The Article

M1 STREAMING AMPLIFIER FROM MARANTZ

24th October 2025

The company flags two notable properties for the M1, “performance” and “versatility”. Paul Rigby agrees with both of those terms

This neat box, presented in black, is a Class D, 100W into 8 Ohms streaming amplifier, spanning a neat 239 x 84 x 217mm and weighing a manageable 2.2kg. On the front are touch controls affecting volume with a multi-coloured status light telling you how the M1 is feeling right now. On top is an almost avant-garde, wavy cooling grille. Different yet attractive.

Marantz Shirakawa Audio Works

The M1 is reportedly built in Japan itself, not China like it’s more value products. For a lifestyle-leaning product like this? That Japan build is quite prestigious.

TECH TOUR

The majority of the features here are controlled via the HEOS app or the controller related to the device you connecting to the M1. Even so, its a pity a physical remote wasn’t included as an option. There are times when such a remote is simpler, faster and more direct than an app.

On the rear is a Connect button that tells you the status of the M1, a Bluetooth pairing button (A great addition. Too many companies are leaving this little essential out of their designs, of late.), four speaker terminals (which could have been more robust, I felt), a pair of RCA inputs, sub out, optical but no coax, Ethernet, USB and HDMI eARC.

For the M1, you can add a CD player if you wish or a turntable but not both at the same time. The power supply is connected via a Figure-of-8 socket.

The M1 supports up to 24bit/192kHz or DSD128, Bluetooth 4.2 (although only the SBC codec is supported which is, frankly, not good enough), Airplay2 is also included as is Spotify Connect plus a host of other music services.

SOUND QUALITY

Rather than grab a comparatively priced, small footprint unit, do a quick A-B test and be done with it and only address a small proportion of the potential M1 customers out there, I wanted to make rather different comparisons. Possibly more practical reference tests, perhaps?

VS AUDIOLAB 6000A MK.II

For example, are you considering buying an integrated amplifier like the Audiolab 6000A Mk.II? Maybe you don’t need all the inputs and streaming and AV use is more your thing. Would the Marantz, in this case, be a better bet?

Well the M1 does have the 6000A Mk.IIs HDMI socket, sure. Bluetooth is also included on both although the Marantz has the Ethernet port for network play, the Audiolab does not. The M1 also has a smaller footprint. In terms of streaming sound quality I had a quick listen via Bluetooth at some low-key jazz via Iman Spaagaren & Peter Bjornbild from the In Essence album, and the track Some Day My Prince Will Come. A study in clarinet and upright bass over 32bit/44.1Khz via my MacBook M3 Pro.

Cooling grid on top of the chassis

Now sure, the Class D amplification of the M1 might not have quite the same exceptionally meaty Class AB amplifier guts of the Audiolab and thus bass might be a little lighter on the M1 by comparison but bass still occupies the lower end very well indeed and, compared to other units of a similar ilk – let’s say the WiiM Amp Pro, for example – is fleet of foot and very nimble, offering nicely balanced mids and treble from the M1.

Underneath

For those looking for a mainly streaming presentation, the M1 combines sound quality, size and facilities well.

VS ADVANCE PARIS PLAYSTREAM A5

How about Wi-Fi performance via that wired, Ethernet option combined with something rather more expensive? Let’s say the Advance Paris Playstream A5? I played the wordily titled Tom Waits’ ditty, I Can’t Wait To Get Off Work (And See My Baby On Montgomery Avenue) which is basically vocal and piano and pushed that to the A5 via my Twonky server.

Centre – status light.

I wasn’t expecting the M1 to get anywhere near the A5 in terms of sound but hoped the M1 would make a good show of it. And it certainly did. Sure, again, the M1 couldn’t supply the same deep, bass richness of the A5 but the M1 did offer a greater sense of midrange focus, a light and fragile treble with a good quality bass that was again, nimble and fleet of foot. Music sped along and never dragged.

OFFICE AV

I then looked at my office-based AV system, shoved in an IKEA Kallax shelf it features a Samsung 4K TV, a Rega Brio-R feeding a Topping E30 DAC into an optical port on the TV plus a pair of Spendor S3/5R speakers.

Question. Do I need an AV upgrade? And would the M1 supply? I loaded up YouTube and played a lossy version of Blondie’s pop hit, Heart of Glass. Even with this quality of file, the M1 was…brilliant! A real step up in musical quality with a larger, spacious soundstage, enhanced clarity from the lead vocal and enhanced instrumental separation that allowed the bass guitar to better be heard while the ride cymbal was crisp and focused. In fact, focus was a real enhancement right across the board while the vocals, backing synth and rhythm guitar were better balanced in the mix.

CONCLUSION

I don’t see the Marantz M1 as a specialist, dedicated shelf-based HiFi component and so would not criticise it for lacking features present on shelf-based amplifiers. Saying that, if required, the M1 can certainly fulfil that role with ease. In my opinion though, the M1 is instead, superb at integrating itself into the home and has the ability to talk to just about every other piece of modern, sound-based tech you might have and use in your home.

The two amplifiers I referenced in this review might be superior in certain parts of the sonic envelope but they are not as flexible overall in design terms. Compared to the M1, some amplifiers might be better in bass terms, some might be better in the upper mids and so on but the M1 is broadly excellent across the board and it has modern streaming facilities that will connect well to a main HiFi system or a smaller second system or an AV set up or even a desk-based near field system. That small footprint is also a major boon. Without it, I couldn’t have used it in my own AV system during testing, for example.

I see the M1 as a bit of a Swiss Army knife in sound tech terms. A jack of all trades in terms of how you live your life. Flexible and adaptable, the Marantz M1 is a truly modern piece of HiFi equipment that just happens to sound great.

MARANTZ M1 STREAMING AMPLIFIER

Price: £900

Website: www.marantz.com

GOOD: small footprint, general sound quality, streaming facilities, minimalist design

BAD: no physical remote, better Bluetooth codecs needed, speaker terminals