Marantz NR1510 Review – Worth Buying?

If there’s one thing everyone likes about Marantz’s AV receiver selection, it’s their NR slimline series.

They are designed for individuals with limited space who still want to build a full-fledged surround system rather than settling for a soundbar or other less-than-satisfying options. 

In this review, I will thoroughly assess if the sleek and slim Maranta NR1510 receiver can deliver quality sound and a relatively reasonable price for a high-quality receiver.

By looking at its specifications, features, and real-world applications, we will see if this affordable powerhouse can strike the perfect balance between audio performance and practicality that is needed for compact home theaters.

Sound quality 

The Marantz NR1510 may not have huge power as other receivers at only 50 watts per channel, but it’s enough for smaller living spaces.

This 5.2 channel receiver puts emphasis on sound quality over more luxury features that you’d often get with other Marantz receivers.

For instance, it supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio but lacks more advanced features such as Dolby Atmos.

Soundstage

Although it lacks dedicated height channels, the NR1510 creates a fairly expansive soundstage.

The three front channels produce great separation and dispersion, while the center channel focuses on creating clear and crisp dialogue.

It all works in tangent together to create an immersive experience, especially during action scenes

Perfect For Movies

From quiet conversations to thrilling explosions, the NR1510 handles all movie audio with a sense of class.

As mentioned, dialogue is clear, effects are vividly rendered and it all adds to the surround sound experience.

Low frequencies pack a punch without sounding too boomy, especially when you consider the low 50W power.

The balanced sound profile means there is no one part of the frequency output that overwhelms the others.

This ensures a pleasant experience for watching movies.

Hi-Res Audio Support

For music, the NR1510 handles high-resolution audio all the way up to 192kHz/24-bit as well as DSD streaming.

In other words, it means you can get the most out of lossless music formats and it sounds crystal clear.

Rewarding Performance When Used Right

The Marantz NR1510 may be limited on horsepower with only 50W, but when used right it will pay off beautifully.

It has enough power to create a perfect balance of surround sound when paired with the right speakers and used in smaller spaces.

Don’t expect to use this in a large living room and expect perfect performance – because it’s not built for that.

So focus on quality devices to support this receiver and you will have yourself a superb machine for a home theater system.

Marantz NR1510 Sound Test

Build quality

One of the main reasons the NR1510 is sought after is due to its slim, low-profile design that measures just 4.1 inches tall.

This allows it to fit into most compact spaces where most full-sized receivers simply won’t.

For does living in smaller apartments, or planning to use this receiver in a compact room, the ability to tuck this unit away gives it a major advantage over larger models.

Quality Materials

Marantz manages to strike the perfect balance when it comes to the design by shrinking the size dramatically while keeping the rigid structure.

At a solid 18.1 pounds, it retains the reassuring strength and stability of the more premium products.

The materials used exude a touch of class with an aluminum top and side panels with a sleek black fascist.

From every angle, the NR1510 looks like a premium product

All The Essentials

The front panel is straightforward for even the most beginners but has all you need.

It houses two aluminum knobs for volume and input selection – providing a very satisfying analog feel.

Even from a distance, the central display is sharp.

All of the buttons for critical features such as the M-DAX audio enhancement and sound mode selection are included.

There are also convenient front panel connections such as HDMI input and USB.

You can tell a lot of thought went into this.

As expected, the NR1510 uses audiophile-grade components and premium chassis materials usually only found on pricier models.

However, it keeps the same generous power supply and high current amplification as its siblings.

Remote Design

The included remote maintains Marantz’s traditional simple, but intuitive button layout.

Input, volume, and navigation controls are all conveniently grouped together and it’s easy to use.

Dedicated buttons for useful features like dimming and sound mode eliminate browsing tedious menus.

Not only that but there are four customizable buttons to enable quick access to presets.

This can save a lot of time for features you frequently tweak.

While it’s not backlit or made of a solid metal look unlike other models, the remote is sturdy and compact while avoiding button clutter.

Overall Design

With the Marantz NR1510, you get excellent amplification and solid build quality – all packaged into one compact body.

The device oozes class in its built quality.

With it, you get all of the essentials without any unnecessary embellishments that just inflate the price.

I also recommend you check out the Marantz PM7000N vs. the NR1200 comparison here.

Key Features

4K Ultra HD Video Support

With HDCP 2.2 copy protection and HDMI 2.0b inputs, the NR1510 is fully equipped to handle 4k video – including HDR10 and Dolby Vision.

This ensures that the device is compatible with all the latest Blu-ray players, video consoles, and streaming devices.

HEOS Wireless Multi-Room Streaming

Dual-band Wi-Fi and ethernet means you get fast and capable streaming options via the HEOS platform.

This allows you to access all of the popular music streaming apps such as Spotify, Tidal, and Amazon Music all through your home network.

It sends audio wirelessly to HEOS speakers in other rooms.

Voice Assistant Integration

The receiver works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri for a hands-free experience.

You can search for new music, adjust volume, switch inputs, and more all from the comfort of your seat.

Audyssey Room Correction

The included microphone analyzes your room’s acoustics and sets up the most optimal speaker configuration.

This is perfect for those just getting into home theater setups and are overwhelmed about placement.

What you get is a tailored listening experience that suits your room for a truly satisfying setup.

Setting Up

Manual Setup

You may do a manual setup when manually establishing the speakers or adjusting settings in Audyssey® Setup.

You won’t be able to pick Audyssey MultEQ®, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, or Audyssey Dynamic Volume if you add or remove a speaker after executing Audyssey Setup. 

You can do a manual setup whenever you need to without modifying the parameters.

A few other things you can tweak to your liking include:

• Speaker Config.
• Distances
• Levels
• Crossovers
• Bass

Audyssey Setup

Position the Sound calibration microphone in several spots throughout the listening area to do a measurement.

As illustrated in the figure, we recommend measuring in six places for optimum results.

Install the Sound calibration microphone approximately 60 cm from the initial measurement point while measuring the second and subsequent spots (main listening position).

For more detailed information about the procedure for speaker settings, you can visit this website for step-by-step instructions.

It includes which settings to tweak during the setup and many more to give you the best experience possible.

Pros and Cons 

Pros 

• Slim design fits tight spaces
• 5-channel discrete amplification
• 4K and HDR video support
• HEOS wireless streaming
• Alexa/Google Assistant voice control
• Audyssey room correction

Cons

• Limited to 5.2 channels
• Only one HDMI
• Lower power output
• No Dolby Atmos or DTS:X
• Dated on-screen interface

Does Marantz NR1510 support Dolby Atmos?

No, unfortunately, the Marantz NR1510 does not support Dolby atmos and is limited to 5.2 channel Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio.

The NR1510 focuses on core surround sound over more advanced and immersive audio that’s so often found on pricier receivers.

If 3D audio is a priority, consider stepping up to other Marantz models that specifically deliver Dolby Atmos such as the Marantz SR7015. (Review).

Does the Marantz NR1510 have pre-outs?

Yes, the NR1510 has pre-outs for all 5 channels – front left/right, center, surround left/right.

This allows connecting separate power amplifiers and adds flexibility to the receiver.

It means if you find the 50W is not enough, there is room to improve.

However, there is no dedicated subwoofer pre-out.

Can I Use A Subwoofer With The Marantz NR1510?

I figured I’d add this section to give clarity on the above.

Yes, you can use a subwoofer with the Marantz NR1510 even though it lacks a dedicated subwoofer pre-out.

Here is how to connect a subwoofer to it:

• Use speaker-level connections from one of the main L/R channels to connect the subwoofer. The NR1510’s bass management will redirect the low frequencies to the sub.
• Use an RCA splitter on one of the main L/R pre-outs. Run one set to your main speakers and the other to the line-level RCA input on the subwoofer.
• As a last resort, use the sub’s LFE input if it has one, though this will limit you to only LFE content and is not ideal.

The main limitation is you lose the ability to control the sub’s volume and crossover independently compared to having a dedicated sub pre-out.

So, the ideal option is to use speaker-level connections to take advantage of the receiver’s bass management.

Conclusion 

The Marantz NR1510 proves that you can still get remarkable surround sound all boxed into one compact receiver.

While limited to only 5 channels powered at 50 watts, its balanced and sleep profile make it a great receiver for those tight on space.

Dialogue is clear, effects come to life and for movies it’s sublime.

The inclusion of excellent features such as HEOS streaming, 4k video support, and room correction are just the cherry on top.

For some, the lack of Dolby Atmos may be a deal breaker, but it shouldn’t be.

For those looking for an essentials-only, compact receiver that checks all the boxes – the Marantz NR1510 is perfect.

Be sure to check the latest price below.