Positive impressions start immediately as soon as you take it out of its box: heavy, sturdy, well-built. The design of the front, from brushed aluminum to impressive champagne, follows recipes of traditional and modern, with large, rotary switches on the edges and a high-resolution multi-indicator screen in the center. The special type praises its construction quality, which may justify its high purchase price. I won't say much about the sound quality. In this price category, there simply is no "bad-sounding," branded, two-channel amplifier, let alone one bearing the name "Marantz." Throughout the entire acoustic spectrum, it appears musical and warm, rather than overly analytical. Its power is sufficient, and the power reserves are also adequate. I don't think it will have difficulty driving even difficult loads, and in the case of connecting a subwoofer, there are 5 options for the low-frequency cutoff frequency, through a useful high-pass filter. However, in its effort not to sound harsh, it tends to round off the highs, as if it wants to disown its Japanese origins and adopt the principles of the English School, with soft treble and aversion to any hint of brilliance. So, be careful with the accompanying speakers: if they are "soft," then the sound will be overly...mellow! As for the connectivity options, they are impressive! A plethora of input sources, via cables, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and a phono input. Whatever you throw at it, it "sees" it and executes it flawlessly! However, there is no "classic" FM/AM receiver. Listening to radio programs is only possible online. Something else worth noting is that the rotary switches on the front feel cheap to the touch and in use, being heavy and stiff, and they also slip in the hand, due to their polished surface, obviously to hide their construction material, plastic. In conclusion, it is a decent proposition in its category, which will not disappoint, despite its high purchase price compared to the competition from, for example, Yamaha and Denon. 4 stars instead of 5, due to the purchase price (€1,299).