Marantz AV7701 Home Theater Preamp/Processor with Apple® AirPlay® | Pre-Owned

MAKING THE COMPLEX ELEMENTARY

How in the world does one company make amazing versatility seem almost minimalist? Ask Marantz. In one fell swoop, their AV7701 preamp/processor brings together wireless and wired entertainment sources in an elegantly simply interface, all while serving up top-notch picture and sound quality. Take a look at the front-facing picture at right, with the front panel closed. The ‘7701 keeps you updated on its status via its porthole display, a classic design element dead center on the front. You’re not assaulted by a mass of controls and extraneous information. It just works, communicating what you need to know, in combination with an in-depth, overlaid on-screen display sent to your TV or video projector.

MANY PATHS TO EFFORTLESS CONTROL

But that’s only one way to keep tabs on the AV7701. Marantz has made controlling your home entertainment even more portable and simple with robust networking and Apple AirPlay compatibility. Streaming songs directly from your iPad®, iPod® or iPhone® is a matter of a few screen swipes. And, as they say on the late night ads, “but wait, there’s more!” You can download free remote control apps for both Apple and Android™ devices, so you can see your system’s status at a glance, reassign sources, and adjust settings, even across multiple zones.

READY FOR ULTRA-MODERN SOURCES — OR THE CLASSICS

The video side of this preamp/processor is ready for most anything, with 7 HDMI inputs and 3 outputs (one is dedicated to a second zone). The AV7701 can scale any HDMI video source up to 4K output, so it’s ready for the next generation of TV technology. Plus, it handles legacy composite and component video sources with ease.

On the audio side, signals are handled elegantly as well. In addition to wireless AirPlay connectivity, you get plenty of digital and analog inputs for your gear, including a dedicated USB input for your iPod, iPhone, or iPad. Balanced XLR outputs let you make pro-quality connections to compatible power amplifiers (like Marantz’s power amps), plus there are unbalanced (RCA) analog outputs too. And there’s a phono input for turntables with a moving-magnet cartridge. See our bullets below for the blow-by-blow details.

AUDIOPHILES DEMAND PERFORMANCE, BUT ELEGANCE COMES STANDARD

So by now, you probably have a pretty good idea that the Marantz AV7701 preamp/processor is a master integrator of both your wireless and wired entertainment sources. Plus, the Marantz nameplate is known far and wide as a preferred brand of discriminating audiophiles. Take a look again. Along with the superb build quality comes an aesthetic sensibility that puts clean lines and simplicity in a priority position. Controlling the many sources of an unruly world of content is not always a pretty job — but you’d never know it after you purchase your AV7701.