Marantz has replaced the CINEMA 50 with the CINEMA 50 SERIES 2. If you own the original, the obvious question is whether you're missing out, and on paper the answer is: not much. Both receivers have nine built-in amplifiers, process up to 11.4 channels, carry the same power rating and have the same HDMI connections. The SERIES 2 adds a revised DAC and a few smaller features. Whether that's worth paying for depends on what you'd be buying it to fix.
At a glance
| Feature | CINEMA 50 | CINEMA 50 SERIES 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in amplifiers | 9 channels | 9 channels |
| Processing and pre-outs | 11.4 channels | 11.4 channels |
| Rated power | 110 W per channel (8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08% THD, 2 channels driven) | Same rating, same conditions |
| Subwoofer outputs | 4, each with its own level and delay | 4, each with its own level and delay |
| HDMI inputs | 6 | 6 |
| HDMI outputs | 3: two main, one Zone 2 | 3: two main, one Zone 2 |
| 8K/60 and 4K/120 | Supported | Supported |
| Immersive formats | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Auro-3D | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Auro-3D |
| Room correction included | Audyssey MultEQ XT32 | Audyssey MultEQ XT32 |
| Dirac Live | Paid licence | Paid licence |
| HEOS and AirPlay 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Roon Ready and Qobuz Connect | Yes, in the current manual | Yes |
| DAC | Not described | Described by Marantz as upgraded (chip not named) |
| DAC filter setting | Not in the manual | Filter 1 and Filter 2 |
| Channel Level Monitoring | Not in the manual | On-screen output level for each channel |
| Rear USB port | None | Power only (USB playback stays on the front port) |
- The 110 W figure is measured with two channels driven. Don't read it as 110 W into all nine speakers at once.
- Marantz's product-page summaries list two HDMI outputs for both models. The detailed specifications and the manual count three, because the Zone 2 output is listed separately. The SERIES 2 specification lists 8K/60 and 4K/120 pass-through on two outputs, so don't assume the Zone 2 output carries it.
What's actually new
A revised DAC. Marantz calls the SERIES 2's converter newly upgraded. It doesn't say which chip it uses, and it doesn't publish anything that would let you compare the two. So the hardware has changed, but nothing official tells you whether, or how, it sounds different in a real room. We're not going to guess.
A DAC filter setting. The SERIES 2 lets you choose between two digital filters. Filter 1 is the default, which Marantz recommends for the Marantz sound. Filter 2 is recommended for bench test measurements. It's a setting to try, not a reason to buy on its own.
Channel Level Monitoring. A new on-screen display shows the output level of each channel. It's a quick way to check that, say, your height speakers are getting a signal at all. It shows what the receiver is sending, not what reaches your seat, and Marantz notes that it doesn't follow the master volume.
A USB power port on the back. Handy for powering a streaming stick without another wall plug. If the device needs 5 V/1.5 A or more, Marantz says to use its own power adapter instead. The port is for power only; USB playback still uses the front port. The original has no USB port on its rear panel.
What hasn't changed
The channel count. This is the part that matters most for most rooms. Both receivers have nine amplifiers and process up to 11.4 channels. Nine channels covers 5.1.4 or 7.1.2, which are the nine-channel layouts in Marantz's own manual. For 7.1.4 you'll need an external amplifier on at least one pair of speakers, whichever model you buy.
The power rating. Both are rated at 110 W per channel into 8 ohms, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, at 0.08% THD with two channels driven. Same figure, same conditions.
Bass management and room correction. Both have four independent subwoofer outputs, each with its own level and delay, and both include Audyssey MultEQ XT32 with Sub EQ HT. Four outputs don't guarantee even bass across a row of seats, though. Where the subwoofers sit, and how you integrate them, does most of the work.
Dirac Live. Both can run it, both need a paid licence to unlock it, and Dirac Live Bass Control is listed as a separate upgrade on both. Before you buy, check with Dirac what each licence includes and which measurement microphone it needs. If you're weighing it up against Audyssey, our room correction comparison covers the differences.
Streaming. Roon Ready and Qobuz Connect both appear in the original CINEMA 50's current online manual, so they aren't SERIES 2 extras. If they're missing from your receiver's menus, check for a firmware update before you check prices.
Is it worth upgrading?
If you own a CINEMA 50 that works, probably not. You'd be paying for the same amplifiers, the same channel count and the same connections, plus a DAC change that nobody has shown to be audible and three smaller conveniences. That's a lot of money for a level display and a USB socket.
Most of the problems that make people look at a new receiver have cheaper fixes. Uneven bass is usually down to placement and setup, so measure before you blame the receiver. If you already use REW, the REW Analyzer will show you what the room is doing. A missing layout like 7.1.4 needs an external amplifier with either model. A missing streaming service may only need a firmware update.
Which one to buy
If you're buying new and the price gap is small, get the SERIES 2. You get the current hardware and the extra settings for little extra money.
If the original is noticeably cheaper, new and with a full warranty, it does everything you need for the same layouts, with the same connections and calibration options. The saving might do more for your system spent on a better speaker or a second subwoofer.
Either way, compare like with like: new against new, refurbished against refurbished, with the warranty and condition taken into account. Ask the seller to confirm the regional model, the warranty and what's in the box.