Cinema Series 2: A Purpose-Built Family, Not a One-Size Box
The Marantz Cinema Series 2 is a next-generation family of AV receivers home theater builders can choose across multiple tiers, combining upgraded 32-bit digital-to-analog conversion, expanded connectivity, and installer-friendly tools into a unified, purpose-built lineup of next-gen audio receivers designed to scale from compact media rooms to fully dedicated cinemas. This is not a cosmetic refresh; it is the first major statement from Marantz since its acquisition by Harman, owned by Samsung, and it signals a brand trying to prove it can still lead rather than follow. You can hear that intent in the spec sheet: simultaneous high-resolution conversion on every channel, new room correction options, and gaming features that finally treat consoles like first-class citizens, not afterthoughts.
Flagship Cinema 50: The Serious Builder’s Default Choice
If you are designing a dedicated theater, the Cinema 50 Series 2 is the model Marantz clearly wants you to start from. It packs nine channels of home theater amplification at 110W per channel and offers 11.4 channels of processing, which means you can drive a full 7.1.4 Atmos layout with external amps as your room grows. The new 32-bit, eight-channel DAC platform feeds every channel at once for tighter imaging and more consistent dynamics across the room, reducing timing errors that used to blur effects and dialogue. It also stands out with Dirac Live Room Correction included, plus support for the broader Dirac ecosystem, including Bass Control and Active Room Treatment. In other words, this is the “no-excuses” brain and muscle for enthusiasts who want measurable, repeatable performance, not just a pretty face.
Cinema 60 and 60 DAB: The Sweet-Spot Workhorses
The Cinema 60 Series 2 sits in the middle, and that is exactly why it may be the most important model in the Marantz Cinema Series 2 lineup. With seven channels of amplification at 100W per channel, it is built for the classic 5.1.2 or 7.1 layouts that dominate real-world living rooms and multipurpose media spaces. You still get the same next-gen 32-bit DAC platform and access to Dirac Live as a paid upgrade, giving you a credible tuning path without forcing flagship spend. The 60 DAB flavor swaps in broadcast-friendly reception for markets that care, but the core proposition is the same: a mid-tier receiver that feels engineered, not compromised. In a world where many AV receivers home theater buyers face are cluttered and generic, the Cinema 60 is unapologetically focused on precise audio, updated HDMI 2.1 gaming support, and long-term system growth.
Cinema 70s: Slimline Without the Lightweight Sound
Entry-level in price does not mean entry-level in thinking, and the Cinema 70s Series 2 proves it. This slimline receiver carries seven channels of amplification at 50W per channel, but it runs the same upgraded DAC platform, HEOS streaming engine, and next-gen connectivity as its bigger siblings. That makes it ideal for compact living spaces or secondary rooms where you still care about coherent surround staging and modern gaming support, including 1440p pass-through and AMD FreeSync compatibility. The trade-off is raw muscle; this is not the unit for giant, inefficient speakers in cavernous rooms. Yet as a first step into purpose-built home theater amplification, it provides a clear, credible path into the ecosystem rather than a disposable starter box you will regret in two years.
Why This Lineup Matters Now—and What Comes Next
Marantz’s timing is not an accident. After being bought by Harman, itself owned by Samsung, the brand needed to prove it could innovate without losing its identity, and the Cinema Series 2 is their answer. The range adds low-latency Bluetooth LE Audio via future firmware, an upgraded HEOS platform for faster, multi-room streaming, and a new Web Control 2.0 interface that finally treats phones and laptops as primary controllers instead of afterthoughts. For installers, HDMI Diagnostics 2.0 and channel-level monitoring acknowledge that setup headaches are as critical as headline specs. According to Marantz, “CINEMA Series 2 offers a solution tailored to every environment,” from full theaters to compact living spaces. Availability begins in mid-August, with the Cinema 70s following in mid-September, and the message is clear: this is a family you can build around now and grow with over time.
