Marantz MCR-612 'Melody X'
Featuring wi-fi, Bluetooth, Internet radio, HEOS and a huge range of built-in music services, the Melody X has you covered for streaming music. It goes much further, though. A CD player lets you keep on spinning your favourite discs. DAB and FM tuners let you listen off air. Finally, a wide collection of digital and analogue inputs make connecting up your other music sources a cinch.
When it comes to streaming music your way, the Melody X is ahead of the game. Apple AirPlay 2 is now standard and Amazon Prime Music, Spotify (Premium account required for full features), TIDAL, Napster and Deezer are all on board. There’s also TuneIn for Internet radio and Bluetooth music streaming.
AirPlay 2 takes this popular wireless streaming format and makes it better. Controllable by simply asking Siri or using your Apple device, AirPlay 2 lets you effortlessly stream music and podcasts around your home – and all in perfect sync. Alternatively, use the Bluetooth connection for a direct stream from your smartphone or other device.
HEOS multi-room music systems connect together by dual-band Wi-Fi, making them easy to set up with your existing home network. Up to 32 HEOS units can be set up at one time, ensuring even the largest of homes are covered for multi-room music. With HEOS already built-in, the Melody X is ready to go as a single ‘zone’ without any further adaptors.
With support for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri, the Melody X has your every request covered. Simply add an Alexa or Google Home device or use Apple AirPlay for effortless voice control of the main functions, such as volume and input.
As a further bonus, the Melody X MCR612 features a built-in CD player. Marantz make some of the best CD players on the market, so it's little surprise to find this one plays CDs to a very high standard. For added flexibility, it will also play MP3 and WMA music files stored on disc.
Another very handy feature is the built in DAB/FM tuner radio. A choice of DAB and FM gives you access to a wide range of local and national stations. For ease of use, RDS (Radio Data System) is included on the FM tuner. At the back of this versatile system you'll find two optical digital inputs and one RCA phono analogue pair. Perfect for connecting sources such as your TV, games console or set-top box, the Melody X improves the sound of much more than just your music. As a further bonus, it even works with your TV’s remote control – perfect for adjusting the volume or mute without having to use two remotes.
Monitor Audio Silver 50
The ultra-compact Silver 50 introduces a completely new version of Monitor Audio’s special 5¼-inch C-CAM bass/mid-range drive unit, creating the most diminutive bookshelf model ever to appear in the line-up. Silver 50 may be compact, but it delivers a big sound with impressive scale and dynamics. Prepare to be astounded.
Powerful magnets in the nimble Silver 50 stand-mount loudspeaker drive large, 32 mm voice coils to ensure impressive power handling and incredibly low distortion. Design criteria ensure that the Silver 50 will make the most of smaller living spaces by being placed close to a wall and yet still deliver clean, punchy bass. You will only hear well-balanced, pure mid-range without ever a hint of box coloration.
Strategic cabinet bracing and Monitor Audio’s bolt-through technology creates an amazingly solid speaker. Not only can it play louder and cleaner than its size suggests, it delivers an incredibly well balanced, pure mid-range for a gloriously natural sound.
This may be a smaller box but be prepared for a big, fulfilling sound.
New 25 mm C-CAM (Ceramic-Coated Aluminium/Magnesium) tweeter, featuring vented Neo magnet system, optimised for lower distortion and cleaner sounding treble
New 5¼-inch bass/mid driver with concave ‘dished’ C-CAM cone profile for optimal damping and improved mid-range clarity
RST Cone profile for improved diaphragm rigidity and lower distortion
Unique build ring/voice coil-cone coupling mechanism (DCF), optimised to reduce high-frequency cone break-up and increase the critical voice coil circumferential rigidity
Cast polymer driver chassis design for improved rigidity and damping characteristics
HiVe II port technology giving improved transient response and tighter bass, due to smoother airflow
Pureflow silver-plated OFC copper internal cabling to allow the highest-quality transfer through the signal chain
High-quality crossover components including premium grade, bespoke polypropylene film capacitors, air-core and low-loss laminated steel-core inductors allowing maximum signal transfer and zero distortion
Rigid 20 mm MDF construction utilising scientifically-optimised bracing
Single-bolt-through driver technology pioneered by Monitor Audio, providing increased bracing strength, rigidity and driver/baffle de-coupling
Ultra-low-profile grilles featuring invisible magnetic grille fixings mean a clean visual styling
Bespoke, high quality bi-wire terminals
Selected premium-quality wood veneers, high-gloss lacquer or contemporary Satin White finishes
