Marantz PM-12SE integrated amplifier

With unwavering attention to detail, Marantz Special Editions produce unparalleled high-fidelity sound that highlights all the emotions of music. The PM-12SE offers the most direct signal path through the amplifier, delivering 100 watts per channel to 8 ohm speakers or 200 watts per channel to 4 ohm speakers.

Marantz PM-12SE integrated amplifier

New premium products from Marantz are always a reason to celebrate for music lovers. The new Marantz PM-12SE is no exception. Marantz Special Editions express the love of music, which is deeply rooted in the artistic and craftsmanship of the sound masters and sound engineers. With unwavering attention to detail, Marantz Special Editions produce unparalleled high-fidelity sound that highlights all the emotions of music. The PM-12SE offers the most direct signal path through the amplifier, delivering 100 watts per channel to 8 ohm speakers or 200 watts per channel to 4 ohm speakers. The device also has high-quality nickel-plated input terminals and speaker connections made of high-purity copper.

The most important features

• Developed and meticulously optimized by a team with more than 65 years of experience designing Marantz amplifiers
• High-resolution preamp stage from Marantz with in-house HDAM technology
• Switching amplifier design of the flagship PM-10 amplifier
• High output power: 100W + 100W (8 ohms), 200W + 200W (4 ohms)
• Discrete two-stage design for optimal signal purity with separate power supplies for preamp and power amp channels to reduce interference
• Toroidal transformer on the preamplifier for clear, precise sound
• Current feedback design with newly developed circuits for a wide frequency range and high dynamics
• HDAM® SA3 circuit for a pure signal and excellent dynamics
• MM/MC phono input with new, discrete Marantz Musical Premium Phono EQ circuit
• Thick, nickel-plated connection sockets for CD and phono, high-quality speaker terminals from Marantz made of high-purity copper
• Continuous volume control with new electrical volume system
• High-quality construction with double-walled chassis and solid aluminum front
• Pure mode disables unnecessary circuitry for best audio performance
• High-quality, carefully selected audio components: Schottky diodes with low leakage current, low-noise complementary transistors, high-quality resistors, newly developed electrolytic capacitors, film capacitors and mica capacitors specifically for high-quality audio applications

Marantz Special Edition

The extensive and careful tuning of our sound masters is what distinguishes Marantz's extraordinary sonic signature. No component leaves the hands of our acousticians until it has passed rigorous tests. Only the best products, carefully tested and lovingly treated, make it to your home. Marantz Special Editions express the love of music, which is deeply rooted in the artistic and craftsmanship of the sound masters and sound engineers. The sound masters sometimes recognize additional potential in products, which they then further refine with carefully selected components and extensive listening sessions. The Marantz PM-12 was originally intended exclusively for the Japanese market, but quickly proved to be the first choice. European sound engineers combined it with the excellence in developing the popular PM-KI Ruby to create the PM-12 Special Edition.

Extensive sound tuning

The exquisite, distinctive sound of every Marantz amplifier is based on extensive, careful tuning by Marantz audio engineers. For the Marantz PM-12SE, the engineers used all their experience and expertise, both in the design of the amplifier and in the long listening sessions. Only after the Marantz sound masters based in Japan and Europe were of the opinion that the quality met their high standards did they finish their intensive work.

Marantz HDAM technology

Marantz has developed its own boards with discrete circuits - so-called Hyper-Dynamic Amplifier Modules (HDAMs) - to replace conventional ICs. These HDAMs consist of discrete components with short mirrored L/R signal paths. They perform the same function as conventional IC operational amplifiers, but far exceed them in terms of speed and noise reduction. The result is a more dynamic, precise and detailed sound. Over the years, Marantz has developed different types of HDAMs to meet the specific needs of each CD player and amplifier. The latest generation of HDAM SA3 is used in the PM-12SE. Combined with optimized circuits and carefully selected components, the PM-12SE delivers exceptional sound quality.

Marantz Musical Premium Phono EQ

Marantz takes its continued commitment to vinyl to a new level with the Marantz Musical Phone EQ stage. The Marantz Musical Premium Phono EQ stage of the Marantz PM-12SE amplifier delivers optimal sound quality by simplifying the signal path and can be used with both MC and MM cartridges. To minimize distortion, the two-stage amplifier combines Marantz HDAMs with JFETs (junction gate field effect transistors) in the input stage, ensuring high input impedance. Thus, the negative feedback design can be further simplified by eliminating coupling capacitors, ensuring lower distortion and better signal purity.

High quality volume control

The newly developed electric volume control using the latest IC volume control delivers better channel separation, dynamic bandwidth and distortion reduction while maintaining the feel of an analog volume control when in use. The amplifier uses a new, in-house electrical volume control for high linearity and best-in-class channel separation.

Current feedback amplifier

Current feedback amplification is a well-known circuit technology from Marantz. It is designed to meet the requirements of high-resolution music formats and enables broadband playback. The impedance at the current feedback point is limited, causing very low phase switching. Marantz amplifiers equipped with current feedback can minimize phase compensation via NFB (negative feedback). This optimizes the signal path and results in fast, excellent transient response and first-class sound transparency across the full bandwidth. In contrast to conventional voltage feedback, current feedback makes the power amplifiers almost insensitive to difficult loudspeaker loads.

Powerful reinforcement

The Marantz PM-12SE is based on the design elements of the flagship PM-10 integrated amplifier. It has excellent technical components, optimal signal purity and the power to drive the most demanding speakers. The PM-12SE amplifier output stage delivers 100 watts per channel to 8 ohm speakers or 200 watts per channel to 4 ohm speakers. For excellent quality, the audio signal path is made entirely of discrete components.

Pure analog design

The all-analog design of the Marantz PM-12SE contributes to its noise-reducing structure and clean construction. Many competing designs today use a D/A converter or digital amplification and volume control. Marantz, on the other hand, relies on a sophisticated and fully analog design to keep everything as clean and simple as possible. While a D/A converter in the amplifier is a very convenient solution, digital circuitry creates a noise floor and can interfere with the sensitive analog signals running through the amplifier. That's why Marantz has decided to carry out all digital-to-analog conversions in its SACD/CD players or network players for its premium series and to keep the amplifiers free of this. There is also a Power Amp Direct input, where the signal is routed directly from the input section to the power amp for the best sound quality. This unit works as a pure amplifier.

Carefully selected components

Marantz has always been known for using the best components for its premium Hi-Fi products. The Marantz proprietary HDAM is a miniature amplifier module built entirely from discrete components. Marantz engineers carefully developed the HDAM through long listening sessions at Marantz facilities in Europe and Japan. Extensive, careful and meticulous tuning has long been the secret to exquisite sounding Marantz amplifiers. During the development phase, each part is carefully selected, tested and validated by Marantz audio engineers to always ensure the perfect sound.

Lots of analog inputs and outputs

In addition to the analog phono and CD inputs, the Marantz PM-12SE has two additional line inputs and two pairs of recorder input/output jacks, allowing you to connect multiple sources and recorders.
Use the Marantz PM-12SE as a standalone stereo integrated amplifier or as a power amplifier via the power amplifier direct input. Improve the sound of your multi-channel installation by using the preamp outputs for the front channels of your AV receiver and amplifying them via the power amplifiers in the PM-12SE.

Dedicated headphone output

Thanks to exclusive, discrete Marantz HDAMs, the headphone circuit delivers excellent sound quality with a wide range of headphones and impedances, including low impedance headphones.

System remote control

Use the elegant remote control to control both the Marantz PM-12SE and the matching Super Audio CD player SA-12SE. The PM-12SE is also equipped with a remote control input and a remote control output.

The premium construction

Like the SA-12SE Super Audio CD player, the Marantz PM-12SE integrated amplifier is also designed to meet the highest demands. The robust, non-magnetic aluminum front eliminates interference and the high-quality, nickel-plated input terminals for CD and phono as well as speaker connections made of high-purity copper from Marantz ensure the highest signal quality.

More than 65 years of audiophile experience

Founded in 1953, Marantz has a long history and extensive experience in developing audio components that are popular with discerning music lovers worldwide. Because music is so important to us, the PM-12SE continues our long tradition and makes listening to music and watching TV a real pleasure: Because music matters.