#THE X FILES HOME AGAIN THE AV CLUB ANDROID#

There is a 60 watt internal amplifier - giving the Marantz the scope to handle a good selection of speakers. Nowhere is this more apparent in the amplification and speaker outputs of the Melody X. Given that the Melody X has front panel controls, a remote handset, a control app and the ability to respond when you shout at it makes this about the most controllable device I think I can remember reviewing Given that the Melody X has front panel controls, a remote handset, a control app and the ability to respond when you shout at it makes this about the most controllable device I think I can remember reviewing. There’s no direct microphone input but the various devices can be connected to it and ‘Skills’ implemented to make it responsive to them. The Melody X is additionally compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri. The Melody X has AirPlay 2 so can be grouped with other suitably equipped products if you don’t want to go all in with HEOS.

Neither is this the only form of multiroom available.

#THE X FILES HOME AGAIN THE AV CLUB ANDROID#

This means that as well as being able to stream PCM to 24/192 and DSD128, the Melody X has access to all the major streaming services bar Qobuz and will form a happy partnership with other HEOS devices, all controlled via the iOS and Android app. There is also wired and wireless network streaming that is carried out by the Denon and Marantz HEOS system. A pair of optical inputs join the analogue one to give a greater spread of connections. There is then, an RCA line input for the external analogue source of your choice.įrom here though, the Melody X starts piling on the features and the modernity.

This is joined by DAB+ for a more up to date fitment. It has both a CD mechanism and a DAB/FM tuner (AM has been discarded so, in this specific regard, some progress has been made). The first and most notable aspect of the Melody X is that if you have managed to keep a trusty Denon DM-30 from the first year of AVForums up and running until now, the Melody X can slot exactly into this role without a second’s thought. The differences (aside from the rather snappier ‘Melody X’ name) are evolutionary rather than revolutionary but no less interesting for that. It replaces the preceding M-CR611 which is extremely similar in overall design (although, perhaps mercifully, the two tone colour scheme of this model has been binned). The Melody X is not a completely clean sheet piece of design. Is this still the smart option for audio thrills in 2020? From Marantz themselves, the NR1200 with its HDMI functionality can be had for the same price and for the cost of a suitable pair of speakers to add to the Melody X, you could have a Naim Mu-So QB2. Where once they were CD based devices with a tuner and an extra input if you were lucky, they now have some very clever extra bells and whistles and the Melody X has a very comprehensive spec indeed that still has some old favourites in there too.ĭo these little systems make sense though? As consumers, we have more choice than ever before and some of these other options are very compelling. In recent years though, these little systems have learned some interesting new tricks. In the face of wireless speakers, soundbars and affordable separates, a subset of customers still heads out to buy these compact devices and most of the Japanese house brands retain at least one on the books. The category itself has proved curiously durable too. Marantz has been making compact all in ones for many years now and they have traditionally been rather good at it.

The Marantz Melody X (or the M-CR612 to use its actual model designation) is a compact stereo all in one system.

The x files home again the av club