You know that massive, hulking black box taking up three shelves in your media console? The one that looks like it belongs in a server room from 1994? Yeah, most people hate those. That’s exactly why the Marantz NR1504 AV receiver became a cult favorite the moment it hit the shelves. It’s tiny. Well, relatively speaking. At just about 4 inches tall, it fits into spaces where a standard Denon or Onkyo would literally suffocate from lack of airflow.
I’ve seen people try to jam high-end gear into IKEA Kallax units or narrow TV stands only to realize they’ve made a terrible mistake. The NR1504 was the industry’s "oops, we forgot people have furniture" solution.
But let’s get one thing straight right away: slim doesn't mean weak. There’s this weird misconception in the audiophile world that if a receiver doesn't weigh 40 pounds, it’s basically a toy. That’s garbage. While the NR1504 isn't going to power a pair of massive, power-hungry floorstanders in a 500-square-foot basement, it handles a 5.1 setup in a standard living room with a level of musicality that most "budget" full-size receivers can't touch.
The Reality of 50 Watts Per Channel
If you look at the spec sheet for the Marantz NR1504 AV receiver, you’ll see 50 watts per channel (at 8 ohms). In the world of marketing, where brands scream about 150 watts, 50 sounds like a whisper. It isn't.
Marantz uses discrete power amplifiers. This means they didn’t just slap a cheap integrated circuit in there and call it a day. When you're watching the lobby scene in The Matrix or listening to a lossless FLAC file of Rumours, that 50 watts feels punchy. It’s clean. Most of us aren’t listening at reference levels anyway because, honestly, we have neighbors or sleeping kids. The NR1504 thrives in that "real world" volume range. It maintains the warm, signature Marantz sound—sort of a velvety texture to the mids—even when it's not being pushed to the limit.
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Connectivity That Actually Aged Decently
Look, this unit came out a while ago. It doesn't have 8K switching or HDMI 2.1. If you're a hardcore PS5 gamer looking for 120Hz pass-through, you should probably stop reading and go buy a Cinema 70s.
However, for a dedicated music room or a standard movie setup? It’s surprisingly capable. You get six HDMI inputs. One is right on the front, which is a lifesaver if you’re still rocking a classic camcorder or a plug-and-play gaming rig. It supports 3D pass-through and ARC (Audio Return Channel).
The networking side is where things get interesting. It has AirPlay. It has Pandora and Spotify integration. It even has a front-panel USB port that’s specifically "Made for iPod/iPhone." It feels a bit nostalgic now, but that USB port is an asynchronous connection, meaning it uses the Marantz’s internal DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) rather than the noisy one inside your old phone. The result is significantly better sound than a cheap Bluetooth dongle could ever dream of.
Audyssey MultEQ: The Secret Sauce
Most people buy a receiver, plug in the speakers, and never touch the settings. Don't do that. The Marantz NR1504 AV receiver comes with Audyssey MultEQ. It includes a little cardboard tripod and a calibration microphone.
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Basically, the receiver sends out these "chirp" sounds to analyze your room’s acoustics. It figures out that your couch is too close to the left wall or that your curtains are soaking up all your high frequencies. It then creates a digital map to equalize the sound. It’s the difference between a muddy mess and a crisp, centered soundstage where you can actually hear what the actors are whispering over the explosions.
Why the NR1504 beats modern "Smart" Soundbars
- True Stereo Separation: Soundbars simulate width. A Marantz with two decent bookshelf speakers creates a physical wall of sound.
- The Power Supply: Even a slim Marantz has a beefier transformer than 99% of soundbars.
- Longevity: If your soundbar's amp dies, you throw the whole thing away. With this receiver, you can swap speakers, add a better sub, or change cables.
Setup Frustrations and the "Old School" Interface
I’m not going to sit here and tell you it’s perfect. The Setup Assistant is helpful, sure. It walks you through everything on your TV screen with graphics that look a bit like a Super Nintendo menu. It’s functional, but it’s not "pretty" by 2026 standards.
The biggest gripe? No built-in Wi-Fi. Yeah, you heard that right. To get the NR1504 online for AirPlay or firmware updates, you need to run an Ethernet cable to the back or buy a separate bridge. In a world where even my toaster has Wi-Fi, this feels like a chore. But honestly? Wired connections are more stable anyway. If you're serious about streaming high-res audio, you'll want that LAN cable plugged in.
Is It Still Worth Buying Used?
You’ll find these on eBay or at local thrift shops for a fraction of their original $499 MSRP. If you find one for under $150, it’s a steal.
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You have to be careful, though. Check the HDMI ports. Early 2010s receivers sometimes had HDMI board failures if they were kept in unventilated cabinets—ironic, considering this is a "slim" model designed for tight spaces. Give it an inch of breathing room on top. Seriously.
If you are building a 2.1 or 5.1 system for a bedroom, an office, or a small apartment, the Marantz NR1504 AV receiver is a powerhouse. It’s for the person who wants quality audio but doesn’t want their living room to look like a cockpit.
Technical Deep Dive: What's Under the Hood
Inside the chassis, Marantz focused on signal purity. They used high-grade capacitors that you usually only see in their reference series. The DAC is a 192kHz/24-bit Burr-Brown chip. For the uninitiated, Burr-Brown is like the "gold standard" for that smooth, non-fatiguing sound. It makes digital music sound a little more "analog" and a little less "robotic."
The NR1504 also supports FLAC and WAV files up to 192/24. This was a big deal when it launched and remains relevant for anyone with a local library of high-fidelity music. It handles gapless playback too, which is vital if you're listening to a live album or something like The Dark Side of the Moon. Nothing ruins a vibe like a two-second silence between tracks that are supposed to bleed together.
Actionable Steps for Owners and Buyers
If you’re currently looking at one of these or already have it sitting in a box, here is how you actually get the most out of it:
- Update the Firmware: Even though it’s older, check if it’s on the latest version via the network menu. It stabilizes AirPlay connections significantly.
- Use the "Pure Direct" Mode: If you’re just listening to music, hit the Pure Direct button. It shuts down the display and unnecessary processing circuitry to reduce electronic noise. You can actually hear the difference in the noise floor.
- Don't Skimp on the Subwoofer: Since the NR1504 is only pushing 50 watts, let a powered subwoofer handle the heavy lifting of the low-end frequencies. Set your speaker crossover to 80Hz in the Audyssey settings. This frees up the Marantz to focus entirely on the mids and highs, making the whole system sound twice as powerful.
- Check Your Impedance: Stick to 8-ohm speakers. While it can technically "handle" 6-ohm speakers, it’ll run hot. In a slim chassis, heat is the enemy.
The Marantz NR1504 AV receiver isn't just a piece of legacy tech. It's a reminder that good engineering doesn't go out of style. It’s elegant, it’s musical, and it fits in a freaking bookshelf. Not many receivers can claim that.