The Sound
Contents
The Marantz Model 30 is based on nCore. The Marantz Model 40n, however, is a “classic” Class A/B amplifier. And as you can see in the measurements, Marantz has delivered a well performing amplifier with a surprisingly clean character. The frequency response is good and runs pretty straight up to about 80,000 Hz. Very good. Where we sometimes had our doubts about matching a Marantz integrated model with a somewhat critical speaker, the Model 40n actually does quite well! In fact, it goes surprisingly well with the 805 D4 and Focal Sopra No1. We don’t hear any woolly bass or harshness. It all just sounds solid and in order. In fact, we prefer the Model 40n to the Yamaha A-S2200 when combined with the 805 D4. Who would have thought…
Digital or analog?
Now you can connect the Marantz Model 40n in numerous ways. We have both single ended connected to the Sonnet Pasithea and assessed via coax (from the Mutec MC3+). We also listened to some CDs via the Denon DCD A110. Purely for fun…
There is an audible difference – fortunately – between the Pasithea or the internal dac of the Marantz. We really prefer the analog input. We hear more space, detail and refinement. It all just feels a bit more real. Now the Sonnet is also ‘king of realism’, so we would rather be surprised if this was not the case.
The Marantz’s internal dac plays just fine, by the way, and many an enthusiast would miss nothing if they didn’t put a high-end dac next to it. What we hear when we switch is a bit fresher character (less deep bass and less warmth in the chest area) and a bit pointier in reproduction. It may seem a bit more detail-rich, but that’s a bit of a deception; the pasithea plays more layered than the internal dac. It should: the Sonnet costs 2.5 times the entire Marantz Model 40n.
Overall
Overall, the Marantz Model 40n has a fairly calm character. Marantz has always had that. However, the Model 40n offers enough body. Something we sometimes miss with integrated models in the midrange of Marantz. Think of the 7000N or 6000 series. The more spirited models (Ruby for example) do this better. And the Model 40n also delivers on that front. In short: very good!
i am very curious how it is going to sound with my Acoustic Energy AE509
anyone experience ?
Probably good! 🙂
i am very curious how it is going to sound with my Acoustic Energy AE509
anyone experience ?
Probably good! 🙂