In a world increasingly marked by division—streamers here, amps there, and DACs everywhere—the Marantz Model 60n (read ‘n’ for network) offers a rare kind of technological inclusiveness, for only 1,280€.
It doesn’t pursue extremes or shout for attention. Rather, it gently draws you into the music with quiet confidence, blending digital convenience with analogue warmth in a design that conveys a subtle elegance.
When paired with speakers like the Sonus faber Concertino G4, you start to grasp what Marantz has always represented: not merely sound, but a thoughtful approach to home audio.
Elegant Design
The Marantz 60n stays true to its house design, featuring a floating front panel with a subtle crosshatched pattern that reflects a shimmering light. The central signature porthole OLED display, which only allows you to peek at the information, is flanked by six tactile knobs, including traditional tone controls and direct mode, while the two larger ones are for input and volume. It also offers a headphone output.
However, it lacks the ambient lighting feature of its sibling, the 40n. Some may miss the 3D effect. Weighing 12.7 kg, it is proudly made in Japan, and the quality of construction is evident. Every turn and every button press feels tangible, although I might have preferred stepped rather than free rotation.
Everything You Need, Nothing You Don’t
Everything You Need, Nothing You Don’t
This is where the 60n excels—not in novelty, but in thoroughness. The amplifier section delivers 60 watts per channel (Class A/B), powered by a custom-tuned power supply that matches the more expensive 40n regarding power.
Inside, an ESS ES9018K2M DAC with a slow linear phase filter handles 192 kHz/24-bit PCM and DSD 128, with very low jitter. The HEOS platform offers robust streaming support (including Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, and TuneIn), and the unit is fully Roon Ready. It also supports AirPlay 2, Bluetooth 5.4, and HDMI ARC—a thoughtful feature for TV integration that I didn’t try.
Vinyl lovers (not me) were not forgotten: a dedicated MM phono stage is included, along with coaxial and optical digital inputs, USB-A, subwoofer output, and variable pre-outs. It’s a true all-in-one solution without feeling like a compromise—ideal for those who want digital convenience with analogue soul.
Connect to your network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, launch the HEOS app, and you're ready to go (updates may take some time, though). The interface is functional—if not especially elegant—and the included remote is solid, if slightly dated and lacking backlighting.
The central signature porthole OLED display, which allows you to peek at the information, is flanked by six tactile knobs, including traditional tone controls.
Sound Quality
The 60n does not sound mechanical at all. On the contrary, it leans towards a slightly warm sound, presenting a smooth, velvety midrange and voices that draw you in with intimacy. There is a pleasing roundness to the treble, which is never aggressive but always refined, and the bass is full without sounding bombastic.
The 60n strives for a consensual sound. While it may not dazzle with sheer grip or resolution, it rewards you with fatigue-free, lengthy listening sessions. Its presentation is coherent and composed; the soundstage is airy; instruments are well separated; and the rhythm flows naturally.
Listen for pleasure, not for flaws. They do exist, but these are merely academic concerns in this price range. The Marantz 60n and Concertino G4 do not offer a hi-fi show of fireworks; instead, they offer a discreet game of seduction.
Like a crooner, it sounds cosy, warm, and reassuring. It does not seek resolution; it seeks emotion.
If you seek a more visceral, punchy performance, the Model 40n or pairing the 60n with more assertive and sensitive loudspeakers might better suit your taste. However, for most listeners, especially those seeking a singular, elegant hub for both digital and analogue sources, the 60n is deeply satisfying without imposing a high price tag, as only Marantz knows how to do.
The Marantz 60n + Sonus Faber Concertino G4 is the ideal pairing for those who prefer their music to whisper rather than shout.
Listening Notes:
Marantz 60n + Sonus faber Concertino G4
- Don't Know Why – Norah Jones
This track is a natural test for midrange purity and vocal intimacy. The Marantz 60n renders Norah’s warm voice with further sweetness, bringing it slightly forward without excess focus. The bass line has just enough body to ground the voice, though it’s more mellow than muscular. The Concertino G4’s silk-dome tweeter complements this with a gentle shimmer—airy but never sibilant.
Piano tones are softly contoured, not hammer-sharp. There’s a mild analogue gloss to the presentation, which is more musical than analytical. The 60n doesn’t dissect the performance; it lets you inhabit it.
- Take Five – Dave Brubeck Quartet
Joe Morello’s cymbals shimmer with tasteful decay, and the alto-saxophone of Paul Desmond floats in a well-proportioned stage. The Marantz 60n does not exaggerate edges; it paints with colourful oils, not just graphite sketches.
Eugene Wright's bass articulation is slightly rounded yet melodic, letting the swing propel the rhythmic tempo. The Sonus Faber speakers add a subtle touch of wood that blends well with this vintage jazz.
- Royals – Lorde
This bass-heavy track tests dynamics and low-frequency control. The Marantz 60n reveals its more polite nature here. The deep synth hits are audible and well textured, but slightly soft around the edges. The Sonus faber Concertino G4, being so compact, doesn’t help much here.
However, the mid-bass bloom is clean and rhythmic. Lorde’s layered vocals are presented with good separation and a quasi-holographic quality. There’s enough clarity without having to resort to the sparkle or bite of a class-D amp or something even more clinical.
- Lux Aeterna – Morten Lauridsen / Chamber Choir of Europe
The opening chords of ‘Veni, sancte spiritu’ emerge enveloped in a halo of reverb. Here, the power of the 60n in the mids and the natural tonal balance of the Sonus Faber 4G shine brilliantly. The voices of the choir, both female and male, are well-layered, with a palpable sense of the surrounding air, and the spatial placement is softly diffuse rather than sharply defined. There’s no grain in the upper registers; sopranos soar without strain.
Final words
The amplifier’s Class A/B topology provides a sense of organic flow rather than sharp micro-detail. If anything, the sonic tapestry leans towards a romantic softness in the best sense, owing to the treble roll-off of the selected digital filter.
There’s still hope in the hifi world: you don’t need a mortgage on your house to enjoy music!
The Marantz Model 60n may not break new ground. Nonetheless, in a sense, it reinterprets the all-in-one worn-out theme. It’s not intended to impress in a quick demo; rather, it seduces over time, drawing you deeper into the music with each passing track. The 60n doesn’t shout; it sings. Like a crooner, it sounds cosy, warm, and reassuring. It does not seek resolution; it seeks emotion.
And isn’t that what hi-fi should be all about?
The Marantz 60n + Sonus Faber Concertino G4 is the ideal pairing for those who don't like music that shouts. Here, it breathes, inviting you to keep listening. The Marantz 60n and Concertino G4 do not offer a hi-fi spectacle of fireworks; instead, they provide a refined fireside recital. And therein perhaps lies their subtle allure.
There’s still hope in the hifi world: you don’t need a mortgage on your house to enjoy music!