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Marantz SR4200 (09/04/2001)

Marantz SR4200

Entered CNET Catalog: 09/04/2001

SKU: SR-4200

Manufacturer: Marantz America Inc.

Content [Hide]
  1. Manufacturer's description
  2. Product summary
  3. Editors' review
  4. Users' opinions
  5. Keywords

Manufacturer description

The Marantz SR4200 is powered to excite with an outstanding combination of home theater receiver performance, features and flexibility - along with legendary Marantz sound quality. It is the ultimate choice for a wide variety of high-performance 5.1-channel home theater systems, offering compatibility with Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS decoding. Experience the true excitement of a movie soundtrack through 96kHz/24-bit audio D/A conversion and cherish the ultimate functionality of having a wide variety of analog and digital video and audio inputs, outputs and switching facilities, including S-video switching. You're in control if the SR4200 drives your entertainment system. Hear perfection.

Product summary

The goodThe good: Dolby Pro Logic II.

The badThe bad: No component video or DVD-Audio/Super Audio CD inputs.

The bottom lineThe bottom line: Sweet sound for the money.

Average user rating: from 20 users
4.0 stars

Editors' review

  • Editors' Choice: No
  • Reviewed on: 09/06/2001
Marantz claims that its new line of A/V receivers was designed with significant input from customers and dealers. We'd say its research paid off; the company distilled the essential ingredients of a great receiver--lots of features, friendly ergonomics, superior sound quality, and an affordable price--and crammed all that good stuff into the SR4200. Marantz claims that its new line of A/V receivers was designed with significant input from customers and dealers. We'd say its research paid off; the company distilled the essential ingredients of a great receiver--lots of features, friendly ergonomics, superior sound quality, and an affordable price--and crammed all that good stuff into the SR4200.

The $430 SR4200 is a joy to use. We found the 5.1-speaker-setup rigmarole easier to navigate than most, even though the SR4200 lacks an onscreen display. The programmable remote's button count is high (56), but the regularly used buttons fall easily under your fingers.

The ins and outs
The SR4200's suite of connectors is perfectly respectable for the price. While the receiver lacks component video and DVD-Audio/Super Audio CD (SACD) 5.1 analog inputs, it does sport a rather complete digital audio complement: four inputs (two optical, two coaxial), and two outputs (one optical and one coaxial). Video connections are modest by today's standards: one pair each of S-Video ins and outs and four composite video inputs and two outs. The seven analog audio connections are plentiful enough for all but the most complex systems. Finally, if the SR4200's modest 70 watts of power per channel ever starts to cramp your style, you can hook up a mondo multichannel amp to the receiver's 5.1-channel preamp outputs.

Cruising with the SR4200
The SR4200 has Dolby Digital and DTS decoding and something brand-new--Dolby Pro Logic II. This surround format comes in two forms: one for movies and one for music. We found the Pro Logic II-generated surround effects on older stereo DVD soundtracks, such as Cube and The Madness of King George, to be a vast improvement over those of the original Pro Logic. We heard a greater sense of spaciousness, and the dialogue was cleaner and more articulate. Pro Logic II's gains on Nirvana's Unplugged CD weren't as decisive; the processed sound seemed, well, processed. We actually preferred the original stereo sound, but the Pro Logic II sound was bigger and filled our listening room more completely.

Quirks? Yes, this receiver, like so many others, muted the first fraction of a second of sound whenever we skipped DVD chapters and muted the sound on and off when we played a CD right after finishing a DVD.

The SR4200 is Marantz's least expensive home-theater model, but the sound is more than decent. In our tests, the CDs sounded full bodied, and well-recorded DVDs, such as Men in Black and Fight Club, were excellent. Their wide dynamic ranges were fully intact, and their spatial presentation sounded like that of higher-priced receivers. We pushed our inefficient speakers (Dynaudio Contours) pretty hard, but the SR4200's 70 watts per channel didn't run out of gas.

The SR4200's connectivity shortage may reduce its appeal to die-hard home-theater fans. Nevertheless, we were mightily impressed with its sound quality and friendly demeanor. We heartily recommend this receiver.

User opinions

Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
User Rating:
5.0 stars

out of 20 user reviews

Sweet sound with a punch. Fantastic build quality.by waterbiscuit - October 9, 2008

Pros: Packs a punch and very sweet warm sound the high-quality standards from Marantz have won again. I've used amps costing twice this price that haven't sounded as good.

Cons: Nothing so far

Review:
User Rating:
5.0 stars

out of 20 user reviews

Loved this amp, it's the best one I've used to date.by ppuskas - October 5, 2008

Pros: Really good value, built like a tank, the sound comes alive with classica, dynamic for rock music.

Cons: None so far!

Review: Really good value, built like a tank, the sound comes alive with classica, dynamic for rock music. I'm using this instead of my usual amplifer, as it's so powerful.
Films come alive, very transparent. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a reliable and exciting receiver.
User Rating:
3.5 stars

out of 20 user reviews

A lot of Amp for the moneyby - January 12, 2005

Pros: I'm a bit puzzled by those who have given this unit the thumbs down because it represents excellent value for money. I'm perhaps fortunate that I don't actually use the unit for Video inputs as the absence of component inputs might be a drawback but there

Cons: For some, the absence of component video inputs and for me the continuous volume control which has to be wound a lot for small gains.

Review:
User Rating:
5.0 stars

out of 20 user reviews

The Best of the Bunch!!!by - March 10, 2003

Pros:

Cons:

Review: I have the CNET #1 rated Onkyo SKS-HT500 speaker package and am very satisfied. I auditioned the #2 rated Onkyo SR600 receiver and the #3 rated HK 225 receiver with the HT500 speakers at home for 30days and was not impressed with either. The Onkyo SR600 is better than the HK 225 but neither are exceptable for music listening. Read the reviews on the Marantz 4200 and thought I would give it a chance since the reviews stated how good it was with music. The 4200 was discontinued so I purchased the new 4300 and could not believe how great this receiver sounded. It is by far the best. I have also auditioned the Denons and returned them as well. It just seemed like the overall sound was coming together. I believe that CNET rates the receivers based on the combination of features and sound for the money, which is why the Onkyo and HK are rated so high. They have tons of features and decent sound for the money. But the Marantz has few features which is fine with me and Incredible sound which is why they have it rated lower and not a reviews choice. This is the perfect receiver for the Onkyo HT500 speaker package. You will not find a better receiver for this price if sound quality is what means the most to you as it does to me. It's the Best!!!
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 20 user reviews

Good Gear!by - January 10, 2003

Pros:

Cons:

Review: No doubt those who have ears will hear the difference. I've heard a few and it leaves them standing. Does not appear to support Grundig codes.
User Rating:
3.5 stars

out of 20 user reviews

great for the money u payby - January 6, 2003

Pros:

Cons:

Review: great sound with cds and the movie sound swere excellent, but most impressive was the build quality, i home trialed 2 other avs at th esame price and this was way out front, top notch for value and quality
User Rating:
3.5 stars

out of 20 user reviews

a bargain at £270!!!by - January 5, 2003

Pros:

Cons:

Review: I bought this amp 6 months ago and cannot complain so far. Just try it out with the extended version of lord of the rings in DTS...sounds superb.
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 20 user reviews

Beats Sony - Hands Down!by - November 17, 2002

Pros:

Cons:

Review: When first I brought this receiver home I could not believe how much I'd been missing with my old 5.1 Sony receiver. The Sony had 120 watts X 5, while the new Marantz claims to have only 70 X 5. Why then do you suppose, does the Marantz sound so much clearer at high volume? Get it... You will not be sorry!
User Rating:
2.5 stars

out of 20 user reviews

miss the mark in feature !by - October 29, 2002

Pros:

Cons:

Review: Can't believe this is designed with heavy inputs form users. Think about it: will a novice user upgrage her/his DVD player to a DVD-A/SACD or will she/he rather just bump up the power with seperate power amp ? I would bet the former case is more real. Then why this SR4200 designed with a 6 channels output and not a 6 channel input !!!! Some one in MArantz must be very very badly misinformed....
User Rating:
5.0 stars

out of 20 user reviews

Positively outstandingly excellentby - October 16, 2002

Pros:

Cons:

Review: Had the SR-4200 for a couple of months now, more than pleased with it. It sounds great, looks cool, the remote is very nice and...it's an affordable Marantz! Balls to Denon and the rest. Buy one.
User Rating:
5.0 stars

out of 20 user reviews

Every movie comes to life!by - September 1, 2002

Pros:

Cons:

Review: I bought this receiver over one month ago and my life has improved since. Together with the DV4200 and my Mordaunt-Short speaker system it's beyond my wildest dreams. I upgraded from an ordinary 10 year old Sony stereo system, so there was some gain to be expected, but this much... I listened to different systems at my dealer's and I had a budget to keep in mind, but this system was farout the best value for it's money. All the "in-one-box"-systems sound terribly "plastic", compared to this system. This "plastic" sound is due to the speakers that are provided in these systems, so please don't save your money on good speakers.
User Rating:
4.0 stars

out of 20 user reviews

Amazing sound in Home Theaterby - August 21, 2002

Pros:

Cons:

Review: If you're stepping up from an old Pro-logic receiver (as I did) or you're looking for an inexpensive receiver this is the one for you. Its rated only 70Wpc but it sounds louder and it will fill almost any room with rich and clear sound. The performance in home theater is unbeatable, its quality and looks will conquer your soul and it has plenty of room for connecting all the gear an average system can have. The only complain is the sound in pure stereo, still has some work to do if I compare it with my old HK AVR20II pro-logic receiver. Despite it doesn´t have OSD the setup is very easy and it will give you many hours of entertainment. One feature that I love is the 5-channel pre-amp output, very rare at this price point which will give you the advantage of put more power to your system. It also has 4 digital inputs (2 optical and 2 coaxial) and 2 digital outputs. Many receivers up high in price don´t offer this plenty of digital connectivity. In resume, great receiver for the money the heart of your home theater is in good hands with it. If your listening is more for movies Higly Recommended!
User Rating:
5.0 stars

out of 20 user reviews

The BEST!!!by - August 13, 2002

Pros:

Cons:

Review: I bought one of these 'ansome things a few months back, and have been blown away every time I watch a DVD. Even playing games in Pro-Logic II makes the SR4200 a must buy if you have the cash.
User Rating:
5.0 stars

out of 20 user reviews

Absolutely unbeatableby - April 16, 2002

Pros:

Cons:

Review: Putting it simply, there is no other receiver on the market for this price that can compete with it. Everyone can now afford a bit of luxury.
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 20 user reviews

Amazinf sound from cheap receiverby - March 16, 2002

Pros:

Cons:

Review: This machine follows the high-quality standards from Marantz. Nice looking system, robust also and sound from heavens. First class for its price
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 20 user reviews

cool as!!!by - January 30, 2002

Pros:

Cons:

Review: @ the moment i have an SR5000 and love it to bits, but since the release of the SR4200 and the lack of short supply of brand new SR5000 i seem to have success fully talked 3 of my frieds into purchasing the SR4200 the only real major differance i can see is the fact that the SR4200 has less connectablity than the SR5000 but to the SR4200's advatage it's got Dolby pro2 keep up the good work @ MARANTZ cheers
User Rating:
1.5 stars

out of 20 user reviews

Get what you pay for.by - January 22, 2002

Pros:

Cons:

Review: Lets face it... this heap is for the "on the budget" home theater shopper. Listen, if you've got a few extra bucks to spend... don't waste your time with this toy, irrespective of CNET's useless endorsement. Does CNET have a clue??? If you're on a budget, I guess it's ok, but for those who have the bucks... look at the HK's, Denon's, Yamaha' and Onkyo's first. Nakamichi also has a few top notch receivers.
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 20 user reviews

At Last a Musical Cinema systemby - December 17, 2001

Pros:

Cons:

Review: Several of my friends had purchased off-the-shelf complete cinema systems for between £250 to £500. Having listened to these tinny systems, I was not impressed. I also wanted to kill two birds with one stone and incorporate my love of hi-fi. Who needs a room full of different speakers, for audio or cinema sound? five speakers and a sub is enough for any room, let alone another pair of fronts for your hi-fi! I checked out Kenwood and Yamaha amps for around £ 300-£400 but their lack of depth during music playback left me dejected, beleiving I had to spend more than I could afford for a decent amp. And then it happened. A dealer recommended the Marantz and after a quick demo, I realised you could get a quality AV amp in my price range. When paired with decent speakers this baby really sings. Even my wife, who thinks Bass is a type of beer, is impressed with the quality of sound which comes from this unit. Bass is really smooth and not at all boomy. Likewise, the midrange and treble is clear and tight, strings sounding taught and sharp. I cannot wait to get home tonight, pack the kids off to bed and get playing with my new toy. Anyone wanting a cinema system with CD playback all rolled into one should buy this amp now. You will not be dissapointed but you will be getting to bed late!
User Rating:
4.5 stars

out of 20 user reviews

High quality bang for the buckby - November 25, 2001

Pros:

Cons:

Review: First of all, the Marantz tagline, "because music matters" is obviously not just hype based on this relaively low end model. With the range and variety of inputs/outputs on this product, it is a great bridge piece for those budget-minded (like me)not wanting to sacrifice sound quality for bells and whistles. My only digital component to date is my DVD player which takes up one of the four available digital inputs (plenty of room to grow). There are still lots of analog inputs for older components (tape, CD, etc.) that do not have digital output. The universal remote controls a very satisfying range of functions on my other components. The ability to assign the digital inputs to any device button on the front panel and also to control subwoofer gain by device sold me when comparing against some other contenders. When listening to music, regular 2 channel stereo sounds very clean and balanced. The 5 channel stereo mode adds some nice atmospherics without detracting from the music. Movies come alive in the Dolby Digital and DTS modes. Highly recommended.
User Rating:
1.0 stars

out of 20 user reviews

Don't buy this Receiverby - November 25, 2001

Pros:

Cons:

Review: I used as that SR-42OO 1 month now, bad sound (low power) I'm order new Denon Receiver

Keywords

7052167   |   SR4200   |   Dolby Pro Logic II   |  

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Marantz SR4200 specifications

  • General
  • Product Type AV receiver
  • Dimensions (WxDxH) / Weight AV receiver : 17.3 in x 14.4 in x 6.5 in / 21.4 lbs
  • Width 17.3 in
  • Depth 14.4 in
  • Height 6.5 in
  • Weight 21.4 lbs
  • Enclosure Color Black
  • Localization English
  • Audio Features
  • Surround System Class 5.1 channel
  • Amplifier Output Details 70.0 Watt - 8.0 Ohm - 20 - 20000 Hz - THD 0.09 % - 2.0 channel(s) ( Rear ) , 70.0 Watt - 8.0 Ohm - 20 - 20000 Hz - 2.0 channel(s) ( Front ) , 70.0 Watt - 8.0 Ohm - 20 - 20000 Hz - 1.0 channel(s) ( Center )
  • Sound Output Mode Surround Sound
  • Audio D/A Converter 24bit / 96kHz
  • Built-in Decoders DTS decoder , Dolby Pro Logic , Dolby Digital
  • Digital Sound Processor (DSP) Yes
  • DSP Preset Qty 7.0
  • DSP Presets 5ch stereo , Matrix , Music , Movie , Hall , Game , Virtual Surround
  • Input Impedance 47.0 KOhm
  • Input Sensitivity 316.0 mV
  • Response Bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
  • Signal-To-Noise Ratio 99.0 dB
  • Additional Features Digital signal format auto detection / auto switching , Source direct
  • Inputs & Outputs
  • Headphone Jack Yes
  • Coaxial Digital Input Yes
  • Coaxial Digital Output Yes
  • Optical Digital Input Yes
  • Optical Digital Output Yes
  • Tuner features
  • Type Radio tuner - AM/FM - Digital
  • Tuner Frequency Range FM: 87.5 - 108 MHz , 520 - 1710 kHz
  • Tuning Display Fluorescent display
  • Preset Station Qty 50.0
  • Antenna Form Factor Loop AM / wire FM
  • Signal-To-Noise Ratio 70.0 dB
  • Station Memo Display Yes
  • Auto Preset Memory Yes
  • Additional Features Station naming
  • Turntable
  • Type None
  • DVD/Blu-ray features
  • Type None
  • CD System
  • Type None
  • Digital Player (Recorder)
  • Type None
  • MD System
  • MD system type None
  • Display
  • Built-in display Fluorescent
  • Display dimmer Yes
  • Headphones
  • Headphones Type None
  • Microphone
  • Type None
  • Remote Control
  • Remote Control Universal remote control - Infrared
  • Supported Devices Satellite TV system , TV , Cassette deck , CD player , MD player , DVD player , VCR , CD recorder
  • Features Multi-brand compatibility
  • Miscellaneous
  • AV Furniture None
  • Built-in clock Digital clock
  • Timer Sleep
  • Power
  • Power Device Power supply - Integrated
  • Power Consumption Operational 324.0 Watt
  • Power Outlets 2 AC outlets