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Marantz CINEMA 40 vs Denon X4800H
Corporate siblings at the 9.4 tier — which should you buy?
The short answer
On every field we record these are the same receiver: 125W under an identical strict context, identical 9.4/4-sub/XT32 platform, identical HDMI complement. Buy on price, looks, and ecosystem — the Marantz CINEMA 40's only recorded extras are its three stated triggers and Roon Tested badge, and we say so instead of inventing a bigger story.
As tracked by Home Theater Builder: the Marantz CINEMA 40 tracks at $3,800; the Denon AVR-X4800H at $2,799. How we verify this data → Same parent company, same platform generation, and — uniquely in our catalog — the same curated power rating to the watt under the same context. This page is honest about what that leaves to decide.
Specifications · side by side · per-field provenance
● SOURCE-TRACKED| Spec | Marantz CINEMA 40 | Denon AVR-X4800H |
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| Price | $3,800 | $2,799 |
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| Brand | Marantz | Denon |
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| Channel Config | 9.4 | 9.4 |
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| Main Channels | 9 | 9 |
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| Processing Channels | 11 | 11 |
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| Sub Pre Outs | 4 | 4 |
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| Zone 2 Capable | Yes | not stated |
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| Zone 3 Capable | Yes | not stated |
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| Watts Per Channel 8ohm | 125 | 125 |
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| THD Percent | 0.05 | 0.05 |
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| Power Measurement Channels Driven | two channels driven | two channels driven |
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| Impedance Range | 4 – 16 Ω/ohms | 4 – 16 Ω/ohms |
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| Impedance Min Ohms | 4 | 4 |
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| Impedance Max Ohms | 16 | 16 |
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| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
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| Dts X | Yes | Yes |
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| Auro 3d | Yes | Yes |
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| Imax Enhanced | Yes | Yes |
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| Room Correction System | Audyssey MultEQ XT32 | Audyssey MultEQ XT32 |
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| Measurement Mic Included | Yes | Yes |
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| HDMI Inputs | 7 | 7 |
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| HDMI Outputs | 3 | 3 |
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| HDMI Max Bandwidth Gbps | 40 | 40 |
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| HDMI Earc Port Count | 1 | 1 |
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| Max Passthrough Resolution | 8K 60 | not stated |
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| HDR Support | HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dynamic HDR | HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG, HDR10+, Dynamic HDR |
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| ALLM Support | Yes | Yes |
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| Phono Input | Yes | Yes |
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| Wifi | Yes | not stated |
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| Bluetooth | Yes | not stated |
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| Airplay2 | Yes | not stated |
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| Heos | Yes | Yes |
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| Ip Control | Yes | not stated |
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| Streaming Services | Spotify Connect, TuneIn, Pandora, Amazon Music HD, Deezer | not stated |
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| Trigger Outputs Count | 3 | not stated |
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| Form Factor | full size | not stated |
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| Width Inches | 17.3 | 17.1 |
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| Height Inches | 6.5 | 6.6 |
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| Depth Inches | 15.8 | 14.9 |
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| Weight Lbs | 32.4 | 29.1 |
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| Power Consumption W | 710 | 710 |
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| VRR Passthrough | not stated | Yes |
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Shaded rows differ · green dot = lab-measured · amber = manufacturer-verified · blue = retailer/community-reported · grey = estimated · “not stated” means exactly that
Reading the numbers honestly
Both are rated 125W at 8Ω, two channels driven, 0.05% THD — identical value, identical context, a 0.0 dB difference. Both are 9.4 designs with eleven-channel processing, four independent subwoofer pre-outs, Audyssey MultEQ XT32, seven HDMI inputs, three outputs, a stated 4–16Ω rating, and stated Auro-3D and IMAX Enhanced. The one stated asymmetry we record: the Marantz states three trigger outputs and Roon Tested certification; the Denon's trigger count is unstated in our data. Marantz's HDAM circuit topology and industrial design are real, but they live outside our recorded fields.
Compatibility · computed, not written
Checked against a bookshelf that dips to a stated 3.5Ω like the KEF LS50 Meta: KEF LS50 Meta
Can the Marantz CINEMA 40 drive the KEF LS50 Meta?
Marantz CINEMA 40 states a 4Ω-minimum rating; the KEF LS50 Meta dips to a stated 3.5Ω minimum, a little below that floor. Most receivers handle a marginal dip at normal volumes — it's worth watching only at very high output on an entry-level unit.
Can the Denon AVR-X4800H drive the KEF LS50 Meta?
Denon AVR-X4800H states a 4Ω-minimum rating; the KEF LS50 Meta dips to a stated 3.5Ω minimum, a little below that floor. Most receivers handle a marginal dip at normal volumes — it's worth watching only at very high output on an entry-level unit.
Computed from the catalog's normalized fields — the same fields the builder's compatibility engine reads. A missing field reads as "can't check", never as a pass.
Check either one against your own build →Gaming & connectivity · answered from the spec sheets
Can the Marantz CINEMA 40 and Denon AVR-X4800H pass 4K/120 through?
The Marantz CINEMA 40 states 40 Gbps HDMI bandwidth — enough for full 4K/120; the Denon AVR-X4800H states 40 Gbps HDMI bandwidth — enough for full 4K/120.
The verdict
On every field we record these are the same receiver: 125W under an identical strict context, identical 9.4/4-sub/XT32 platform, identical HDMI complement. Buy on price, looks, and ecosystem — the Marantz CINEMA 40's only recorded extras are its three stated triggers and Roon Tested badge, and we say so instead of inventing a bigger story.
Spec-per-dollarEither — A 0.0 dB power difference and full platform parity — let the live prices above decide.
Custom-install racks / RoonMarantz CINEMA 40 — 3 stated trigger outputs and Roon Tested certification; the Denon's trigger count is unstated.
Brand voicing and faceplateEither — The genuine Marantz-vs-Denon differences aren't in any field we record — we won't score vibes.
What our normalized data adds
NOT ON THE SPEC SHEETS- A unique 0.0 dB comparison: both carry a curated 125W rating at the IDENTICAL 8Ω / two-channel / 0.05% THD context — the only same-watt, same-context pair at this tier in our catalog.
- Field-by-field platform parity: 9.4, 11-channel processing, 4 independent sub outs, XT32, 7-in/3-out HDMI, 4–16Ω rating, Auro-3D, IMAX Enhanced — all stated on both.
- The recorded asymmetry is small and honest: Marantz states 3 trigger outputs and Roon Tested; the Denon's trigger count is unstated in our data.
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