Adding an A/V receiver to your home entertainment set-up lets you control all your speakers, screens, and content sources through one centralized device. A high-end receiver like the Marantz SR5014 adds more than just convenience, enhancing the quality of the audio and video signals to optimize your entertainment experience.
In this Marantz SR5014 review, we’ll take a look at the individual specifications and features of this impressive home theater receiver so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your home. While it might be more receiver than you need in a smaller home, it’s definitely a great choice for large or complicated home theaters, with the smart features and high audio quality you want from a receiver. (>>> Check current price on Amazon)
Marantz SR5014 Review of Specifications:
| Marantz SR5014 | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Video | 4K/60Hz |
| Amplifier | 7.2 Channel (180W per channel) |
| Sound | 5.1 Dolby Atmos |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Price | Find on Amazon |
Installation and Ease of Use
The streamlined front panel of the Marantz SR5014 gives users easy access to all the features they’ll need without getting cluttered—not an easy balance to strike. The digital display makes viewing and changing settings easy, with convenient front-panel inputs for USB and HDMI, as well as a 3.5mm audio out for headphones, so you don’t need to pull the receiver off the shelf to plug in new devices.
The rear input panel might be a bit more overwhelming to A/V novices, though this is largely due to the receiver’s wide array of connection options. It’s intuitively laid-out and clearly labeled, and about as streamlined as it can be considering the plethora of inputs and outputs. The guided step-by-step set-up is helpful here, too, using the graphical interface on the front panel to help you connect all your speakers and devices.
From a design perspective, the height of the Marantz SR5014 could be an issue for smaller entertainment centers. It’s definitely aimed more at larger spaces and extensive systems, something reinforced by the size of the receiver and breadth of the rear panel.
Video Quality
All 8 of the HDMI inputs on the Marantz SR5014 have a 4K pass-through and 4K upscaling support. It supports all the latest video formats, too, including HLG and HDR10, with 4:4:4 Pure Color sampling and full 3D content capability. This signal integrity is maintained through the 2 HDMI outputs. No matter what video content sources you use, you’ll see content the way it was intended on your TV or projector.
Responsiveness is important in a home theater receiver, and the Marantz SR5014 fits that bill. Its Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) ensures no added signal delay or lag. Videos play smoothly with no blurring or frame tearing and it can even be used for gaming through the latest generation consoles.
Pros
- 3D sound with Dolby Height Virtualization
- Wide audio format support for truly cinema-quality sound
- 4K signal support with HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision
- Compatible with multiple voice control and home automation systems
- Supports AirPlay and HEOS multi-room music
- Versatile connectivity
Cons
- May be too tall to fit on some entertainment centers
- No 8K support
Audio Quality
With discrete amplifiers and 100 watts of power for each of its 7.2 channels, the Marantz SR5014 can perform well for home theater audio and listening to music, giving it a lot of versatility in a multi-use entertainment area.
Let’s start with the home theater performance. Just like its video signal support, this receiver is fully up to date on the latest audio formats. This includes DTS Virtual:X processing and Dolby Atmos technologies, such as their Height Virtualization. That means you can add overhead speakers for a truly immersive sound-scape.
Audiophiles will love the sound they get out of the Marantz SR5014. It produces a detailed and dynamic sound from all sources, with lossless decoding of WAV and FLAC files for more clarity, balance, and output. You can get that music from a lot of sources, too. Fully-analog listeners will appreciate the phono input for turntables. More tech-savvy music lovers can stream content directly to the receiver through services like Pandora or Spotify thanks to its wireless connectivity.
Smart Features
The Marantz SR5014 supports 3 voice control systems: Amazon Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and Google Assistant. It’s also compatible with Josh.ai for smart home integration and offers a wide range of voice control commands on each of these platforms. This makes it easy to integrate into existing smart home systems and gives it the capability to serve as a smart hub for entertainment throughout your home, especially since it supports HEOS multi-room music.
Marantz SR5014 Review: In Summary
Marantz receivers are known for their superior craftsmanship and extensive professional tuning. From an audio quality standpoint, the Marantz SR5014 is exceptional. Users who need a slim profile or 8K upscaling will need to look elsewhere, but for most homes, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better home theater receiver. (>>> Check on Amazon)
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING:
- Comparison of Marantz SR5015 vs. SR5014