Marantz has unveiled the AV8805A, its new flagship 13.2 channel AV preamplifier with 8K HDMI 2.1 compatibility.
The new preamplifier is an upgraded iteration of the respected AV8805, which now features multiple updates, including 8K/60Hz upscaling and pass-through, 4K/120Hz pass-through, HDR10+, Dynamic HDR, HDCP 2.3, as well as other technologies made possible through the addition of HDMI 2.1 and bandwidth support of 40 Gbps to avoid any limitations.
Within its commitment to the longevity of its products, Marantz is offering existing owners of the original Marantz AV8805 model the opportunity to upgrade their HDMI/Digital board to AV8805A spec by contacting an approved Marantz dealer.
The new and upgraded AV8805A features advanced multi-channel capabilities, with support for DTS:X Pro enabling up to 13 channels of DTS:X decoding for speaker configurations such as 7.2.6 or 9.2.4. These same configurations can also be used for an immersive experience when watching the latest IMAX Enhanced movies.
Other supports 3D audio formats include Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualisation Technology, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X, IMAX Enhanced, and Auro-3D. The latest heigh virtualisation technologies create virtual height effects without needing dedicated height channels for a more manageable 7.1, 5.1, or 2.1 speaker arrangement.
The AV8805A now features a dedicated 8K-compatible HDMI 2.1 input to enable 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video pass-through. In addition to this, it also has a new HDR format support, including HDR10+ and Dynamic HDR, as well as a new HDMI feature called Quick Media Switching (QMS) allows a source to instantly switch frame rate to eliminate screen blackout. The preamplifier still supports HDR10, HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma), and Dolby Vision, as well as 4:4:4 Pure Colour subsampling and BT.2020 pass-through.
It can upscale HD and 4K content to 8K to always deliver the best picture quality possible. eARC is also supported, allowing lossless and object-based audio transmission such at DTS:X and Dolby Atmos from TV apps or connected devices using a single HDMI cable.
For gamers, the AV8805A includes Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) to reduce frame tearing and maintain a precise, crisp picture, as well as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Quick Frame Transport (QFT), both reducing lag.
The Marantz AV8805A is available from June priced at £3,899 / €4,299 / $4,799. To upgrade to the ‘A’ spec for existing AV8805 owners, it will cost £649 / €749 / $599.