7.5 inches without the antenna and weighs 33.1 pounds, in black. It is a little shallower and lighter than the AV 10, which matters in a crowded rack.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Jacob Green covered the AV 20 for Audioholics on May 20, 2025. Marantz, he wrote, designed it "to deliver similar performance to the their flagship AV 10 and AMP 10 but for smaller systems and less cost."

He noted the pedigree of the audio stage — a "discrete HDAM SA-3 preamplifier stage" — and that both it and the AMP 20 are "proudly designed and manufactured at the Shirakawa Audio Works facility in Japan."

One cost to budget for, in his words: "Those wishing to use Dirac instead must pay for Dirac Live licenses separately". Audyssey MultEQ XT32 is included, so the room can be corrected on day one either way.

Who Is This Preamplifier/Processor Best For?

• You want flagship engineering in a normal room — the same discrete HDAM-SA3 preamp stage as the AV 10, with 13.4 channels instead of 15.4, so you pay for processing you will actually use.
• You play records as well as films — the MM phono input means a turntable joins the same box that decodes Atmos, and the rack does not need a second preamplifier.
• You run multiple subwoofers — four independent subwoofer outputs on RCA and XLR let each sub be placed and timed on its own, which is what evens out bass between seats.
• You care about room correction — Audyssey MultEQ XT32 is included, and the processing power is there for Dirac Live Bass Control and Active Room Treatment when you want them.
• You are moving up from a receiver — the AV 20 is a processor, with no amplifier channels inside and no way to drive a speaker on its own. Choose the power amplifiers to match from our amplifiers and each channel gets exactly the power it needs.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Take the XLR pre-outs to your power amplifiers where you can, and keep the RCA outs for shorter runs or a zone. Sources arrive on the seven HDMI inputs, and the three outputs feed a display, a projector, or another room.

A turntable goes into the MM phono socket with its ground wire. Run Audyssey with the supplied microphone after the speakers are placed, then set each of the four subwoofer outputs on its own.

Pairs Well With

Building around the AV 20? Here are some great companions:

• Power Amplifiers: The channels have to come from somewhere — see our Amplifiers.
• Subwoofers: Four independent outputs are waiting — see our Subwoofers.
• Turntable: The phono stage is built in — see our Turntables.
• Interconnects: Balanced XLR suits the long runs — see our Interconnect Cables.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many channels does it process?

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

How does it differ from the AV 10?

Fewer processing channels, a slightly smaller chassis, and a lower price. The discrete HDAM-SA3 preamplifier stage and the 8K HDMI feature set carry over.

Can I connect a turntable?

Yes. A moving-magnet phono input is fitted, so a turntable connects directly without an outboard phono stage.

What room correction does it use?

Audyssey MultEQ XT32 is included. Dirac Live, Dirac Live Bass Control and Active Room Treatment are supported, with licenses 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 features.

How big and heavy is it?

17.4 by 18.0 by 7.5 inches without the antenna, and 33.1 pounds, finished in black.

See It in Action

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

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