Marantz® Unveils Auro-3D® Upgrade Offer For Home Theater Receiver And Preamp/Processor SR7010 And AV7702mkII To Feature Next Generation Sound Format

March 29, 2016

Marantz, a world leader in advanced audio technologies, announces a unique upgrade offer to add the breathtaking three-dimensional audio format Auro-3D® to two of its premium home theater centers:  SR7010 premium network A/V receiver and the AV7702mkII network pre-processor . Expected to be available March 29, 2016 customers can purchase a firmware upgrade that will for the first time add Auro-3D® to these models. 

By fully immersing the listener in a cocoon of life-like sound, Auro-3D® creates the sensation of actually ‘being there’. Thanks to a unique configuration of ‘Height channels’, acoustic reflections are generated and heard naturally due to the fact that sounds originate from around as well as above the listener. Depending on the size of the room, either 1 or 2 additional layers (HEIGHT and TOP – a.k.a. “Voice of God” channel) with speakers are mounted above the existing Surround layer at ear-level to produce Auro-3D®’s defining ‘vertical Stereo field’. The height information, captured in recording or created during the mixing process, is encoded into a standard 5.1 PCM stream that comes with a regular Blu-ray and gets decoded via the Auro-Codec® decoder that comes with the upgrade.  Additionally, the Auro-Matic® upmixing engine allows existing collections of music and film soundtracks to be rendered in the acclaimed 3D sound.

“The Marantz philosophy is always to offer a sound experience that is second to none. By offering the Auro-3D® upgrade to existing proud Marantz owners, new layers of sound come forth, just like the artist intended it to sound,” adds Yoshinori Yamada, global business team leader audio and video at D+M Group.

“To see our Auro-3D® software available on such high-quality Marantz processors, is another step forward in providing the immersive experience to consumers everywhere. With audio being such a valuable component in today’s consumer electronics market, we are certain that our high-quality audio offering will be appreciated by many,” says Wilfried Van Baelen, CEO of Auro Technologies.

The Marantz upgrade service can easily be downloaded at home by owners of the SR7010 or AV7702mkII through the product’s built-in online feature upgrade function. More details to follow soon on the official Marantz website.

SR7010 9.2-channel Network A/V Receiver – Key Features ($2,199)
·      125 watts x 9 channels (8 ohms, 20-20kHz, THD:0.08%) discrete power amplifier
·      13.2-channel preamplifier outputs with 11.2-channel processing
·      Dolby Atmos® (up to 7.1.4 or 9.1.2 with additional amplifier)
·      Auro-3D® upgradeable (optional paid upgrade)
·      DTS:X™ ready (via firmware update releasing in March 2016)
·      Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® built-in
·      High quality 192kHz/32-bit D/A converters for all channels
·      7+1 front HDMI in / 3 HDMI out (4k 60Hz, 3D, ARC, HDR, BT2020)
·      Full HDCP 2.2 support on all inputs and outputs
·      Current Feedback circuitry with Marantz’s new HDAM
·      Audyssey MultEQ™ XT32, LFC, Sub EQ HT, Pro ready
·      Latest HDMI 2.0a with 4k 60Hz 4:4:4 resolution
·      Advanced Video Processing with HDMI scaling up to 1080p, 4k 50/60 Hz
·      MP3, WAV, AAC, WMA, AIFF
·      High resolution audio streaming: FLAC 192/24, DSD, ALAC
·      Gapless Playback
·      Spotify Connect®, Pandora®, SiriusXM™ (where available), Internet Radio support, AirPlay® on board
·      Phono (MM) input
·      Setup Assistant and Advanced GUI
·      Zone 3 audio
·      ISF Certified
·      Crestron Connected Certified
·      Full-size trapdoor with additional 2-lines FL display
·      Blue LED Marantz porthole 
·      Marantz 2016 AVR Remote App for iOS and Android™ devices
·      ECO mode
·      Universal LCD remote control
·      Available in black

AV7702mkII Multi-channel Network A/V Pre-amplifier – Main features ($2,199)
·      Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built-in
·      Latest HDMI 2.0a with 4k 60Hz 4:4:4 resolution
·      7+1 front HDMI in / 3 HDMI out (4k 60Hz, 3D, ARC, HDR, BT.2020)
·      Full HDCP 2.2 support on all inputs and outputs
·      Advanced Video Processing with HDMI scaling up to 1080p, 4k 50/60 Hz
·      Dolby Atmos upgradable (optional paid upgrade)
·      DTS:X ready (via firmware update releasing in March 2016)
·      Auro-3D upgradeable (optional paid upgrade)
·      Audyssey MultEQ XT32, Sub EQ HT, LFC, Pro ready
·      Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Dynamic Volume
·      Spotify Connect, Pandora, SiriusXM (where available), Internet Radio support, AirPlay on board
·      MP3, WAV, AAC, WMA, AIFF
·      High resolution audio streaming: FLAC 192/24, DSD, ALAC
·      Gapless Playback
·      11.2ch XLR pre-out, 13.2ch RCA pre-out
·      High quality dedicated preamplifier board with HDAM for high resolution audio reproduction
·      Power supply for preamplifier stage with audiophile grade ELNA capacitors
·      Extended shielding to minimize interference
·      High quality 192kHz/32-bit D/A converters for all channels
·      Phono (MM) input
·      Setup Assistant and Advanced GUI
·      Zone 3 audio
·      ISF Certified
·      Crestron Connected Certified
·      Full-size trapdoor with additional 2-lines FL display
·      Blue LED Marantz porthole 
·      Marantz 2016 AVR Remote App for iOS and Android™ devices
·      Available in black