Home theatre preamp/processor with 13.2-channel processing, Dolby Atmos®, Apple AirPlay® 2, Bluetooth®, and HEOS Built-in

An ultra-capable home theatre centerpiece

I chose Marantz components for my separates-based home theatre and have been thrilled with their performance — I can count on being "wowed" every time I watch a movie, play a video game, or stream a high-res playlist. If you want a similar experience, Marantz's flagship AV8805A can help get you there.

Use the AV8805A as part of a high-performance surround sound system.

You'll connect the AV8805A to your choice of external power amps, using either balanced (XLR) or unbalanced (RCA) cables. 

I recommend using XLR connections if your amplifier supports them since they cancel out potential noise and help feed your amp the cleanest, strongest signal possible.

Advanced video processing for movies and more

Marantz made sure the AV8805A is compatible with the latest video processing technology. One of its eight HDMI inputs supports 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video content (think Sony's PlayStation® 5).

The other seven HDMI inputs support 4K at 60 frames per second — perfect for high-quality sources like a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, or an Apple TV.

Immersive, lifelike sound

The AV8805A excels at processing "object-based" surround sound formats like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X™, which place sound effects in space around you with pinpoint accuracy. 

With support for up to 13 speakers, you'll hear the movie's score and special effects above, behind, in front of, and beside you — just like you would in an actual theatre. 

Music in one room or many 

This pre/pro also lets you stream tunes from your phone or tablet through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Apple AirPlay 2. Or, use the built-in phono input to hook up your turntable. You can even play high-resolution tracks from a USB drive or networked computer. 

HEOS Built-in technology lets you access all kinds of different content through the AV8805A. Listen to internet radio stations, or to popular subscription services like Pandora®, Spotify®, and TIDAL. 

You can also integrate the AV8805A into a wireless multi-room audio system with compatible speakers or streaming components. Check out my hands-on review of a few HEOS-enabled speakers to learn more about how this platform works.

Advanced room calibration with Audyssey

The AV8805A includes Audyssey MultEQ® XT32 — one of the industry's best room-correction platforms. Audyssey measures the acoustics of your room with the included microphone, and then fine-tunes the output of your system to best match the unique sonic characteristics of your space. 

To fully dial-in your system, I recommend you spring for the optional Audyssey MultEQ Editor app (around $20). It lets you direct the speaker calibration process from your phone or tablet, instead of with the handheld remote control. 

The app also unlocks additional Audyssey features that I have found well worth the money, like EQ curve adjustment, Midrange Compensation control, and the ability to save multiple calibration profiles.