Marantz PS7300 (2002)
The Marantz PS7300 is a 6.1-channel AV surround amplifier released in Japan in November 2002 with a list price of ¥98,000. Documentation on this model is thin — there are no surviving period reviews or owner impressions in the record — but the spec sheet that exists paints a picture of a serious, forward-looking home theater piece from the early days of digital surround.
What sets the PS7300 apart is its amplifier philosophy. All six channels use a current feedback topology, and the power amp section is wide-range designed with a 100 kHz playback ceiling, a nod to Super Audio CD. Rated output is a generous 130W per channel into 6 ohms (20 Hz–20 kHz), with maximum practical power (JEITA) pegged at 160W per channel. The processing brain is a 32-bit Cirrus Logic CS49400 DSP, which handles the full surround alphabet of the era: Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS-ES (Discrete and Matrix), DTS Neo:6, DTS 96/24, MPEG-2 AAC, and Circle Surround II — the latter capable of upmixing mono sources into 6.1 channels.
Connectivity is extensive for its day. Video switching covers composite, S-video, and two wide-band component inputs tuned for HDTV. Audio inputs include nine channels of analog stereo, a 7.1-channel direct input, four optical and three coaxial digital inputs. A 7.1-channel pre-out is present, as is a digital output, a multiroom feed (composite video plus analog stereo), and an RS-232C port for software upgrades. The front panel uses a dot matrix display, and the supplied remote is a learning unit with an LCD and macro capability. It came in gold or black, weighed 14.7 kg, and drew 480W at full tilt.
One oddity in the source record: the audio-database.com entry mentions "Euterpe oleracea" in connection with the DC trigger — almost certainly a machine-translation garble of the Japanese term for açaí palm, which makes no sense in context. The DC trigger spec itself (2 systems) is clear; the stray botanical reference is best ignored. The service manual also covers the Marantz SR-7300, suggesting the PS7300 shared its platform with that receiver, though no explicit relationship is documented.
Known Specifications
- Rated output (20 Hz–20 kHz, 6 Ω): 130W × 6 (Front L/R, Center, Surround L/R, Surround Back)
- Maximum practical power (JEITA, 6 Ω): 160W × 6
- DSP: Cirrus Logic CS49400, 32-bit
- Dimensions: 440 × 160 × 458 mm (W×H×D)
- Weight: 14.7 kg
- Power consumption: 480W
- Released: November 2002, ¥98,000
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