
Marantz followers now have a extra reasonably priced strategy to mix their love of CD audio with the flexibility of community playback and HDMI connectivity with the newly introduced Marantz CD 50n and its matching stereo amplifier, the Marantz Mannequin 50. The items are available in your selection of black or silver/gold and are priced at $1,800 every. They’re accessible from Marantz.com and choose retailers beginning October 24.
A short while in the past, Marantz discontinued its ND8006 Networked CD Participant, which meant that, till now, when you needed a brand new Marantz part that mixed disc-based playback with networked streaming, you’d must spring for the dear $2,999 Marantz SACD 30n. That participant is appropriate with each CDs and SACDs, which may be overkill for folk who’ve by no means expanded their assortment of discs to incorporate the hi-res audio SACD format.


Aside from the absence of SACD playback, the CD 50n shares a ton of the SACD 30n’s capabilities and it makes use of the identical design language that Marantz has been utilizing on all of its current merchandise.
Along with CD playback, the CD 50n can be utilized with AirPlay 2 for wi-fi streaming from Apple gadgets and may be accessed straight from Tidal, Spotify, and Deezer apps. With Denon’s HEOS streaming software program, you can too entry Amazon Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and Soundcloud. The one notable absence is Apple Music.
Regardless of its lack of SACD help, you’ll be able to nonetheless use the CD 50n to play hi-res audio. It’s appropriate with each FLAC (as much as 24-bit/192kHz) and DSD audio 2.8, 5.6, and 11.2 MHz codecs, which may be performed from a USB storage system or networked music libraries. In truth, the CD 50n can be utilized because the central management for your whole digital audio because of its optical and coaxial digital inputs and its HDMI-ARC port.


These digital alerts are run via the part’s 32-bit ESS Sabre DAC — with non-compulsory Marantz musical digital filters — after which output by way of both mounted or variable analog outputs.
At that time, you’ll be able to join the CD 50n to a set of powered audio system or your personal amp, however naturally, Marantz recommends that you simply pair the CD 50n with its Mannequin 50 built-in stereo amplifier. Visually, they’re an ideal match. The Mannequin 50 has six analog inputs (together with a moving-magnet phono stage) which it could distribute to both 4 audio system at 8 ohms/70 watts, or two audio system at 4 ohms/100 watts.