Marantz - CINEMA60 S2 100W 7.2 Channel A/V Home Theater Receiver - Black

SETUP / INSTALLATION The setup was surprisingly simple with the guided step-by-step onscreen setup guide. I also used the app, which gave a detailed connection guide and made the process easy to follow. I connected it using eARC so I could control the volume and TV power through the same TV remote. It is much easier because I do not have to keep switching between remotes just to turn things on or adjust the volume. The setup asks how many speakers you have and actually shows you a diagram of what speakers go where. I have a 5.1 speaker system, and it pretty much guided me through the speaker placement. The included microphone was easy to use, and the Audyssey feature allowed multiple viewing positions to be customized and adjusted for sound. For someone who has set up receivers before, this was pretty simple. For someone new to receivers, there are still a lot of wires and settings, but the guide does a nice job walking you through it. BUILD / FEEL The receiver has a very premium look and feel. The front face is clean, simple, and modern, and it complements the TV stand and television instead of standing out in a bad way. I genuinely love the circular display window. It gives the receiver a high-end look without being too flashy. The finish has a matte-like appearance that looks expensive and clean. The weight is solid enough to feel like a quality product, but it is not so heavy that moving it becomes a hassle. The receiver is also the right size. It does not feel too bulky or cumbersome, and it fits nicely into the entertainment setup. Overall, it looks and feels like a premium receiver. MOVIE / TV SOUND I already had a nice receiver before this one, so I was not sure what kind of difference to expect. Once I calibrated the Marantz through Audyssey, the sound was noticeably better. The audio sounds crisp, clean, and powerful. Even regular TV shows sound better. The bass is more robust, dialogue is clear, and the overall sound feels fuller. Action movies are where this receiver really shines. It does a great job separating the different sound effects in a movie. A knock on the door can genuinely make you think someone is at your actual front door. Explosions, background noise, music, and dialogue all feel better placed instead of everything blending together. The surround sound is very immersive, and it gives the room more of a theater feel. It is sharp without sounding harsh and powerful without feeling messy. MUSIC / STREAMING My last receiver did not have internet radio, so HEOS was a nice addition. I played around with the different radio stations, and the convenience of getting music without ad breaks, annoying DJs, and random interruptions is a nice bonus. Choosing internet radio is easy. You can click through the channels and find dedicated stations by music genre. It makes the receiver useful even when you are not watching movies or gaming. Music sounds full and balanced through my speakers. Bass comes through strong without sounding muddy, and vocals sound clear. I still think movies and surround sound are the biggest strengths of this receiver, but the music features are a nice bonus. GAMING / HDMI PERFORMANCE I have an Xbox Series X and PS5, and both look and sound amazing going through the receiver. I did not notice any lag, and the audio stayed synced with the picture. Gaming feels much more immersive with full surround sound. The customized sound makes games feel bigger, especially when you hear background effects, explosions, or directional sounds around the room. For someone gaming on a large 98inch TV with surround sound, this receiver helps make the whole setup feel more complete. It is not just about the picture. The sound adds a lot to the experience. APP / SMART FEATURES The Wi-Fi setup was very simple, and I have not had buffering issues when listening to internet radio or music apps. The receiver also updated its software in under five minutes, so the connection was fast enough and reliable. Navigating through the settings is also pretty simple. The menus are intuitive, and I did not have trouble finding or adjusting settings. The remote is a little overwhelming with all the buttons. The HEOS features, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and app controls are useful without making the receiver feel too complicated. That matters because receivers can get frustrating fast when basic settings are hard to find. So far, this one has been easy to manage. HONEST NEGATIVE The only real negative I can think of is that I wish it came with a better universal remote option to control the other devices I own. Between the TV, game systems, streaming devices, and receiver, it would be nice to cut down on all the remotes. At this price point I would have liked a better remote control that wasn’t overwhelming with all the buttons. Other than that, I really have not found any major negatives at this point. The receiver is the right size and weight, it is not bulky, setup was straightforward, and the sound has been excellent. OVERALL Overall, the Marantz CINEMA 60 S2 is an amazing workhorse receiver with a lot of high-end qualities. It has plenty of connections, enough watts to power my 5.1 speaker system, and most importantly, amazing sound. The audio is crisp, immersive, and powerful. Movies feel more theater-like, gaming feels more engaging, and music streaming is easy and convenient. The receiver also looks premium. The clean front design, circular display, and matte-like finish make it feel like a quality piece of home theater equipment instead of just another black box on the shelf. I would recommend this receiver to someone who wants a premium all-around home theater receiver for movies, TV, gaming, and music. It is especially good for someone who wants strong sound, simple setup, modern streaming features, and a clean design that complements the room. Overall, this receiver delivers exactly what I wanted: crisp immersive sound, plenty of useful features, and a premium look that fits perfectly into a home theater setup.