I absolutely LOVE the outtakes. John is not only the best at what he does, but he also doesn't take himself too seriously. Excellence and humility combined are just part of what makes John the best. Well done!
This video contains 4 side by side comparison's I am so happy that Marantz jumped in the modern era, although I think missing out on Google cast is a big mistake, having tens of millions of devices with android. I still enjoy your work and I consider it to be the mostl professional one on RU-vid!
This video contains 4 side-by-side comparisons. I'm setting up a 2.1 audio-only system for my home gym - B&W CDM-1s and SVS sub. The M1 seems like a good solution - Marantz quality, compact, streams, beefy amp, SW support, not outrageously priced. The value of the Sonos is hard to ignore though.
Awesome review! I loved your detailed breakdown of the Marantz MODEL M1 streaming amplifier. I was pleasantly surprised to hear how well the Marantz MODEL M1 stands its ground against the Lyngdorf TDAI-1120, super helpful for anyone considering these options. Thanks, and have a great day! Best regards, Yuri 🙂
Meanwhile Wiim is taking notes: "note to self, must make fully digital version with descrete class d or class a amp". Give them a year and I wouldn't be surprised.
I have the DRA900h from Denon. after some Month it play's quite good. This Thing manages everything, TV, DVD, the Thorens Player, the CD with it's own DAC. And it manages two Rooms with different Speakers. But for an stand alone System i would prefer an Streamer like the M1
HEOS is meh. I bought a Wiim Pro to use with my Denon AV amp and, even using the same DAC and amplification, the sound and user experience improved. Adding a Topping E50 DAC improved things further. HEOS just seems half baked. As for comprehensive streaming solutions, Auralic and Hifi Rose come close, but still don't beat Wiim despite much higher price points. Hifi Rose, in particular, lacks Amazon music which is a shame, as so does Roon.
The analogy of an LED vs an incandescent light bulb is genius in many levels. Incandescent bulbs are as analog as a class A amp, while class D switches on and off like most LEDs do. Incandescent bulbs have a lush light signature like class A amp tend to do. A bad class D can sound like, the crisp and sterile LED white lights at the hospital. Interesting take.
Been wating for this review. Seems like a solid product, but I guess the wait is still on for a product that has a top notch amplifier and the streaming chops of the Wiim AMP. This video contains 4 side by side comparison's
My glass was definitely more full than empty, with the four side by side comparisons. Interesting video even for the likes of myself a millennial, A/B, vinyl purist, music first audiofan. Thanks John 🙌
This video contains 4 side-by-side comparisons. I feel like you answered your own question about “musicality” when you said that music felt “more alive” through the Marantz than the Lyngdorf. That’s what it’s always meant to me, anyway. Not necessarily perfect linear accuracy, but the feeling that the music has life.
This video contains four side-by-side comparisons and a whole bunch of bloopers at the end. Thanks for the review John and going into a product that will be controversial.
Ok, so I watched until the end, but by encouraging everyone to post this fact using the catchphrase du jour, it is gaming the almighty RU-vid algorithm (very clever) at the expense of diluting the comments section. Grumping over, point made.
This video contains 4 side-by-side comparisons. Great review, trying to decide between this unit and the Bluesound Powernode to power some outdoor speakers on my back patio. Already have the Powernode in my bedroom and it's great, also have a Node/Peachtree GAN-1 combo in the living room so staying within the BluOS platform is very appealing.
I'm certainly no expert but I've been distantly attached to stereos all my life. I think the marantz outshining the Lygdorf in the flat performance points directly at the continuing evolution of class d hifi.
This video contains 4 side by side comparisons - and excellent comparisons they are too! Well done John. Can you possible add details of the speakers you've used. Have you thought of doing a video on whether "power conditioner/strips/etc" actually make a difference. One of your most most useful video series has been your videos on room acoustics and the benefits of room treatments. Power treatment equipment could be another interesting series. I know you are flat-out busy so maybe this is something for the distant future. Thank you for superbly produced informative videos.
I know it’s probably an old complaint, but i do wonder about the longevity of all-in-one app controlled amplifiers. I’ve just gotten burned by Sonos dropping support for local streaming through Navidrome just because they no longer feel like doing it. Now I can no longer listen to my own music with a solution that used to work great, and that I spent good money on. What happens in 5 years or 10 years when Marantz decides they no longer want to support this product?
'Loaded' - Primal Scream shown twice? Nice! It's a great track, and yeah, it's one of my 'Testable go-to's' too (when trying headphones/stereos etc)... 😏👌 😎🇬🇧
This video contains 4 side-by-side comparisons I'm glad that there's more competition against the WiiM Amp product type. Competition means more choices and improved products so consumers win.
I think that for now my audio system is quite complete enough. Nothing you said about the M1 makes me feel any buyers remorse for the things I did buy already. And sometimes, that’s all one needs from a review. 😅 I think that what really is missing from my audio setup right now, though, is user friendliness for the less technical people in the household. For that I’d need a bigger rethink of the components.
Interesting device, I'm planning a low maintenance low visibility system for a friend, I will take the M1 in to consideration. Thank you for the review.
Perhaps a WiiM Ultra and Rega io amp might be a better solution plus the combined price is about the same. I hate being totally reliant on an app based device which will have a life span dependent on the ongoing support for the app.
Thanks for the video. This video contains four side by side comparisons. It would be great to know how the M1 compares to the Stereo 70 and the Model 40N. :)
Love the reviews. I am old school and love audio gear with knobs and buttons. When I say old I am refering to amps back in the 60s and 70s. I now have had to modernise my thinking and some years ago purchased a Denon AVR3000 but now its time for a change and a rethink. Do I go back to 2 channel or stick with 5.1? is there something out there that will give me the best of both worlds and not compromise on the audio? To add to the challenge, many systems now use apps. Unfortunately for me as a blind person, not all apps are accessible. Some are, but others are not. So if I am to replace my Denon, and speakers, (I love floor standing speakers) what's a great place to start looking from? .is change
Four side by side comparisons requires a lot of time in the listening seat. Thank you for the dedication! It seems like Marantz has done their homework and brought forth a real nice piece of kit. As far as the lack of streaming services, we're in the day and age of delivering the minimum and adding services as time progresses. I suspect the same could be true here. I so appreciate that they included eARC. These days our living room is used for 80% TV/Movie viewing and 20% music which means eARC is a must have. I'm really curious to try out a direct digital amp compared to my old class A/B with an integrated DAC, especially for Movie watching where soundtracks tend to be livelier than my usual music listening. I really like the mesh top design. I'm curious, is the cooling completely passive? No fans inside? I've noticed over the past week, as we've been experiencing a heatwave, that my amp is overheating and causing quite a bit of distortion in the mids. The ambient temp in our apartment is around 78-80ºF compared to the normal 74º in the summer, and I guess that's enough of a difference to cause very noticeable distortion.
I totally agree that most of the time the sound coming out of the speakers is from Apple TV/Smart TVs etc and is 80 % from movies and tv shows. John has always been more into music and if you like to hear others opinions on this M1 that also takes into account movie watching than see Andrew Robins coverage of the M1.
Yes, in order to get the best sound from my Lyngdorf, I bought a Cambridge Edge W. I found one for less than half the RRP, but I know people will still question my choices. I don't care though. I love what I have. 🙂
"This video contains 4 side-by-side comparisons"... Great video/presentation...!!! For my perspective, I enjoy hearing/learning about other streaming platforms, but to tell you the truth - Wiim has pretty much become my go-to streaming device... hands down...!!! These days, WiiM's cost-performance ratio and quality are unparalleled - bar none...!!!
Hi John, regarding the Lyngdorf, input setup->sensitivity, you can boost it to say 6 (out of 24). I find this greatly adds to the dynamic punch of the amp. Would be curious how it compares now to the Marantz.
If you are using Roon, I'd recommend just using the RHEOS plug in until full roon support is added by marantz. This adds high res audio for all devices with heos.
John you are a godsend for men. I’ve been waiting for this review ever since the M1 was announced. I have been saving money for Lyngdorf because I live in Copenhagen and I’ve spoken to Peter Lyngdorf himself at events so I was determined to get the Lyngdorf but now I am not so sure. If only one could try RoomPerfect at home before buying. Greetings from Denmark 🇩🇰 and lots of love to Berlin 🇩🇪 where I found the love of my life.
Future-Fi has a real exciting future. Denton Home Amp and the upcoming NAD C700 v2 really indicates a trend towards Future-Fi. Also many comments mentioned Lyngdorf Room Perfect feature and how WiiM rolled it out via a firmware update so it might come to M1. Another negative thing is these comments spamming as someone else mentioned. No need for encouraging that in the video as you have a big enough audience now and your videos are top notch. Could be nice without seeing the same phrase over and over in the comments.
I love your reviews. I've been waiting for this, and I couldn't wait for this befroe I got one! I am not a fan of HEOS, but AirPlay2 gets me to Roon so I am also not bothered by the streaming options. I actually wasn't aware that Roon-Ready-Ness was in the cards - that would be icing on an already wonderful cake. I put this in my bedroom driving a pair of KEF R3-Meta's and the M1 disappears with the other clutter on my dresser. Now we can queue up our favorites with Roon. I am actually considering a 2nd unit for my wife's office!
This video contains 4 side-by-side comparisons. Another use-case that will be familiar to all of us. I need a compact system that can drive my old speakers (because I just got great new speakers) in my (Office, workshop, bedroom, basement, etc etc ). I just need this one box, my old speakers and my phone (with all the streaming apps I need streaming over AirPlay).
Thanks john appreciate the time taken and put into the review, wondering if you’ve experienced the technics range which is also direct digital no dac? Yes watched to the end ;)
Hi, thanks for the info. My first venture into streaming was with a Yamaha WXAD-10, long since discontinued. While the Musicast system was far from perfect, it could handle FLAC files at 44.1 kHz. The device sold bugger all, but it seems like it was a design trailblazer. Both the Wiim Pro and this Marantz M1 look like they've taken design notes from the Yamaha. Funny. Thanks for continuing to champion a diversity of music. Cheers - Hedley
"Musicality" To me means not neccesarily "precise", "accurate" or "clinical" sound but still really good "cheerful" sound. For example if i wanted to build a 2 channel home theatre system i would try to make my system as "clinical" or "resolving as possible". A bit less do if i were to build 2 channel music system. I might for example want something a bit "warmer" or a tube system maybe with a bit more "musicality". "Thankyou" to whoever may read this.
Thanks John. I was considering this as part of my desk setup with a pair of Elac Solano bs283s. The wiim amp I auditioned with the similarly priced NAD and Marantz pm6007. I deliberately auditioned them near field only as this setup will only be used that way. I found in this arrangement the wiim amps flaws are completely mitigated against the competition above but I was still curious about the marantz m1. A suggestion for these compact options would be to give a near field opinion on them. I think many are buying these kinds of amps for that purpose.
Thanks for the review, Darko. I’m considering this Marantz for my desktop system consisting of JBL L52 Classics and an L10 Classic sub. Seems like a lovely product and I have always enjoyed Marantz and JBL together. The bass management and Airplay are probably the only two “features” I would use. I could accomplish this for less money, as your side-by-side comparisons demonstrate, yet I’m drawn to the Marantz most of all. The Sonos Amp is a close contender as I already have Sonos throughout the home, but my desktop doesn’t need to act as an extension of that system. Cheers, sir. Thanks again.
So .. I bought one. I had the wiim amp before. B&w 707 s3 speakers. There is a real noticeable difference between the two. Warmer. Less … artificial. Less … forced. Some music the WiiM struggled to get the most of. The Stone Roses album was one of example. The m1 knocks it out of the park. I’ve been happy enough with the wiim for the price, but the m1 is a noticeable step up. Now if we can convince them to do room correction…..
Thank you for the valuable comment. Yes Room Correction would really make it a strong contender against Lyngdorf 1120. Peter Lyngdorf is the owner of Hifiklubben store chain and there you can listen to both M1 and 1120
This video contains 4 side x side comparisons. I've gone with WiiM amp, B&W 607s2 and Yamaha sub for tv in family room (medium size) and extremely happy.
What hi-fi usually refers to musicality as the rhythm of music shining through due to a coherent presentation, i.e. no time smearing of rhythmic sounds.
I wonder how much dust will collect in that mesh, not to mention the circuits underneath. Looks cool, but seems like a bad idea in practice. Having said that, I'm glad more of these types of amps are coming out.
Great comparison. Though I'd be interested to hear whether factoring in room perfect would affect the Lyngdorf comparison. Room perfect does significantly impact the character of the sound in some contexts, and it'd be nice to know if in this context it 'closed the gap' with the Marantz, in terms of dynamic attack, openness, and 'musical aliveness' (musicality?).
Hmmm, I wouldn’t mind getting a whole Marantz set up but at this point I have everything I need with WiiM and all without breaking the bank. Best of all I’m happy with what I have.
"This video contains 4 side-by-side comparisons" Musicality means the same as "Cinematic". It's imperfect in a charismatic way that we like. At least that is how I use it :)
Hello John Mate any chance of a comparison between the M1 and the stereo 70s which you mentioned was your favourite under $1000 Cheers and also the functionality of the M1 audio filters when watching movies eg voice increase and dynamic filter for surround sound And compare sound signature of the 2 Marantz models Cheers
