Marantz STEREO 70s Stereo Network Receiver - Black

A Home Cinema Receiver That Only Believes in Two Channels

The STEREO 70s takes the back panel of an AV receiver and the front end of a stereo amplifier. Six HDMI inputs and one output with eARC, 75 watts per channel into 8 ohms, and no centre or surround channels at all.

Three of those HDMI inputs pass 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz, with VRR and ALLM for games consoles. Everything reaches the television down one cable, and an on-screen menu handles setup instead of the small front display.

Two Subwoofer Outputs, Because the Speakers Are Only Two

A pair of subwoofer outputs lets small bookshelf speakers carry the room. There is also a moving-magnet phono input, optical and coaxial digital inputs, three analog inputs, a USB-A port, an AM/FM tuner and a front headphone jack.

HEOS runs the streaming side, alongside AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth and Roon Ready operation. Files play to 24-bit/192kHz PCM and DSD 5.6MHz. The chassis is slim at 109mm tall and weighs 8.4 kilograms.

Marantz Kept Its Own Circuits Inside a Receiver Chassis

The amplifier section is class A/B and discrete, built on Marantz HDAM modules rather than the integrated circuits a receiver at this size usually settles for. A Direct mode bypasses the processing when you want the signal left alone.

Rated output is 75 watts per channel into 8 ohms across the full band at 0.08% distortion, or 100 watts into 6 ohms at 1kHz. Speaker outputs accept loads from 4 to 16 ohms, and there are A and B pairs.

Measurements for the Analog Side

In Direct mode the analog inputs run 10Hz to 100kHz, within plus one and minus three decibels, at 98dB signal-to-noise. Sensitivity is 130mV. The moving-magnet phono stage takes 2.5mV, tracks RIAA within a decibel, and measures 74dB signal-to-noise.

Draw is 210 watts in use and 0.2 watts in standby, rising to under 2 watts when the network stays awake. Video passes through at up to 40Gbps with HDCP 2.3, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG all supported.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Steve May gave the STEREO 70s four and a half stars in Home Cinema Choice in March 2024, finding it "tremendously musical for the price, capable of some lovely top-end detail with a melodious midrange."

Jason Methfessel wrote in The Absolute Sound in January 2025 that instruments "are served up in such a gentle way," with "a warmth and coziness portrayed that felt quite appropriate" on difficult saxophone recordings.

Where Methfessel Pushed Back

One hardware detail is worth checking before you order cables. The speaker terminals are shared with the Cinema 70s, and "The hardware chosen here won’t work with spade connectors."

Who Is This Network Receiver Best For?

• Your television has more boxes than ports — six HDMI inputs switch them all to one output.
• You want cinema sound without surround — two channels and two subwoofers, no centre or rears to place.
• You game — 4K/120Hz, VRR and ALLM pass through to the display.
• You still play records — the moving-magnet phono input is built in.
• Your speaker cables end in spades — these terminals take bananas and bare wire only. The Marantz MODEL 60N uses full-size posts, but drops the HDMI switching.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

One HDMI cable goes from the output to your television's eARC port, and your sources go to the six inputs behind it. The on-screen menu appears on the TV, which is far easier than the two-line front display.

Speakers connect with bananas or bare wire, A pair or B pair. One or two subwoofers take the RCA outputs, and a turntable goes to phono with its ground lead attached.

Ethernet or Wi-Fi finishes the job in the HEOS app.

Pairs Well With

Building a system around the STEREO 70s? Start here:

• Speakers: small pairs work here because the subs take the bottom — see our Bookshelf Speakers.
• Subwoofers: there are two outputs, so consider two — see our Subwoofers.
• Turntable: the MM stage is already in the box — see our Turntables.
• Cables: banana plugs or bare wire, not spades — see our Speaker Cables.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much power does the STEREO 70s make?

75 watts per channel into 8 ohms from 20Hz to 20kHz, or 100 watts per channel into 6 ohms at 1kHz.

How many HDMI inputs are there, and do they pass 8K?

Six inputs and one output. Three of the inputs pass 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz; the output supports eARC.

Can it drive surround speakers?

No. It is strictly two channels plus subwoofers, with no centre, surround or height outputs and no Dolby Atmos.

Will my spade-terminated speaker cables fit?

No. The terminals accept banana plugs and bare wire, so spades need adapters or a different cable.

Is it Roon Ready?

Yes, and it also works as an AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect endpoint, or through the HEOS app.

What is in the box?

The receiver, the RC-052SR remote, an AM/FM antenna set, the Wi-Fi antennas and a power cable.

See It in Action

Marantz introduces the STEREO 70s on its own channel:

And an independent listen from Darko Audio:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about stereo receivers, HDMI switching, or adding subwoofers to a two-channel system? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.