What Hi Fi Sound and Vision
05 DEC 2007
Marantz PM6002
In terms of build and specification, this highly affordable Marantz has nothing to fear from the price-compatible competition. It’s as robustly made as we’ve come to expect from Marantz, its budget price at odds with its beefy tactility.
A full-featured remote control, switching for two pairs of loudspeakers, five line-level inputs (with two recording loops), and a moving-magnet phono stage make for an impressive spec – and when the discussion turns to sound quality, the good news keeps on coming.
Great sonic ride
Amplifying a recording of Ike and Tina Turner’s You Got What You Wanted, the PM6002 serves up a confident, exhilarating sound. The Marantz is upfront and enthusiastic, but manages to bring plenty of discipline to bear: plus it’s highly communicative when it comes to vocal expression and resolution.
It’s happy to charge through up-tempo material but positively revels in the subtle light and shade of Lambchop’s Is A Woman, exhibiting a surefooted delicacy of touch that belies its price. If we’re to criticise (and if we can, we will), then we’d like a bit more expressiveness to the low end.
Marantz’s PM6002 hits plenty hard, but it’s a bit monotonal where very low bass is concerned. That aside, this is an exciting amp, ideal for many budget systems.
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