Marantz Model 40n Integrated Amplifier

Description

Company & Product OverviewThis review is on the latest addition to what is becoming a classic series of components for Marantz. The new Model 40n joins the Model 30 integrated amp and SACD 30n network player that were introduced in the fall of 2020. It combines the best of both of these two great pieces into one unit that also allows you to get into the sound and look of this great series at a much lower price point.One quick check for vintage Marantz on eBay will tell you that the gear built by Saul Marantz in the late 1950s and 1960s is highly desired by audio enthusiasts all over the world. These pieces now go for 10 to 50 times their original selling price even though they are 60+ years old! Even the Marantz gear from the 1970s is in high demand.The reason for this is the classic signature sound developed by Saul Marantz that made them big hits when they were first released. What is pretty neat about Marantz is that they have a group of engineers in Japan whose only job is to keep the best of Marantz having that same sonic signature. They are trained to recognize this sound and spend all of their time listening to new Marantz models to fine-tune the circuitry to meet that standard. These engineers are called Marantz Sound Masters.The first two 30 pieces embodied all of this great heritage in an analog-only integrated amp and SACD player/music streamer. The Model 40n has the same great cosmetic touches as the 30 models and actually gives us a few new features not found on the earlier units. It is an integrated amp, with music streaming built-in, and a couple of other neat features too.Design & Build QualityThe design of the 40n is classic and follows that of its 30 Series brethren. Almost all of the original Marantz gear had a very symmetrical appearance with the same number of knobs, dials, and buttons on each side. The 40n captures this with perfect symmetry, even putting the power button and headphone jack on opposite sides. The controls are on a smaller facep