Marantz CINEMA Series 2 Introduction

Marantz has spent the past several years redefining what a premium home audio component should look and sound like. The company recently expanded its two channel lineup with the new MODEL 70 integrated amplifier and CD 70 CD player, bringing its latest industrial design and engineering philosophy to two channel enthusiasts. Now, Marantz is applying that same evolutionary approach to home theater with the introduction of its CINEMA Series 2 AV receivers.

Ever since Marantz introduced its redesigned CINEMA Series, the company has steadily refined one of the industry's most elegant and musically engaging AVR families. From the flagship CINEMA 30 and CINEMA 40 to the popular CINEMA 50, CINEMA 60, and slimline CINEMA 70s, the lineup has combined premium industrial design with the company's signature warm sound, robust HDMI 2.1 connectivity, immersive audio support, and optional Dirac Live room correction on select models.

Rather than replacing its flagship receivers, Marantz is now refreshing the heart of its home theater lineup with the new CINEMA Series 2 family. The updated lineup includes the CINEMA 50 Series 2, CINEMA 60 Series 2, CINEMA 60 DAB Series 2 for Europe, and the CINEMA 70s Series 2. Building upon the award winning platform introduced several years ago, the Series 2 models incorporate meaningful upgrades to digital audio processing, gaming compatibility, streaming performance, and custom installation features while leaving the CINEMA 30 and CINEMA 40 firmly positioned as Marantz's flagship integrated AV receivers.

The Series 2 refresh is less about reinventing the platform and more about refining it in ways that should benefit both movie enthusiasts and music lovers. Every new receiver in the lineup features an updated digital audio architecture anchored by a new 32 bit, eight channel DAC, while expanded Dirac Live compatibility, improved gaming support, upgraded HEOS functionality, and enhanced custom installation tools bring meaningful improvements to day to day performance and usability. Marantz has also preserved one of the defining strengths of the CINEMA lineup by continuing to offer full channel preamp outputs across the family, giving users the flexibility to add external amplification as their systems grow.

What's New with Marantz CINEMA Series 2?

While the exterior design remains unmistakably Marantz, the real story lies beneath the chassis. The company has introduced a collection of hardware and software enhancements that touch nearly every aspect of the listening experience, from digital signal processing to gaming performance and system setup.

Rather than redesigning the platform from scratch, Marantz chose to evolve an already successful product family. That should come as welcome news for existing Marantz owners, many of whom appreciated the original CINEMA Series for its combination of elegant industrial design, intuitive setup, and musical presentation.

 The most significant engineering upgrades in the new lineup are found in the CINEMA 40 and CINEMA 50 Series 2 models. Both receivers receive a new 32-bit, eight-channel DAC architecture that provides dedicated simultaneous high-resolution conversion across every audio channel. According to Marantz, this design reduces timing errors while simplifying the signal path for improved precision, imaging, dynamic expression, and overall surround coherence. The HDMI platform has also been updated to add 1440p video pass-through and AMD FreeSync support, improving compatibility with modern gaming PCs and displays.

The CINEMA 50 Series 2 goes a step further with updated power supply capacitors, while its amplifier topology and power transformers remain largely unchanged. Rather than redesigning the amplifier section, Marantz appears to have focused on refining supporting circuitry and component quality while preserving the proven foundation of the original design.

These hardware changes represent some of the most meaningful improvements in the Series 2 announcement. Modern immersive soundtracks rely on precise timing and seamless integration between every speaker in the room. By converting all channels simultaneously instead of relying on more traditional approaches, Marantz aims to improve channel matching and surround cohesion while maintaining the musical character for which the brand is known. According to Marantz, the result is "greater precision, improved imaging, enhanced dynamic expression and more coherent surround performance throughout the listening environment."

Of course, digital conversion is only one piece of the puzzle. Marantz notes that every Series 2 receiver continues to be meticulously tuned by the company's Sound Master, preserving what it calls the Signature Marantz Sound, characterized by a warm, spacious, and highly musical presentation. While those qualities will ultimately need to be verified in a full review, it's encouraging to see Marantz complement careful analog tuning with targeted hardware refinements instead of making changes for their own sake.

Dirac Live Support for Room Correction

Perhaps the most significant feature upgrade for home theater enthusiasts is the expansion of Dirac Live compatibility across the CINEMA Series lineup.

Previously reserved for higher tier models, optional Dirac Live Room Correction is now available on the CINEMA 60 Series 2, CINEMA 60 DAB Series 2, and CINEMA 70s Series 2, dramatically broadening access to one of the industry's most respected room correction platforms. The CINEMA 50 Series 2 continues to offer the full Dirac ecosystem, including Dirac Live Room Correction, Dirac Live Bass Control, and Dirac Live Active Room Treatment (ART).

For many enthusiasts, this may prove to be the most valuable enhancement in the entire Series 2 refresh.

Even the finest loudspeakers can only perform as well as the room allows, and room acoustics often have a greater impact on sound quality than upgrading electronics alone. By making Dirac Live available on more affordable receivers, Marantz gives users a powerful upgrade path that can significantly improve bass integration, imaging precision, tonal balance, and overall listening consistency without requiring external processors.

That philosophy also aligns well with Audioholics' long standing recommendation that proper room correction and speaker placement often deliver larger audible improvements than simply chasing more amplifier power.

The expanded Dirac support also creates clearer differentiation within the lineup. Users seeking the most advanced room optimization capabilities will still gravitate toward the CINEMA 50 Series 2, while buyers considering the CINEMA 60 Series 2 or CINEMA 70s Series 2 now gain access to professional grade room correction that previously required moving further up the product ladder. For many buyers assembling their first serious home theater, that could make the CINEMA 60 Series 2 one of the most compelling values in Marantz's current receiver lineup.

Marantz CINEMA 50 Series 2 Leads the Series 2 Family

The CINEMA 50 Series 2 sits at the top of Marantz's refreshed Series 2 lineup, bringing together the company's latest platform enhancements with several premium features reserved exclusively for its highest performing midrange receiver. While the flagship CINEMA 30 and CINEMA 40 remain the company's reference integrated AV receivers, the CINEMA 50 Series 2 inherits many of the technologies that have made those models so compelling while introducing several new capabilities of its own.

For enthusiasts building a dedicated home theater, the CINEMA 50 Series 2 offers nine channels of onboard amplification with support for up to 11.4 channels of processing, providing ample flexibility for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro 3D speaker layouts. Like its predecessor, the receiver continues to support full channel preamp outputs, allowing owners to incorporate external amplification as their systems grow without replacing the receiver itself.

New Feature: Dolby Atmos Channel Expander

The headline upgrade exclusive to the CINEMA 50 Series 2 is the addition of Dolby Atmos Channel Expander. Designed to make better use of larger speaker layouts, the feature intelligently utilizes all available speakers when playing compatible channel based Dolby Atmos content, creating a more enveloping sound field for systems equipped with additional height and surround speakers. While we'll reserve judgment until we can evaluate the feature in a full review, it represents another step toward maximizing the performance of immersive speaker layouts.

Marantz has also introduced Center Bi Amp Mode, allowing compatible speakers to dedicate separate amplifier channels to the high and low frequency sections of the center speaker. Dialogue remains one of the most critical aspects of any home theater system, and giving enthusiasts another tool to optimize center channel performance is a welcome addition. Users who have invested in premium center speakers capable of bi amplification may find this feature particularly appealing.

Beyond those exclusive features, the CINEMA 50 Series 2 benefits from every platform enhancement introduced across the Series 2 family, including the new simultaneous eight channel DAC architecture, upgraded HEOS streaming platform, expanded gaming compatibility, and enhanced Web Control 2.0 interface. Professional installers will also appreciate HDMI Diagnostics 2.0 and Channel Level Monitoring, both of which simplify setup and troubleshooting during installation.

For owners of the original CINEMA 50, the improvements may appear evolutionary rather than revolutionary. However, taken together, the new DAC implementation, expanded gaming support, installer enhancements, and Cinema 50 exclusive features create a meaningful refinement of an already capable receiver. Buyers entering the Marantz ecosystem for the first time will find one of the most fully featured AV receivers currently available in its class.

Marantz CINEMA 60 Series 2 Brings Premium Features to a Wider Audience

While the CINEMA 50 Series 2 showcases the full capabilities of Marantz's latest platform, the new CINEMA 60 Series 2 may ultimately become the volume seller of the lineup. It delivers many of the same core improvements introduced across the Series 2 family while reaching a significantly more accessible price point, making it an attractive option for enthusiasts seeking premium performance without stepping into flagship territory.

Perhaps the biggest news is the addition of Dirac Live Ready support. Previous generations required moving higher up the product range to access Dirac's advanced room correction capabilities. By extending optional Dirac Live compatibility to the CINEMA 60 Series 2, Marantz has made one of the industry's most respected room correction platforms available to a much broader audience.

The receiver also benefits from the new DAC architecture, upgraded HEOS platform, future Bluetooth LE Audio support, and enhanced gaming compatibility, including 1440p video passthrough and AMD FreeSync support. Those improvements make the CINEMA 60 Series 2 a well rounded choice for users whose systems serve equally as movie rooms and gaming spaces.

From an enthusiast's perspective, the CINEMA 60 Series 2 arguably represents one of the most balanced receivers in Marantz's current lineup. It incorporates many of the technologies introduced on the higher tier models while maintaining a price point that will likely appeal to a much broader audience.

Marantz CINEMA 70s Series 2 Delivers Big Features in a Slim Package

Not every home theater has room for a full size AV receiver. Whether it's a media cabinet with limited ventilation, a family room where aesthetics matter, or a multi purpose living space, the slimline CINEMA 70s Series 2 continues to fill a niche that few manufacturers still address.

Rather than treating the CINEMA 70s Series 2 as an entry level compromise, Marantz has equipped its compact receiver with many of the same platform enhancements found throughout the rest of the Series 2 family. That means buyers still benefit from the new 32 bit, eight channel DAC architecture, upgraded HEOS platform, enhanced gaming capabilities, and expanded connectivity despite the receiver's smaller footprint.

One of the biggest upgrades is the addition of optional Dirac Live Room Correction, making the slimline receiver considerably more appealing to enthusiasts than previous generations. Combined with full channel preamp outputs, the CINEMA 70s Series 2 offers an upgrade path that extends well beyond what most buyers would expect from a compact AV receiver.

While it naturally isn't intended to power the largest dedicated theaters, the CINEMA 70s Series 2 should prove to be an excellent choice for smaller surround sound systems, media rooms, apartments, and installations where space is limited but premium features remain a priority.

Model	Amplifier Channels	Processing	Dirac Live	MSRP
CINEMA 50 Series 2	9	11.4	Yes, including Bass Control & ART	$3,000
CINEMA 60 Series 2	7	7.2	Optional	$2,000
CINEMA 70s Series 2	7 (Slimline)	7.2	Optional	$1,500

Looking across the lineup, Marantz has done a nice job differentiating each receiver without making buyers feel like they're sacrificing core performance by choosing a lower priced model. Every receiver benefits from the new DAC architecture, upgraded HEOS platform, enhanced gaming support, and improved installation features. The primary differences come down to amplification, processing capability, and the advanced features reserved for the CINEMA 50 Series 2.

Marantz CINEMA Series 2: Pricing and Availability

The Marantz CINEMA Series 2 receivers are scheduled to begin shipping through authorized Marantz dealers on August 12, 2026, with the exception of the slimline CINEMA 70s Series 2, which is expected to arrive on September 15, 2026.

Pricing is as follows:

CINEMA 50 Series 2: $3,000 USD

CINEMA 60 Series 2: $2,000 USD

CINEMA 70s Series 2: $1,500 USD

European customers will also have access to the CINEMA 60 DAB Series 2, which adds integrated DAB radio functionality and is not planned for North America.

Marantz CINEMA Series 2: What We Think

Rather than chasing headline grabbing specifications or redesigning an already successful platform, Marantz has taken a more thoughtful approach with the CINEMA Series 2. The company focused on refining the features that matter most to enthusiasts, including improved digital audio processing, expanded room correction options, better gaming compatibility, and enhanced installation tools.

Perhaps the most important takeaway is that Marantz resisted the temptation to blur the lines within its own product lineup. The flagship CINEMA 30 and CINEMA 40 remain at the top of the family, while the new Series 2 receivers strengthen the middle of the lineup with meaningful improvements that should appeal to a broad range of home theater enthusiasts.

The addition of Dirac Live support to the CINEMA 60 Series 2 and CINEMA 70s Series 2 is arguably the biggest story here, bringing one of the industry's most respected room correction platforms to more affordable receivers. Meanwhile, the CINEMA 50 Series 2 gains enough exclusive features to justify its position as the premium model within the refreshed family.

On paper, the CINEMA Series 2 appears to be less about flashy marketing features and more about making an already excellent receiver lineup even better. Of course, we'll reserve final judgment until we have an opportunity to put these receivers through their paces in our own listening room and test bench. Based on what Marantz has announced, however, the CINEMA Series 2 looks like a smart evolution of one of the most well rounded AVR families currently available. 

We'll be looking forward to getting the CINEMA Series 2 receivers into our listening room for a full Audioholics review to see how these improvements translate into real world performance. 

Stay tuned.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.