Our Product Research Team

At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

Features

Marantz Consolette: The Marantz Consolette is a desktop powered speaker with a built-in iPod dock, Ethernet/WiFi network connection for AirPlay and DLNA connectivity, plus Internet Radio access. In order to access the unit's Network, AirPlay, DLNA, and Internet Radio functions, you will need to download Marantz's Consolette App onto your Apple iOS device or Android smartphone. The Consolette features a sleek, rounded shape, retro-style enclosure that complements any room. The Marantz Consolette Premium Speaker Dock packs audiophile-grade sound quality into a highly functioning, compact system.

Elegant Design: Available in black chassis/black grille and silver chassis/white grille configurations, the Consolette is an elegant addition to any decor, and is equally appropriate in the home or office. Its clean and symmetric front-panel is made out of a single piece of anodized aluminum. The aluminum construction also offers ultimate rigidity and eliminates vibrations that could harm sensitive audio signals. The stereo loudspeaker enclosure features a V-shaped back made of highly polished walnut that reminds you of the classic loudspeaker designs of the 1950's. The enclosure's unique design, constructions, & shape helps to provide the best acoustical results with 180-degree sound dispersion.

Two-Way Speaker Design w/ Room EQ: The Consolette reproduces music just as the artist intended, achieving precisely balanced low, mid, and high frequencies for premium performance at all volume levels. 150-watts of digital amplification deliver 50-watts per woofer (4.3125") and 25-watts per tweeter  (2.625") in a powerful, bi-amped configuration that is ready to meet any musical demand. Special Balanced Mode Radiator (BMR) drivers are deployed as tweeters. Operating in isolated sub-enclosures, these BMR drivers exhibit wide dispersion at high frequencies and enable the Consolette to render music with HiFi imaging and sound-staging. Depending on the conditions of your listening room, playback sound may be too resonant or either bass/treble may sound enhanced. Three sound quality modes are available on this unit to match your listening environment.

• Pure Direct: Playback sound with no quality adjustment.
• Low Bass: For weaker treble in a room with less resonance.
• High Bass: For stronger treble in a resonant room.

Network Connection: The Consolette is equipped with dual network connection methods. There's an RJ-45 LAN (Ethernet) port for direct wired connection to your home network, and there's also the built-in WiFi feature that includes WiFi Protected Setup for safe and secure connection to your wireless home network. The unit's network connection lets you listen to music from your Apple device (via AirPlay) or Android smartphone (via DLNA), your music files stored on your Windows PC (via DLNA), and music content from Internet Radio (via vtuner & TuneIn).

Note: This unit's RJ-45 Ethernet port supports 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX and requires an Ethernet (LAN) category 5 or higher cable, Router, Modem, and Internet connection. When using a wireless LAN connection, your system must feature an wireless router/access-point.

Consolette App: Download Marantz's free Consolette app for incredible functionality and control of the Consolette from your Apple iOS or Android device. The Marantz Consolette App offers premium music playback via the Consolette for music stored on your Apple iOS or Android device, and also allows you to create playlists. But you're not limited to your own music; you can also listen to thousands of free internet radio stations from all over the world via vTuner and TuneIn. When connected to your home Wi-Fi network you can further expand your choice of music by using the Music Server to browse and play all the music that is stored on your PC, Mac or Network Attached Storage (NAS) drive.`

• Apple iOS Compatibility: iPod touch (3rd/4th/5th gen), iPhone (3GS/4/4S/5), iPad; all running iOS 5.0 or later.
• Android Compatibility: Android smartphones with Android OS ver.2.3(or higher) or ver.4.0(or higher) is installed (Android OS ver.3.x. is not supported). This application does not support tablet devices. Confirmed Android devices include the Samsung (Google) Galaxy Nexus (OS4.0.4), Samsung (Google) Nexus S (OS4.0.4), and Sony Ericson Xperia Acro (OS2.3.4).

Note: The free app includes NetLink, a Marantz innovation that allows you to wirelessly connect the Consolette to your Wi-Fi network in seconds.

Internet Radio: The Consolette supports Internet Radio through Marantz's Consolette app and your Apple iOS or Android device. The online vTuner service offers easy browsing of internet radio stations and podcasts. vTuner enables access to web-based radio stations and podcasts via an extremely reliable online database with a wide variety of content. You can browse content by Genre, Location, and Recommendations. The Tunein online service lets you listen to music, sports, comedy and news from around the world. With over 70,000 stations and two million on-demand programs, TuneIn places the sounds of the world right within your grasp. Internet Radio stations in MP3 (32-320kbps) and WMA (48-192kbps) format are supported. You can store up to 6 favorite Internet Radio stations for easier access.

DLNA 1.5 Certified: The Consolette is DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) 1.5 and Windows 7 compliant for audio streaming. This means it's easier for you to access and enjoy digital music stored on your Windows PC. The Consolette supports playback of MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, and FLAC music files stored on your PC. The included remote will operate basic playback functions (Play/Pause, Fast Forward/Rewind, Previous/Next); however advance music navigation will still be done from your computer. The unit also supports ID3-Tag (ver.2) and META tag information; so song title, artist name, and album name can be displayed along the unit's front-panel display. The Marantz Consolette supports the following audio formats, sampling frequencies, and bit rates via its network connection.

Android Compatible: Using the free Marantz Consolette app and DLNA technology, you can wirelessly stream stored music and music apps from your Android smartphone to the Consolette. You can also connect an Android device which is USB MSC (mass storage class) compliant to the unit's rear-panel USB (type-A) port.

iPod Dock: The Marantz Consolette features a retractable dock tray with a flexible 30-pin dock connector for your iPod, iPhone, or iPad. The unit supports audio playback of music stored on your iPod/iPhone/iPad, as well as from music apps (such as Pandora, Spotify, etc.) on your iPod/iPhone/iPad. The included remote control will operate basic playback functions (Play/Pause, Fast Forward/Rewind, Previous/Next); however advance music navigation will still be done from your Apple device's clickwheel or touchscreen. Song/artist information will scroll across the Consolette's front-panel display. The unit automatically charges your iPod or iPhone while it's docked, and the docking tray manually retracts when not in use for a streamlined look.

AirPlay: AirPlay lets you stream music directly from your iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad, or from your iTunes library on your PC or Mac to the Marantz Consolette, over your home network connection. By downloading Apple's free "Remote" application onto your iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad you don't even need to be in the same room as the Consolette or your computer to play, pause, skip, and stop the songs in your iTunes music library. To use the AirPlay feature you need a Mac or Windows-based PC running iTunes (10.1 or later) connected to your wireless home network. Your iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad must have iOS 4.2.1 or later installed and connected to the same wireless home network. You can add multiple Consolette speakers throughout your home & with AirPlay enjoy the same music from any or all of your speakers, simultaneously from your iTunes music account.

iPod Compatibility Chart: The Marantz Consolette is "Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad" compatible & supports the following iPod, iPhone, and iPad model features (as of 1/29/2013):

Note:

• *If you have an iPod nano (7th gen), iPod touch (5th gen), iPhone 5, iPad (4th gen), or iPad mini; the Apple Lightning to 30-pin adapter or cable is required (both sold separately).
• Apple iPod/iPhone software updates may change functionality results. If you download a newer software version, you may need to reset the device and your iPod/iPhone to regain functionality. If this doesn't work, you may need to wait until a newer software update is available.

USB Port: A USB memory device (such as your Android smartphone, portable digital audio player, or USB thumbdrive) can be connected to the USB (type-A) port located on the rear-panel, allowing you to play various music files through the Marantz Consolette. The USB memory device must be mass storage class (msc) or media transfer protocol (mtp) compliant, and be formatted in FAT16 or FAT32. The unit can recognize up to 500 folders and 5,000 files. USB devices that can be charged via USB will be charged when plugged into the unit's USB port (0.5A). The Marantz Consolette supports the following audio formats, sampling frequencies, and bit rates via its USB (type-A) connection.

Note: USB memory device will not work via a Hub.

AUX Input: A stereo RCA auxiliary input lets you connect and play music from other audio sources, such as a portable CD player or MP3 player.

Organic EL Display (OLED): The dock's round Organic EL Display clearly indicates source, music information, volume level, or 12-hour clock. This display includes adjustable brightness.

Alarm Clock w/ Sleep Timer: The Marantz Consolette app features a digital alarm clock with sleep timer to help you wake up and go to bed.

Remote Control: An IR remote control provides wireless operation of basic functions; such as Power On/Off, Source Selection, Play/Pause, Fast Forward/Reverse, Previous/Next, and Internet Radio Station Presets.

Firmware/Software Updates: Using the Consolette's network connection, you can check for and update the latest firmware/software from the online Marantz server.

AC Power w/ Auto Standby: The Marantz Consolette operates off of standard household current using the supplied 6.5' AC power cord. This unit will automatically enter the Standby mode after approximately 30 continuous minutes of stop mode with no operation.