Movie-Mad Machine

This IMAX Enhanced AVR is a home cinema sensation, says Steve May

- Steve May

With a feature checklist as long as your arm, the SR6014 is the real-world star of Marantz’s 2019 AV receiver lineup. Positioned under the brand’s prestigious line of 'AV' class separates, yet within striking distance of ordinary mortals courtesy of its £1,250 price tag, it’s a home cinema hotshot that appears to offer everything.

For example, you don’t just get the standard immersive Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio codecs, there’s also Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization, DTS Virtual:X and IMAX Enhanced certification. It’s awash with clever usability.

Available in black or silver-gold, the design is classically Marantz, with a curved front fascia and dual knobs for input and volume control flanking a circular display window. This porthole may look cool, but its small size could prove problematic when viewing from a typical sofa distance.

The rear panel is better connected than Richard Branson’s LinkedIn profile. There are seven HDMI inputs, all user assignable and 4K HDCP 2.3-enabled. They’re partnered by a trio of HDMI outs, two of which can feed a TV and screen in a single room, with the third available for second-zone duties.

The HDMI board (v2.0) is well specified, handling 2,160/60p with 4:4:4 sub-sampling, Dolby Vision and HLG compatibility, and BT.2020 passthrough. Low-resolution sources can be upscaled to UHD if you'd rather not leave this to your display.

An eighth HDMI input is provided on the brushed aluminium front panel, behind a fascia trapdoor. It sits alongside a USB port, setup mic jack, analogue AV inputs and a full-size headphone output.