Marantz is establishing a new top-end price point in tuner/preamp/surround processors with the shipment of the $3,599-suggested AV8801, which can be paired with the new flagship MM8077 seven-channel power amp at $2,399.

Marantz’s $3,599-suggested 11.2-channel AV8801 tuner/preamp/surround processor.

The 11.2-channel component joins the recently shipped $1,699 7.2-channel AV7701 and the $1,599 AV7005 preamp processors in the Marantz lineup of AV separates and exceeds the price of a previous flagship preamp processor, the $2,999 AV8003, which was discontinued a few years ago, a spokesperson said.

With the new preamp processor and amplifier, the brand’s line of AV separates consists of three preamp processors and three amps.

The new preamp processor is the brand’s first audio component with 11-channel capability and Marantz’s first component with DTS Neo:X post processing, which adds add two front-height and two front-width channels to a traditional 7.1 home-theater system. The 11.2-channel component supports Neo:X’s full 11.1-channel capabilities, whereas some Neo:X-equipped audio components in the industry support up to 9.1 Neo:X channels.

The AV8801 is also Marantz’ first product to incorporate Audyssey’s XT32 room-equalization technology and Audyssey Sub EQ HT processing, which optimizes sound for dual-subwoofer setups. It’s also Marantz’s first audio component with four-port Ethernet switch.

Like the 7.2-channel AV7701 preamp processor, the flagship features DLNA 1.5 networking, AirPlay, HD Radio, Internet radio, 4K passthrough and up-scaling with GUI overlay, 3D passthrough, optional stereo Bluetooth, two simultaneous HDMI outputs, a third HDMI out for a remote zone, and Audyssey DSX post processing, which adds front-wide and front-height channels to a 5.1 system.

Both preamp/processors also stream photos and audio from networked PCs and connect to broadband modems to stream Internet radio stations, Pandora, SiriusXM Internet radio, Spotify and Flickr.