Marantz PM6006 UK

£349

What makes for a UK Edition of an already beloved integrated amplifier? Is it one whose timbre better matches the complex taste of a bacon butty? Is it easier to wipe down in the damp, drizzly weather? Or perhaps it is portable, designed for those after school trips to the park with a bottle of cider?

Sadly, it’s a lot more sensible than that. While Marantz had kept the details of the changes made to its Award-winning PM6006 amplifier close to its chest, it took this opportunity to fine-tune its operation with help from some of the finest technicians in the industry.

This opportunity may have arisen organically. As time goes by, certain parts become unavailable, and ploughing the same furrow with different tools is not always the most fruitful of practices.

Even better value than before

So is this a replacement for the original PM6006? As far as the consumer is concerned, probably not. Upturns in quality between different versions of the same product are usually not drastic enough to consider discarding an older class-leading piece of kit completely.

But, all being well, what it does mean is that anybody entering the market now will be treated to even better value for money than those before them.

And that’s where we are with the PM6006. Without having the two side-by-side, we can’t definitively give percentage improvements, but with an amp that’s become like an old friend over the past couple of years, we can confidently say this is even more of a five-star product than its predecessor.

Despite internal changes, outwardly the UK Edition looks almost identical to the original, apart from some additional branding. The front face is dominated by a pair of dials – one for toggling input and one for managing volume – flanking a slim-line LED source indicator.

Below the latter is a quartet of buttons for switching between the amp’s internal DAC and analogue inputs; between either or both pairs of wireable speakers; and to operate the PM6006’S ‘loudness’ feature. Further down is another trio of smaller dials for fine-tuning bass, treble and balance, and also a 6.3mm headphone jack.

On the back panel, you’ll find five analogue line-ins, a coaxial and two opticals, outputs accommodating two pairs of speakers and a tape loop for recording. That means there’s still no USB input, though Marantz says to include one would be impossible at the price point and to look further up the chain if that is indeed a deal breaker.

Fine performance

So, if you own the original PM6006, there’s no need to trade it in just yet; but, if you’re in the market for a stereo amp, this is just about the finest performance you can expect in return for this amount of money.

It’s a characteristically full-bodied and focused Marantz presentation with plenty of detail to boot. Maybe the most granular textures aren’t so readily on offer, favouring a smoother and more wholesome overall tone, but there’s more than enough to dig into without becoming overly analytical or losing its sense of musicality.

And musicality is one of the PM6006’S strengths. The balance is tonally even and overall it’s pleasingly insightful, with a nice wide soundstage, but it’s the rhythmic and dynamic confidence and the knitting together of instruments that make this a budget-to-midrange gem.

There’s a certain smoothness between strands, yet also enough punch and drive to grab attention, with the Marantz’s keen sense of timing accented by a dynamic range sympathetic to leading notes and auxiliary rhythms.

These aspects can be improved upon if you’re willing to pay more, of course, as with any other facet of performance, but the PM6006’S talents are such that it will trump musically many amps much further up the food chain.

The built-in DAC is a decent performer that retains much of the detail we hear through the line stage, but loses a bit of body and natural warmth on the way.

To answer our initial question, it appears a UK Edition is pretty much in line with what went before, only with a little more focus and detail and possibly a touch more high fidelity.

Either way, whether you already own a PM6006 or you were hoping to take home this latest variant, rest assured you’re getting as good an amp as this relatively meagre sum will allow. Proceed with confidence.