7-channel amplifier Marantz NR1711 Review

Marantz recognizes that not every single room can support a large home theater receiver. That is why they produced the NR1711. This slim line, 8K-compatible receiver can easily power up to 7 speakers at the same time, yet suits into places where a typical receiver may be too tall.

Use it to power your 5.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos system. Or go with a 5.1-channel set up, and power an extra pair of speakers in another room at the same time.The low-profile NR1711 provides top quality home theater sound without taking up a lot of space.
Last year’s lineup of Marantz slimline home theater receivers was very popular with consumers. 2022 brings even more functions to the table, such as 8K video upscaling, Bluetooth transmission to headphones, and improved Audio Return Channel (eARC), which lets you pass full-resolution surround sound signals from your TV to your receiver.

A lot of power under the hood
The Marantz NR1711 uses a high-current, discrete power amplifier for every of its 7 channels. So while 50 watts per channel may not sound like a significant on paper, this receiver has plenty of horse power to drive most small- to medium-sized speakers with simplicity.

Take pleasure in music from a wide variety of sources
The Marantz NR1711 8K Ultra HD AV receiver isn’t only a excellent choice for watching movies – it’s lot of fun with music, as well.

Stream tunes from your smartphone or tablet through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Apple AirPlay 2. Or, use the built-in phono input for your turntable. You can even play high-resolution tracks from a USB drive or networked pc.

Increase your system together with HEOS Built-in
HEOS Built-in technology lets you access all kinds of different content via the NR1711. Listen to internet radio programs, or to preferred streaming services like Pandora®, Spotify®, and TIDAL.

You can additionally integrate the NR1711 into a wi-fi multi-room audio system with appropriate speakers or streaming components.
Sophisticated room calibration
The Marantz NR1711 8K Ultra HD AV receiver includes Audyssey MultEQ® – one of the industry’s best room-correction systems. Photo: Marantz

Audyssey measures the acoustics of your living room with the integrated microphone, and then fine-tunes the output of your system to ideal match the unique sonic characteristics of your space. The resulting sound is crystal clear, soft and ultra-detailed, with tight bass and significant dynamics.

The Marantz NR1711 is a highly capable home theater receiver that encompasses all the essential features. It provides an immersive three-dimensional surround sound experience, including overhead sound. With two additional height channels alongside 5.1 audio, it supports Dolby Atmos and DTS: X, which are object-based 3D audio formats. These formats contain metadata that determines the placement of audio objects, regardless of the number of channels or speakers connected to the receiver.

Moreover, the NR1711 includes Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization and DTS Virtual: X, which replicate elevation channels without the need for dedicated speakers. While not a perfect substitute for physical elevation speakers, these features enhance the illusion of three-dimensional sound compared to having them turned off.

If you prefer not to have overhead sound but desire an extra pair of rear speakers, the receiver can easily be configured as a standard 7.1 setup. However, if you have the option to install ceiling speakers or use specialized Atmos speakers on top of the front speakers, I highly recommend doing so. This configuration expands the soundscape, creating a larger and more realistic audio experience.

The NR1711 also incorporates cutting-edge video circuits, enabling support for 8K video signals, as well as 4K at 120 frames per second. It also supports variable frame rate, which is particularly beneficial for gamers. The receiver caters to the gaming experiences provided by consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X, delivering full Ultra HD resolution and lightning-fast movements.

Additionally, the NR1711 features eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel), allowing high-resolution audio to be transmitted from the TV through the connected HDMI cable. This enables you to connect all your video and gaming sources directly to the TV, extracting the audio in high definition to the amplifier via a single HDMI cable. For gaming purposes, I strongly recommend utilizing eARC to achieve the lowest possible input lag, which is crucial during gameplay.

Being an all-in-one surround receiver, the NR1711 excels in its ability to stream music. It incorporates the HEOS interface, similar to Sonos, enabling other HEOS products to be synchronized in a multi-room setup. By downloading the HEOS app and logging into your preferred music services like Spotify, Tidal, or Deezer, you can easily enjoy your favorite tunes. Although HEOS lacks support for Apple Music and YouTube Music, the receiver compensates for this limitation with built-in AirPlay and Bluetooth support.

Among the slim receivers we have tested in the past, Marantz consistently emerges as the top performer in its class. The NR1711, a 7.1 receiver, represents Marantz’s most impressive offering thus far.

The sound produced by the NR1711 is exceptionally well-balanced and pleasant. It possesses ample power to fill a small living room with immersive audio, even during action-packed and suspenseful movies. While it can also suffice for larger living rooms measuring over 25 square meters, it falls short of replicating the overpowering audio experience of a commercial movie theater, as it delivers 50 watts per channel.

Moreover, the Marantz NR1711 includes all the necessary features, including two memory slots for speaker autocalibration. This simplifies the process of testing different speaker setups and locations, allowing for seamless switching between configurations.

For those seeking a slim form factor without compromising sound quality, the NR1711 is an excellent choice. In this regard, there are few alternatives that can rival its capabilities and performance.