Since the 1920s, home entertainment is already a part of our lives. From radio broadcasting to television to today’s digital advancements, the home entertainment system still exists.
Two of the renowned brands producing quality home entertainment products are now trying to compete which is better; Denon or Marantz?
Denon is one of the largest manufacturers of home entertainment products and is known for its high quality. The company started in 1910, producing the first vinyl recorders and the first stereos for the Japanese market. Since then, the company has been keeping up with technological advancements and trends.
On the other hand, Marantz is an American-Japanese manufacturer specializing in Hi-Fi and home theatre equipment. Since it was founded in 1951, the company has become synonymous with exceptional sound quality for discerning home cineastes and sound aesthetes. Marantz’s products are known for their reliability and wide range of functions, but they are pretty pricey.
Let’s get into some more technical details to compare the two.
Sound Quality
Denon
Denon is one of the more popular brands in the home theatre equipment industry. Denon offers AV receivers, soundbars, amplifiers, speakers, headphones, etc., from entry-level to high-end. The brand is known to produce good sound for what it’s worth.
An example of a product that embodies Denon’s excellent sound quality is its flagship headphone, the Denon AH-D9200. It produces a well-balanced sound with mid-range energy, its lows have depth, and its high frequencies are not harsh and pleasing to listen to. It also uses a natural dampening Japanese Bamboo wood housing that produces a natural, detailed sound that rivals a concert hall.
Denon is known for its quality AV receivers at a low price. Their entry-level, the Denon AVR-S540BT, fits the bill. It provides well-balanced frequencies without a palpable dip in the mid and low frequencies. The Denon AVR-S540BT is clear and precise when it comes to dialogues in movies.
Denon has been a household name, especially for home entertainment audio, and their products are a testament to that. Sound quality is always never an issue for a Denon product.
Marantz
Marantz has been one of the best manufacturers of home entertainment equipment until now. The brand is an audiophile-approved brand, which is a testament to its dedication to producing quality sound.
If you are looking for a mid-level AV receiver that is comparable to high-tier products, then maybe the Marantz SR6015 is what you are looking for. It provides an ideal balance of sound and complete darkening. It is equipped with mixing technologies that can mix simple stereo audio tracks into full immersive surround sound.
The Marantz PM8006 is also an excellent integrated amplifier that’s worth checking out. If you are unaware, this isn’t the same as a receiver. You can read more about the differences between a receiver and an amplifier here.
If you are looking for a high-tier integrated amplifier that is audiophile-approved, the Marantz Model 30 is a great option. It is an excellent-sounding integrated amplifier with no significant flaws. Its midrange is very dynamic without ever becoming brash, and its bass is tight and powerful. This is really what you should expect from a high-level integrated amplifier.
Marantz has always aimed for superior sound quality, and each of their product goes through extensive sound tuning by their sound masters. For the price you are paying, their products will never fail you.
Build Quality
Denon
Denon’s build quality has been decent throughout the years. Although its build quality is not on par with other popular brands, it can still take a beating and last for a very long time.
If you are looking for an affordable but solidly built wireless speaker, Denon Home 150 is a reliable option. The Denon Home 150 has a squared-off body wrapped in charcoal or light grey fabric that is stain and water-resistant and has light-up touch controls on the top. Having a water-resistant feature is an excellent option for its price point.
Its AV receivers can also stand the test of time. The Denon AVC-X3700H‘s built is impressive. Its big round dials offer just enough resistance to satisfy without being harsh. It is a testament to the Denon AVC-X3700H’s excellent build.
All of its AV receivers may not receive the best aesthetics award, but in terms of quality and internal components, we get the famous Denon treatment.
Denon products are known for their affordability and value-for-money prices, but they are all built with robust quality and sturdy enough to last for a very long time.
Marantz
Marantz has always been manufacturing high-quality audio products that you can trust to work for a very long time. All their build quality will not fail you from their entry-level to highest-tier products.
Their cheapest integrated amplifier, the Marantz PM6007, has an impressive build for its price. Its front panel is made of high-quality aluminum. Its two big rotary knobs give the user great control. The Marantz PM6007 is well-constructed, and its internal components are top-notch.
When it comes to the quality-build AV receivers, the Marantz SR5015 is a great option, even if it is only the Marantz’s entry-level AV receiver. Its front panel comes with a glossy black finish and has a clean design, and its size allows you to place it on the shelf or the floor. The internal components used are on-par with other high-tier AV receivers.
All of Marantz’s manufactured products have a superior build quality and are expected to work for a long time. That is all that you expect in a high-quality brand like Marantz.
Connections
Denon
Studying AV Receivers is really one of the best ways to determine how well the companies create their products connectivity-wise.
The Denon AVR-X3700H, a mid-level AV Receiver from Denon, results from the company’s superior technology in connectivity options.
The Denon AVR-X3700H features discrete high-current amplifiers on all channels. It delivers high-power performance at 105 Watts RMS per channel (8 ohms, 20Hz – 20kHz, THD: 0.08%, two channels driven) to ensure a powerful and precise entertainment experience every time.
It has 7 HDMI inputs and 3 HDMI outputs (2 main, 1 zone) which is pretty important in terms of future-proofing. Two of the HDMI outputs support 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz formats. Its HDMI ports support HDR10+, Dynamic HDR, and Quick Media Switching, allowing a source to switch resolution or frame rate to eliminate screen blackout instantly.
The Denon AVR-X3700H is equipped with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HEOS, and Apple AirPlay 2 built-in to connect with your compatible smart devices wirelessly.
You can control the Denon AVR-X3700H hands-free with your Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Siri, or Josh.ai ecosystem. It lets you adjust the volume, skip to the next track, switch inputs between your different connected media players, and more.
Amazon gave an average score of 4.6 stars out of 5 stars for the totality of the product but was only given a score of 3.7 stars out of 5 stars for its ease of use.
Denon has impressive connectivity options in its products, whether it’s the cheapest or their most expensive product. For the price you will pay for a Denon product, it will be an excellent investment for you.
Marantz
An excellent product to compare with the Denon AVR-X3700H is the Marantz SR6015, as both are mid-tier AV receivers.
The Marantz SR6015 delivers 110W of power per channel (8 Ohm, 20Hz-20kHz, THD: 0.08%, 2channel drive) with discrete high-current power amplifiers on all channels).
The Marantz SR6015 includes 7 HDMI inputs and three outputs and has one dedicated 8K input supports that 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz pass-through capability.
The Marantz SR6015 also supports the latest surround formats, including Dolby Atmos®, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization Technology, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X, and IMAX Enhanced.
One of the best features of the Marantz SR6015 is its built-in system that is no other than the Audyssey MultEQ XT32 variant, which is the most advanced Marantz offers in their units. It allows you to calibrate the best setting for your entertainment system. It features more measurement positions but comes with higher filters resolution and thus can offer better overall results.
The Marantz SR6015 is equipped with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HEOS, and Apple AirPlay 2 and still has voice control features that allow you to control the AV receiver hands-free.
Amazon gave an average score of 4.3 stars out of 5 stars for its ease of use, while the reviewer also gave an average score of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars for its remote control connectivity.
For the price you will pay for any of Marantz’s products, it is worth its value. Although it is pricey, all its connectivity options and features are worth more than what you pay for.
Price
Denon offers a variety of home entertainment equipment with different levels of prices. From its entry-level to high-end products, its prices are reasonable for its quality. Denon’s AV receivers are really one of the best options for every price range available, especially in the high-end category.
Buying Denon products for home entertainment is an excellent investment. Any of their products is a testament to the company’s effort to pursue quality audio equipment.
Customer Support
Denon
Customer Support is an important part of a business where a company offers a range of customer services to assist customers in making cost-effective and correct use of a product.
Denon has two call centres (General Customer Service & Online Order Support) that are open from Monday to Friday. You could either contact them through their website or visit the nearest store of Denon. They have proper technicians who know about the products and can quickly assist you if there is an issue.
Trustpilot only gave an average score of a mere 1.6 stars out of 5 stars for Denon’s customer service performance. Denon’s customer service rating on online platforms is really bad for a quality company. Do not worry as these are only isolated incidents and do not reflect the totality of the company’s performance.
Marantz
Marantz has a customer service line you can call and is available from Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 7 PM (All hours are Eastern Standard Time). You can also contact them by email. On their website, FAQs are posted to save time for its customers
Trustpilot only gave an average score of a mere 1.7 stars out of 5 stars for Marantz’s customer service performance. Although it is very low, it must be pointed out that the complaints are only isolated cases and still for verification.
Warranty
Denon’s manufacturer warranty extends to 2 years through an authorized dealer. Also, the customer’s dealer is responsible for fulfilling the warranty and is also the customer’s point of contact. Throughout this warranty period, the customer is exempted from any repair costs for repairing their DENON product. Any further claims, except for the repair costs, are excluded.
The warranty period will commence upon the date of sale of the product to the customer. A purchase receipt must be submitted as proof of this and handed over to the customer’s dealer. Preferably customers should deliver the defective product to their dealer in its original protective packaging.
The warranty is reasonable for the price you are going to pay for a Denon product.
Marantz
Marantz offers a three-year warranty for all those premium products purchased from an authorized Marantz dealer. It also provides a two-year warranty for all the other products (Range Series & Universal Remote Control). If you register the item you bought from Marantz, you can avail of a five-year warranty if you can pass the conditions given.
Which is Better?
Even though both brands are under one company and have more similarities in the technology applied in their products, I think Marantz is still slightly better than Denon. Marantz is more established in the high-tier AV receivers than Denon, which both companies offer. Although it is not only AV receivers that they are selling, it is one of the highest technological inventions for home entertainment in this modern age.
