Marantz Model 40n + CD60 | Integrated Network Amplifier + CD player ₹4,39,900 + ₹1,48,900
FOR Tonally rich, amazing presence and lush timbre, build quality and flexibility
AGAINST Remote needs backlighting, details on the display too small to read
With the introduction of the Model 30 integrated amplifier a couple of years ago, Marantz clearly set the template for things to come. And things have come, bearing a similar aesthetic and ethos. We now get the Model 40n, which to the untrained eye can look identical to the Model 30, but the difference is like night and day under the hood. Using a linear power supply as opposed to the switching mode implementation in Model 30, it also relies on a traditional Class A/B output stage with a beefy toroidal transformer. But Marantz is known more for its sonic signature and this is achieved by putting its finest "sound masters" to work on products like the Model 40n and the CD60. Part of the process is hand-picking hundreds of discrete components by ear for optimal performance, including the famed HDAM (Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Modules) which are a huge step up over off-the-shelf integrated circuits in terms of higher dynamic range, lower noise and distortion figures. Featuring a quarter-inch headphone jack, the Model 40n also employs similar attention to detail for personal audio listening.
The Model 40n is proudly made in Japan, adding to its heft and cost substantially. The CD60 doesn't feel like a compromise at all, but Marantz chose to make this more affordable over the SACD30n and by that measure, is a bit light on construction and compatibility. Even then, the CD60 more than justifies its existence in any modern system with its front-panel USB input that accepts Hi-Res PCM or DSD music files stored on external drives.
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