So, Marantz launches a flagship multichannel AV pre- and power combo in the AV8003/MM8003 to keep up with the Denons next door.

This isn't surprising, as the two are owned by the same company and all but share office stationary in the UK. But what is surprising is the price.

This is a stonkingly huge pre-power set-up for one-third the cost of Denon's flagship AVP & POA A1HD duo, and a cool five hundred quid less than Denon's AVC-A1HD integrated beastie. Sibling rivalry? More like all-out war.

Of course, to hit this rather attractive price for a two-box system, surely features have been kept to a minimum and the build quality gone all Citroen. Er, no actually. While Marantz's offering doesn't quite
go to Denon's nth degree features-count or absolute battleship robustness, the 8003s are no slouches in functionality, and at least frigate class.

THX appeal

The higher price of the AV8003 processor over the power amp is indicative of the greater tech contained within. It offers full decoding of all the HD audio formats, has 4-in, 2-out v1.3a HDMIs with all the associated trimmings, and a shiny THX Ultra2 (not Ultra2 Plus) badge to wear with pride – particularly if you are a fan of the THX post-processing 'sound'.

Key internal audio design bears all the hallmarks of Marantz's hi-fi components and it offers 1080p upscaling of all video inputs (a first for Marantz) including streamed video media.

In fact, networked media is one of the AV8003's major attractions. While there is no wireless connectivity, relying on a sole RJ-45 Ethernet network connection instead, the built-in DLNA-compatible media player offers audio, video and JPEG playback (both slideshow and thumbnail), and straightforward access to server-based media on your PC, sound-server or even a dumb NAS drive.

Spectacularly specced system

The interface is both pretty and effective, and I managed to access content from my PC even by compounding the complexity of the system with a wireless bridge. Marantz's M-DAX does a fine job of jazzing up compressed audio and the Anchor Bay scaler worked a treat on downloaded video from basic MPEG-4 files to WMV-HD at 720p.

The MM8003 power amp is an identically-sized, but much weightier beast, boasting a solid 140W to its eight channels in wide-bandwidth glory. It shares Marantz's reference M1 chassis construction, which employs a double-layer bottom plate, shock-absorbing feet and extensive copper plating.

Best of all, both units are replete with eight-channel XLR balanced connections allowing you to hookup without fear of earth loop hum or cable-borne interference.

Wrap up the whole package with a dollop of multiroom connectivity, a sprinkling of IR repeaters and 12V triggers, and ice with two remotes – including Marantz's superb RC-2002 PC-programmable remote control – and you've got a tasty-looking cake. Er, AV combo, I mean.

Cut corners

Get up close and personal with the Marantz duo, beyond the sexy, curved styling and matt black finish, and you can see a few indications of where costs have been saved.

The case, while no Kit-Kat wrapper, isn't audiophile grade, the outer-fascia panels are plastic, the XLRs lock with a sloppy action rather than a crisp one, and there is a lot of flex in the speaker terminals.

Moreover, power up the system and you are greeted with an old-school monochrome text menu rather than a more modern GUI. It's very simple to use, but at this price there is no excuse for such a visual atrocity; public flogging of the product manager should be mandatory.