Marantz CINEMA 70s SERIES 2 Review: The Slimline AV Receiver That Delivers Full-Size Cinematic Feeling

If you have ever wanted genuine Dolby Atmos immersion, high-resolution music streaming and next-generation gaming connectivity, but your cabinetry just won't swallow a full-height receiver, this Marantz CINEMA 70s SERIES 2 Review is for you. Marantz's tagline is 'Stop Watching. Start Feeling.', and the CINEMA 70s SERIES 2 earns it. This 7.2-channel slimline AV receiver packs seven discrete power amplifiers, an upgraded 32-bit 8-channel DAC, six HDMI 2.1 inputs with eARC, HEOS multi-room streaming, Roon Ready certification and Dirac Live upgradability into a chassis just 109mm tall. Here's why we think it's one of the most compelling compact home theatre hubs available today.

Marantz CINEMA 70s SERIES 2 at a Glance

• 7.2-channel slimline AV receiver with 7 discrete power amplifiers
• 50W per channel (8Ω, 20Hz–20kHz, 0.08% THD, 2ch driven) and 70W (6Ω, 1kHz, 0.7% THD, 2ch driven)
• Upgraded 32-bit 8-channel DAC with Sound Master tuned performance
• Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Atmos Height Virtualisation, Atmos Music, DTS:X, DTS Neural:X, DTS Virtual:X and DTS-HD
• Audyssey MultEQ XT room correction as standard, with Dirac Live upgradability
• 6 × HDMI 2.1 inputs with HDCP 2.3, 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz support, plus 1 × HDMI output with eARC
• HEOS multi-room, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect and Roon Ready
• Moving Magnet phono input, 7.2 pre-outs and dual subwoofer outputs
• Dimensions: 442 × 384 × 109mm (W × D × H, antenna horizontal), weight 8.7kg
• Available in Black and Silver Gold

Design and Build: Marantz Elegance in a Low-Profile Form

Marantz has always understood that a component should look as considered as it sounds, and the CINEMA 70s SERIES 2 continues that tradition. The signature porthole OLED display sits centre stage on a clean, symmetrical fascia, giving it a distinctly premium presence that suits a modern living room as comfortably as a dedicated media room. At 109mm high, it slots into AV furniture and shelving where a conventional full-size receiver simply wouldn't fit, making it ideal for apartments, townhouses, bedrooms and secondary living spaces.

The Silver Gold finish deserves special mention. It's a warm, classic Marantz look that pairs beautifully with timber cabinetry and heritage-style hi-fi components, while the Black finish disappears discreetly beneath a large-screen television. Weighing 8.7kg, the unit feels solid and reassuringly well put together, with an EI power transformer feeding its discrete amplification stages.

Sound Quality: The Marantz Signature, Refined

Upgraded 32-Bit 8-Channel DAC

At the heart of this receiver is a newly upgraded, high-performance 32-bit 8-channel DAC. Digital-to-analogue conversion is where so much of an AV receiver's character is decided, and Marantz's upgrade here is focused squarely on clarity, resolution and dynamic range. Combined with carefully selected componentry and Sound Master tuning, the result is the hallmark Marantz presentation: musical, refined and emotionally engaging, with a sense of warmth that never tips into softness.

Dialogue benefits enormously. Centre-channel intelligibility is something we're always listening for, and a high-quality conversion stage helps voices sit naturally and clearly anchored to the screen, even when an action sequence is erupting around them. With music, that same resolution translates into finer micro-detail, better instrument separation and a more convincing soundstage.

Seven Discrete Power Amplifiers

The CINEMA 70s SERIES 2 uses seven discrete power amplifiers rated at 50W per channel into 8Ω across the full 20Hz–20kHz band at 0.08% THD (two channels driven), or 70W into 6Ω (1kHz, 0.7% THD, two channels driven). That 8Ω full-bandwidth rating is a meaningful, conservative figure, and in a typical small-to-medium Australian lounge or media room paired with sensibly efficient speakers, it provides confident, authoritative control. If you want help matching speakers to the amplifier's strengths, that's exactly the kind of conversation our team loves having, so give us a call on 1300 308 711.

Pure Direct and MDAX2

For critical stereo listening, Pure Direct mode strips the signal path back to its essentials, bypassing unnecessary processing so your music arrives with maximum purity. On the other end of the spectrum, the MDAX2 Compressed Audio Enhancer works to restore some of the life and air lost in lossy formats, which is handy for casual streaming and Bluetooth sources.

Immersive Surround: Dolby Atmos and DTS:X

With 7.1 processing channels and seven amplified channels, the CINEMA 70s SERIES 2 can drive configurations such as a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos layout with overhead or elevation speakers, placing effects precisely in three-dimensional space around and above the listener. Format support is comprehensive:

• Dolby: Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, Atmos Height Virtualisation, Atmos Music and Dolby Surround upmixing
• DTS: DTS-HD, DTS:X, DTS Neural:X upmixing and DTS Virtual:X
• Multichannel Stereo for party-style, all-speaker music playback

Atmos Height Virtualisation and DTS Virtual:X are particularly valuable for those who can't install height speakers. They allow the receiver to create a convincing sense of vertical and expanded immersion from a conventional speaker layout, which is a genuine win for renters and anyone living with architectural constraints.

Room Correction: Audyssey MultEQ XT Today, Dirac Live Tomorrow

Every room has its acoustic quirks, and room correction is one of the most significant upgrades you can make to any system. Out of the box, the CINEMA 70s SERIES 2 includes Audyssey MultEQ XT with the supplied measurement microphone, automatically optimising speaker levels, distances and equalisation. Audyssey Dynamic EQ preserves tonal balance at lower listening levels, perfect for late-night viewing, while Dynamic Volume tames jarring jumps between quiet scenes and loud advertisements.

For those who demand the finest calibration, the receiver is Dirac Live upgradeable. Dirac Live is widely regarded as one of the most sophisticated room correction platforms available, and having that upgrade path on a slimline receiver is a serious statement of intent from Marantz. If you're weighing up whether Dirac Live is right for your room, speak with our team, as we're happy to talk you through the benefits.

HDMI 2.1 Connectivity: Ready for 8K, Gaming and Beyond

The video side of the CINEMA 70s SERIES 2 is thoroughly modern. There are six rear HDMI 2.1 inputs with HDCP 2.3, three of which support full 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz pass-through at up to 40Gbps, alongside one HDMI output with eARC and ARC.

• Gaming: Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) pass-through, Quick Frame Transport (QFT) and AMD FreeSync compatibility (HDMI 4–6). This is ideal for current-generation consoles and gaming PCs.
• HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG and Dynamic HDR pass-through for the best possible picture from streaming services and disc.
• Scaling: 1080p and 4K to 8K upscaling.
• Convenience: CEC, Auto LipSync, 3D and HDMI pass-through in standby, plus HDMI Diagnostics.

eARC is a big deal in modern systems. It means lossless and object-based audio from your smart TV's built-in apps can travel back to the receiver in full quality, so you get the complete Dolby Atmos experience from streaming services without compromise.

Analogue and Legacy Connections: Vinyl Lovers Welcome

Marantz hasn't forgotten its hi-fi heritage. A built-in Moving Magnet phono stage means you can connect a turntable directly, and three analogue stereo RCA inputs welcome CD players, tape decks and other sources. There's also one optical and one coaxial digital input, a front-panel USB input, rear USB power supply and an AM/FM tuner.

Crucially for future-proofing, the receiver offers full 7.2 multichannel pre-amp outputs. Should you ever wish to add dedicated external power amplification, the CINEMA 70s SERIES 2 can serve as a capable preamp-processor at the heart of a larger system. Two subwoofer outputs provide flexible bass management, helping smooth low-frequency response across the listening area. Seven gold-plated screw speaker terminals with bi-amp and Speaker A/B assignability round out a genuinely comprehensive connectivity picture.

HEOS Multi-Room Streaming and Roon Ready

The CINEMA 70s SERIES 2 is as much a high-resolution music streamer as it is a home theatre engine. Built-in HEOS turns it into the hub of a whole-home audio network, with support for:

• AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect and Qobuz Connect
• Amazon Music HD, Deezer, Pandora, SiriusXM, iHeart Radio, SoundCloud, Mood Mix and TuneIn Internet Radio
• Roon Ready certification for seamless integration into a Roon ecosystem
• Lossless FLAC, WAV and ALAC up to 192kHz/24-bit, plus DSD at 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz
• Gapless playback (FLAC, WAV, ALAC, DSD), essential for live albums and classical works

Two-zone multi-room capability allows independent source selection, with HDMI, optical/coaxial, network, USB and analogue sources all assignable to Zone 2 via speaker or pre-out. Bluetooth re-transmit lets you send audio to wireless headphones, perfect for late-night viewing without disturbing the household. Connectivity is covered by dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet and Bluetooth.

Setup, Control and Custom Integration

Setup is guided and intuitive, thanks to the on-screen Setup Assistant and Modern HD GUI. Smart Select shortcuts let you recall favourite sources and settings instantly, while the Marantz AVR Remote and HEOS apps give full control from iOS, Android and Amazon Kindle devices. The supplied RC055SR remote handles everything else.

For custom installers and smart home enthusiasts, IP control, web control, IR Flasher input, Marantz Remote Bus and a DC trigger output make integration straightforward. Firmware updates can be performed via network or USB, and practical features like ECO Mode, Auto Power Off and Sleep Timer help keep energy use in check, with standby consumption of just 0.2W.

Who Is the Marantz CINEMA 70s SERIES 2 For?

• Space-conscious home theatre fans who want genuine Dolby Atmos and DTS:X without a bulky full-height receiver.
• Music lovers who value the Marantz sound and want high-resolution streaming, Roon Ready support and a built-in phono stage for vinyl.
• Gamers who need 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM and FreeSync pass-through for current-generation consoles and PCs.
• Upgraders moving from a soundbar to a proper separate-speaker system, with room to grow via pre-outs and Dirac Live.
• Smart home and multi-room households wanting a single, elegant hub that integrates with HEOS and custom control systems.

Not sure whether it's the right fit for your room or speakers? Our team (Gabby, Nathan, Vaughan and Stuart) can help tailor a system around your space, preferences and budget. Reach us on 1300 308 711 or at sales@theaudiotailor.com.au.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Slimline 109mm chassis fits where full-size receivers can't
• Upgraded 32-bit 8-channel DAC with Sound Master tuning delivers the refined, musical Marantz sound
• Seven discrete power amplifiers with a conservative 50W full-bandwidth 8Ω rating
• Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and height virtualisation for immersive sound in any room
• Audyssey MultEQ XT included, with Dirac Live upgradability for elite-level room correction
• Six HDMI 2.1 inputs with 8K/60Hz, 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, FreeSync, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and eARC
• HEOS, AirPlay 2, Spotify, TIDAL and Qobuz Connect plus Roon Ready with hi-res and DSD support
• Built-in MM phono stage for vinyl enthusiasts
• 7.2 pre-outs and dual subwoofer outputs for future expansion
• Comprehensive custom-install features: IP control, IR Flasher, Remote Bus and DC trigger
• Gorgeous Black or Silver Gold finishes with the iconic porthole OLED display

Cons

• 7.1 processing ceiling means larger 7.1.4-style layouts will require a step up the Marantz range
• Dirac Live is an optional upgrade rather than included out of the box, though Audyssey MultEQ XT is a highly capable starting point
• No front-panel HDMI input, a small trade-off for that clean, elegant fascia

In the Box

• Main unit
• Remote control (RC055SR) with batteries
• AM/FM antennas (2 × external detachable)
• Audyssey microphone with cardboard stand
• Wire labels
• Quick start guide
• AC cord

The Verdict: Big-Screen Emotion, Small-Footprint Brilliance

The Marantz CINEMA 70s SERIES 2 proves that a compact receiver doesn't have to mean a compromised one. It brings together the warm, articulate Marantz sound, a newly upgraded 32-bit DAC, genuine Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersion, cutting-edge HDMI 2.1 gaming and video features, and one of the most complete streaming platforms on the market, all in a beautifully finished slimline chassis. With Dirac Live upgradability and 7.2 pre-outs, it's also a receiver that can grow with you.

For anyone building a stylish, high-performance home theatre in a smaller space, or simply wanting a single elegant box to handle movies, music and gaming with true audiophile flair, the CINEMA 70s SERIES 2 is a superb choice. It really does make you stop watching and start feeling.

Ready to take the next step? Explore the Marantz CINEMA 70s SERIES 2 7.2-Channel Slimline AV Receiver on our website, or have a chat with our award-winning team at The Audio Tailor. Call us on 1300 308 711, email sales@theaudiotailor.com.au, or visit us at Unit 9/20 Rivergate Place, Murarrie, QLD 4172. We ship nationwide and we'll help you build the perfect system for your space.