Take the Next Step into High-End Audio with Marantz & Classé
Take the Next Step with Your Scottsdale Audio System with Marantz & Classé
Originally Written June 2, 2023. Updated May 5, 2025.
Imagine sitting in your listening room, eyes closed, as the subtle brush of a cymbal reveals textures you've never heard before, or feeling the physical presence of a bass note that seems to materialize in your chest rather than from your speakers.
The experience we've just described is a fundamentally different relationship Scottsdale homeowners can have with music and film. The leap from good to extraordinary audio requires more than expensive equipment. It accesses the emotional core of what makes music and film so powerful!
There are sound systems, and then there are high-end sound systems. At Audio Video Excellence, we strive to surpass your expectations of what high-end luxury listening experiences entail.
When you are looking for that next level of detail, nuance, and presence in your sound, it's time for an upgrade. Marantz and Classé represent two distinct approaches we take to audio nirvana. Each brand has a prestigious history of serving listeners who refuse to compromise.
Continue reading to learn how Marantz and Classé's high-performance components will transform every listening experience in your Arizona home.
A Case Study: Home Music Systems Redefined
The Ultimate Home Theater Package: The AMP 10 and AV 10 Combo
Multi-Channel Audio Perfection
When it comes to creating a reference-quality home theater experience, you can't go wrong with Marantz. The flagship AV 10 processor and AMP 10 amplifier represent the pinnacle of multi-channel audio engineering.
The AV 10 processor stands apart from typical home theater processors through Marantz's legendary Sound Master tuning philosophy. While most processors prioritize the dynamics of movie soundtracks alone, the AV 10 is meticulously tuned to deliver that signature rich, warm Marantz sound with music and films. Versatility like this transforms your theater room into a multi-purpose listening sanctuary.
Power and Precision
What does this translate to in real-world viewing? When streaming Dune on the Strato V Kaleidescape server, you'll not only hear the rumble of sandworms but feel the granular texture of sand shifting beneath them.
During quiet dialogue scenes in dramas, you'll perceive subtle emotional cues in actors' voices that lesser systems simply miss. The AV 10's copper-plated chassis, toroidal power transformer, and gold-plated connectors ensure signal purity and exceptional build quality. It can also support up to a 15.4-channel surround sound system for the most immersive experience possible.
The AMP 10 completes this home theater experience, delivering 16 channels of amplification. Each is capable of delivering up to 200 watts of clean power! This massive headroom reproduces even the most dynamic soundtrack moments—from whispered dialogue to explosive action sequences—with complete authority and control.
When paired with premium speakers, this Marantz combination creates a sonic experience that rivals commercial theaters but adds the intimacy only possible in a properly designed at-home cinematic escape.
Marantz MODEL 40n Offers Digital Convenience with Analog Soul
For music lovers seeking simplicity without sacrifice, consider this one-box wonder. The Marantz MODEL 40n integrated amplifier represents a perfect blend of convenience and audiophile performance. Unlike the component-based approach of the AV 10/AMP 10 system, the 40n combines streaming capabilities, amplification, and sophisticated processing in one elegant chassis.
Power and Connectivity
Delivering a surprisingly powerful 70 watts per channel (8 ohms) and 100 watts (4 ohms) through Marantz's proprietary HDAM-SA3 amplifier circuits, the 40n easily provides enough clean power to drive most high-quality speakers. A built-in phono stage makes connecting a turntable simple, while HDMI ARC connectivity brings TV audio into the same high-quality ecosystem.
Streaming Simplicity
What truly sets the 40n apart is its Digital Heart and Analog Soul philosophy. Stream music from Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, or Pandora through AirPlay, Bluetooth, or HEOS with the pristine digital conversion and warmth that defines the Marantz sound.
The double-shielded toroidal transformer and precise electronic volume control maintain signal integrity even at low listening levels. It's perfect for those late-night listening sessions when you want all the emotion without disturbing the household.
Whole-Home Integration
For whole-home audio applications, smart home integration and media control allow you to create synchronized music throughout your living spaces or play different content in each room. Voice control compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri makes operation effortless. You can bring high-end audio into the modern connected home without compromising sound quality.
Classé Delta – Stereo Perfection
Audiophile Heritage
For the purist two-channel enthusiast, Classé's Delta series represents the ultimate expression of musical reproduction. Since 1980, this boutique audio brand has focused on creating components that disappear. You have nothing left between you and the music.
Preamp Excellence
The Delta PRE preamplifier (and its successor with built-in HEOS, PRE Mk II) anchors this system with meticulous attention to signal integrity. Dual high-performance phono stages accommodate both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges for vinyl enthusiasts.
At the same time, its digital section handles everything from streaming to high-resolution files with remarkable precision. Most importantly, Classé's preamplifiers preserve the recording's original timing relationships. You'll still be able to enjoy that ineffable sense of musicians playing together and create an emotional connection.
Amplification Authority
The matching Delta amplifiers deliver the open, airy, wide soundstage for which Classé is renowned. Their massive power reserves—evident in the stereo amplifier's imposing 100-pound weight—aren't just about volume. This overbuilt design ensures complete control of speaker drivers even during the most demanding musical passages, resulting in a liquidity and naturalness that makes long listening sessions not just possible but addictive.
The Best 8 Spots for High-End Audio Installations
Different rooms and listening scenarios call for different solutions. Here's how these exceptional components can enhance various spaces throughout your Scottsdale home:
1. Dedicated Home Theater
High-end processors and amplifiers create the ultimate cinematic foundation. Enjoy reference-level sound that brings films to life with breathtaking realism. Immersive audio formats with height channels envelop you completely, making every movie night an extraordinary experience.
2. Living Room Entertainment Center
Integrated amplifiers offer elegant solutions for primary living spaces where aesthetics matter as much as performance. Their streamlined design and comprehensive functionality eliminate cable clutter while still delivering authentic high-fidelity sound.
3. Dedicated Listening Room
Separates (preamplifiers and power amplifiers) create the ultimate space for critical music appreciation, revealing subtle details and emotional nuances in your recordings. This dedicated approach produces the precise imaging and soundstage that transforms listening from passive entertainment to a profound experience.
4. Home Office or Study
Versatile integrated systems provide the perfect sonic background for concentration or inspiration in workspaces. Multiple connectivity options accommodate computer audio, streaming services, and even vinyl for those analog breaks between meetings.
5. Primary Bedroom
Premium audio paired with quality bookshelf speakers creates a luxurious retreat for unwinding with music or enhancing TV sound. Simplicity meets sophistication in this intimate listening environment.
6. Outdoor Living Areas
Networked audio systems extend your high-quality listening experience to covered patios and outdoor kitchens. Weather-resistant speakers deliver premium soundscapes that follow you outdoors without compromise.
7. Kitchen and Casual Spaces
Wireless speakers connected to your primary system bring consistent musical quality to spaces where dedicated components aren't practical. Background music becomes remarkably more engaging when delivered through proper audio systems.
8. Whole-Home Distribution
Synchronized audio components create a cohesive listening experience that follows you from room to room. Modern streaming platforms allow different family members to enjoy personalized content in separate zones simultaneously.
Building Your Smart Home Around Exceptional Sound
Complete Control
Luxury audio doesn't exist in isolation. It functions as part of a cohesive smart home ecosystem. We specialize in integrating these audiophile-grade components with control systems like Control4 to create experiences that are both extraordinarily powerful and remarkably simple to use.
Whole-Home Audio
For Marantz 40n installations, the built-in HEOS technology provides a ready-made pathway for whole-home audio integration. Multiple units can be synchronized or play different content in each room. And the best part? It's all controllable from a smartphone app or voice commands, making it ideal for homes where convenience and quality must coexist.
Scene Programming
Imagine hosting a dinner party where a single button tap on a keypad dims the lights and begins streaming your carefully curated playlist. In less than a second, hidden speakers begin playing the perfect song.
Or picture your family settling in for movie night. A voice command activates your Marantz-powered AV system and lowers a projection screen. Each setting is automatically optimized for the content you're about to enjoy. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!
Purist Integration
Even the purist Classé system can be integrated thoughtfully, with custom programming that respects the simplicity of the two-channel experience while making it accessible within your larger home ecosystem. Source selection, volume control, and phono preamp settings can be incorporated into custom scenes that optimize your listening experience.
Expert Calibration
Our engineering team does more than install speakers and AV components. They expertly ensure these complex components maintain their audiophile integrity while communicating seamlessly with your home's lighting, climate, security, and other subsystems. Meticulous calibration of every device integration empowers your home technology experiences. A button tap, swipe, or voice command will initiate a response that enhances, rather than detracts from, your listening experience.
Visit Our Scottsdale Showroom
We welcome you to experience the difference these high-performance audio components can make by visiting our C4 Certified showroom or scheduling an audio consultation.
Connect with us here to start the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you!
