Marantz has refreshed three of its popular Cinema Series AV receivers with a Series 2 update: the Cinema 50 Series 2, the Cinema 60 Series 2, and the space-saving Cinema 70s Series 2. Within this trio, the Cinema 50 Series 2 sits at the top, though it's worth noting the Cinema 30 remains the true flagship of Marantz's overall Cinema Series lineup. The Series 2 changes go well beyond a fresh coat of paint, touching the DAC architecture, room correction options, gaming support, and setup tools across all three updated models.
What's New Across Every Model
The headline upgrade is a new 32-bit, eight-channel DAC that processes every channel simultaneously rather than sequentially. Marantz says this tightens timing accuracy, sharpens stereo imaging, and delivers more coherent surround staging, especially during complex multichannel movie passages. It's paired with a new on-screen Channel Level Monitoring feature, so you can see in real time exactly what signal each speaker channel is receiving while you dial in a system.
Setup gets easier too, with a new Web Control 2.0 interface that lets installers and owners configure the receiver from a browser on a phone, tablet, or laptop, along with HDMI Diagnostics 2.0 for faster troubleshooting. Gamers benefit from native 1440p/120Hz passthrough and AMD FreeSync support on top of existing 4K/120Hz and HDMI 2.1 capability. The HEOS multi-room streaming platform has also been overhauled for a more responsive experience, and a future firmware update will add Low-Latency Bluetooth LE Audio for reduced wireless delay with compatible headphones and devices.
Cinema 50 Series 2 — Top of the Series 2 Range
The Cinema 50 Series 2 leads the Series 2 trio with 9 powered channels at 110 watts each and processing for up to 11.4 channels, making it a strong fit for larger, more ambitious home theaters with height speakers. It's the only model here that uses two of the new 8-channel DACs to handle all 15 channels of processing (11 full-range plus 4 subwoofer). It also gets a few exclusives the other two don't share: a new Dolby Atmos Channel Expander that intelligently uses all available speakers regardless of how the original content was encoded, a new Center Bi-Amp Mode for improved dialogue clarity, and access to the full Dirac Live suite, including Room Correction, Bass Control, and Active Room Treatment.
Cinema 60 Series 2 — The All-Rounder
The Cinema 60 Series 2 delivers 7 powered channels at 100 watts each with 7.2-channel processing, Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room correction out of the box, and the same upgraded DAC, HEOS platform, and gaming features found across the range. For the first time, Dirac Live Room Correction is available as an upgrade path on this model too, making it a compelling middle-ground pick for most dedicated media rooms.
Cinema 70s Series 2 — The Space Saver
Built for living rooms where cabinet space is tight, the Cinema 70s Series 2 keeps a slimline chassis while still packing 7 channels of amplification at 50 watts each, the new 32-bit DAC, Dolby Atmos decoding, HEOS streaming, and Dirac Live upgradeability. It's the ideal choice when you don't want to compromise on features just because you don't have room for a full-size chassis.
Bringing It All Together
Whether you're building out a dedicated cinema room around the Cinema 50 Series 2, upgrading an everyday media room with the Cinema 60 Series 2, or fitting serious sound into a tighter footprint with the Cinema 70s Series 2, Marantz has made meaningful upgrades to sound quality, setup, and future-proofing across the board. We'll have all three in-store as they roll out this fall — come by and hear the difference the new DAC architecture makes for yourself.