The statement on the box isn’t something they say with levity. Coming from a svs soundbase 300w class d amp with martin logan xtb100’s to this amp the difference was night and day between their dynamics. The marantz has such a better attention of detail. Songs like ciao papa from the new Pinocchio sounded astounding on the previously mention system but the exsquisite highs, attentive low end and carefully crafted midrange brought the track to such levels of beauty I honestly teared up a bit. Hdam 3 architecture is bar none, not to mention with the hifi class ab circuit its hard to find another amp that straddles this level of fidelity and musicality at a remotely similar value proposition. Also i was very impressed with the quality of the remote, good design, not metal but the in hand feel is very reminiscent of an apple tv remote with the weight and sturdiness.

Alright folks, I’ve been on a 6-month bender listening to Marantz’ stereo amps since January. I first started with the PM7000, then the Model 30, and now the Model 40N. Take my thoughts with a grain of salt — audio is always subjective and I’m a relatively new traveller on the Hi-Fi journey. I’ll just cut right to the chase.
The Model 40 is the absolute top end of what I would consider to be entry level Hi-Fi.
What you’re getting in one chassis is a quality integrated amp at 70w per channel, a reasonably good DAC, and a decent streamer. Let’s break it down. Overall sound signature is very “Marantz.” Warm, jammy sound that’s rich and detailed. At first glance, it’s probably everything you might want from an integrated amp. I did some side-by-side comparisons using my KEF R7 loudspeakers.
First up was DAC capability. I used the integrated DAC with source from the built-in network streamer VS a Topping D90 with source from my TV via optical and Audioquest interconnects. Switching back and forth was mercifully easy thanks to Spotify Connect, and after a lot of listening, I can say confidently that the D90 does resolve more detail. HOWEVER… the fact that it took direct back and forth listening of the same few songs multiple times to really get a good impression of the 40N’s shortcomings speaks volumes about what’s in the Marantz. And there were actually things I preferred about the sound of the 40N, even though the D90 resolves more detail!
Sound meshes more pleasantly using the integrated DAC, which is especially more prevalent in bass-rich songs. Ironically, “Gooey” by Glass Animals was the song that really made it click for me and spelled out what kind of sound the 40N is going for. As I said, warm, jammy, rich… “gooey.”
Moving on, the real question many people might have is how does it sound vs it’s slightly beefier but less updated brother, the Model 30. That was the main question burning in my mind and with the 40N being so new, it’s difficult to find comparisons online. I had the rare opportunity to do a side-by-side demo using my friend’s KEF Reference 5 meta loudspeakers and, hoo boy, there’s some differences.
Testing equipment is as follows: Amazon Echo Link for source with optical out, Topping D90 DAC (we opted not to bother with the integrated DAC for consistency’s sake), Audioquest interconnects to the power amp inputs on both amps. Direct 1:1 comparison.
The first and foremost difference is straight up power delivery. The Model 30 just has more horses under the hood. Not a bad thing, they say it right in the brochure, but there it is. If you’ve got power-hungry speakers, the Model 30 is undoubtedly the better choice. I wonder at whether this difference is accentuated more dramatically by the Model 40N being an A/B amp whereas the 30 is a class D. Either way, the Model 30 delivers more volume.
Detail is up next. The Model 30 offers texture, precision and urgency in it’s delivery of sound. This is a HI-FI amp, meant to be listened to with a furrowed brow and stroking of one’s chin. Imagine a buffet of resolved, detailed sound, sliced up with intention and put out on separate platters to be enjoyed individually. I wouldn’t call it a cool sounding amp, but it’s got a bit of a sharper edge than it’s younger brother. That’s the Model 30.
The Model 40N is an amp made for the people. Sound jells together less intricately, but has a pleasant vibe to it. Songs are juicy, rhythmic, and musical. In a head to head against the Model 30, I prefer the more exotic pips and pops that the 30 can deliver. It sounds like something that even the layman would indentify as a high-end system.
The 40N, with it’s modern considerations and “everything but the speakers” mentality is, in my opinion, more value for the dollar. Honestly, a fantastic amp. You should buy it.

The one to beat under 3k, this stereo integrated is warm and so easy to listen to for hours on end

Awesome Amp powerful and clean
Worth every penny
It can stream right off the internet bypassing Bluetooth if you wish to