Marantz AV7706
Score: 86/100
Sonos Arc Ultra
Score: 89/100Rankings
The Sonos Arc Ultra paired with the Sub 4 delivers a premium 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos home-theater experience, featuring extensive codec support, Trueplay calibration, and sleek matte design. It excels in immersive audio and connectivity but is limited by a single HDMI port and the heft of the subwoofer.
The Marantz AV7706 is a high-end 11.2-channel AV pre-processor offering audiophile-grade sound, extensive format support, and future-proof 8K/VRR video. It excels in connectivity and build quality but lacks built-in amplification and has some software quirks.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
11.2best | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 12.845 kg | 5.9 kgbest |
8 countbest | 1 count | |
3 countbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 60 wattsbest | — |
3 yearsbest | — | |
1 countbest | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Physical Specs(1) | ||
Weight (kg) | 12.845 kg | 5.9 kg |
Connectivity(1) | ||
HDMI Inputs (count) | 8 count | 1 count |
Audio Performance(1) | ||
Supported Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Surround, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X, DTS Neural:X, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS 96/24, Auro-3D, IMAX Enhanced, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, DSD5.6 | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Multichannel PCM, Stereo PCM, DTS Digital Surround |
Design & Build(1) | ||
Finish | black | matte |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers laud the AV7706 for its audiophile-grade sound, exhaustive format support, and reference-class 8K/VRR video processing, while noting HEOS UI latency and the absence of Dirac Live room correction.
Everyday users praise the immersive, detailed audio and seamless integration with Marantz amplifiers, as well as the 8K gaming capabilities and robust build; common complaints involve HDMI handshake glitches, over-aggressive Audyssey calibration, a clunky HEOS app, and unreliable USB drive detection.
Reviewers praise the Arc Ultra for its clean, precise, three-dimensional soundstage and deep bass, while noting the lack of HDMI inputs and limited DTS support.
Users love the crystal-clear dialogue, powerful bass and seamless Sonos integration, but many mention the missing HDMI inputs and the Sub 4's weight.
“Immersive, detailed audio and seamless integration with Marantz amplifiers.”
“8K gaming capabilities and robust build.”
“HDMI handshake glitches can be frustrating.”
