The Marantz PM5005 is an amazing entry-level integrated amplifier that provides excellent sonic performance for audiophiles who have tight budgets and want to have an enjoyable music listening experience. If you are a proud owner of the Marant PM5005 (or soon-to-be) and are planning to get speakers to pair with the amp, then look no further, for you are at the right place.
We are going to share with you the best speakers that you can match with your Marantz PM5005. As formidable as the PM5005 is, it is still an entry-level amp, and will still have a few limitations which we need to find out. We also need to learn more about their strengths and sonic characteristics, once we have gathered enough information, finding the right matching speakers will be a walk in the park.
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Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Marantz PM5005
For an entry-level amplifier at this price point, the Marantz PM5005 does have decent power output which is 40 Watts (8 Ohms) / 55 Watts (4 Ohms). With Marantz’s renowned current feedback technology, the PM5005 should be capable enough to drive most bookshelf speakers, excluding the ones which are really difficult to drive. There is no dedicated subwoofer output though, because of that you can only solely rely on the bass production capability of your speakers. The frequency response of the Marantz PM5005 is between 10Hz-50kHz which is great and indicates that the integrated amplifier can process subterranean bass frequencies.
More Details at Amazon – Marantz PM5005 Entry-Level Integrated Amplifier
The build and design of the Marantz PM5005 have that signature look, which looks sleek and should be able to fit in nicely into most homes. Aesthetically, this amp should match most modern loudspeakers too. It doesn’t have a built-in DAC which is a bummer but at least it has a moving magnet Phono input which is good news for vinyl lovers. There is also a headphone output where you can listen to your favorite tunes without disturbing others in your home. There are plenty of audio inputs and you can use one of them to connect to the matching Marantz CD5005 player.
More Details at Amazon – Marantz CD5005 CD Player
One of the greatest strengths will be the Marantz PM5005 midrange sound reproduction. It is detailed, lush, and smooth, not to mention, the warmth that makes the music delivery sound fuller. The vocals are sweet-sounding and natural, when it reaches its peak, the voice doesn’t strain. Both male and female vocalists sound right and beautiful. The timbre and texture of the instruments are accurate, we are able to distinguish each musician clearly. There is a bit of coloration but doesn’t really interfere with the sound quality too much.
There is more focus on the midbass which provides a full-bodied sound but the deeper bass extension is not as prominent. The Marantz PM5005 has tight control over the bass response, making sure they don’t overstep their lines, giving you a taut low-end reproduction. The subtlest of music nuances are not as clear as we want them to be, but at this price point, we can’t really nitpick too much. The stereo imaging is impeccable, and the size of the soundstage does exceed our expectations. The overall music presentation may not be as transparent and lively as some other more expensive amplifiers, it will still provide you with an enjoyable and relaxing music listening experience.
The all-analog circuitry right from the input and all the way to the output of the Marantz PM5005, not to mention, the warm and smooth sounding nature makes this an excellent budget amplifier for turntable users. For digital sources, you might want to get an external high-quality digital-to-analog converter. It is an amazing musical-sounding amplifier and at this price, it is asking, the PM5005 is really worth every penny. We are kind of bummed out that it doesn’t have a dedicated subwoofer output. Still, the Bass and Treble level settings may help a little though. The information we need is all here and it’s time to share with you the best speakers to pair with your Marantz PM5005 integrated amp.
Marantz PM5005 Specifications
- Power Outputs: 40 Watts RMS (8 Ohms) / 55 Watts RMS (4 Ohms)
- Frequency Response: 10Hz-50kHz
- Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.01%
- Inputs: 5 line inputs, 1 Phono (MM) input
- Outputs: Headphone output, 2 Record output
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 440mm x 370mm x 104mm (17.3″ x 14.5″ x 4.1″)
- Weight: 6.7kg (14.77lbs)
Best Speakers to pair with Marantz PM5005
The Wharfedale Diamond 225 will be one of the best speakers to match with the Marantz PM5005. Your integrated amplifier has the power to drive these bookshelf speakers with matching sonic characteristics that is smooth and pleasing to the ears. You can play loudly and will never find them sounding harsh. The soundstage of the Wharfedale Diamond 225 speakers is incredible for their size, it is wide and deep, complemented with the sharp stereo imaging of the PM5005, you’ve got one engaging sound system that sounds sweet and warm. The bass is tight and has weight but does lack the authority and won’t go as deep.
More Information at Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 225
The Dali Zensor 1 is another amazing bookshelf speaker for your Marantz PM5005. The sonic characteristic of the Zensor 1 is considered bright, providing a much livelier music delivery than a warm-sounding speaker. This is great for listeners who want more clarity and transparency when listening to their favorite songs. The agility of these bookshelf speakers are also exceptional, confidently going through the music passage and delivering snappy attacks. The Marantz PM5005 does help to ease a bit of the harshness when playing at high volumes. The highs are crisps and the lows are tight, a talented speaker worthy of a listen.
More Information at Amazon – DALI Zensor 1
If you want a little more bass and punch, perhaps you might want to take a look at the KEF Q300. It has a 6.5″ mid/bass unit with a large front-firing bass port, able to dig deep into the bass extension of 42Hz (+/-3dB). The KEF Q300 is able to produce a rich amount of bass and has impressive weight for a bookshelf speaker. The midrange is also one of the speakers’ strengths and has crisp highs with amazing clarity but may sound a bit lean. The Marantz PM5005 does complement the speakers by contributing its smoothness and warm sound quality into the mix. Allowing you to listen to your favorite tunes for hours without listener fatigue.
More Information at Amazon – KEF Q300R Bookshelf Loudspeakers
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 is one of the best budget bookshelf speakers that you can partner with your Marantz PM5005. This pair of loudspeakers have garnered plenty of awards over the years and is a great match if you want more insight and liveliness. The transparent music delivery of the Monitor Audio Bronze 2 provides plenty of details and has the finesse to give you an impactful crescendo. The bass performance is authoritative and very well-controlled, giving more weight to the overall sound reproduction. The warmth of the Marantz PM5005 does smoothen the edges but we recommend that you have a listen first.
More Information at Amazon – Monitor Audio Bronze 2 Bookshelf Speakers
The ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is a very highly rated loudspeaker with plenty of accolades to boot. The transparency of these bookshelf speakers is astonishing and they deliver faithful music presentation of your favorite tunes without trying to overly impress. The ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is a suitable match for the Marantz PM5005 as the integrated amp makes the sound quality a tad easier on the ears and the speakers providing incredible accuracy into the mix. The bass performance is tight as well but does lack the scale and a bit of the low-end weight. If you are critical about having accurate and detailed music delivery, the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is a must to audition.
More Information at Amazon – ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers
The above are all bookshelf speakers which are within the same price range as the Marantz PM5005 and can be driven by the amp. Still, the bass performance of the bookshelf speakers can be quite lacking and the PM5005 doesn’t have a subwoofer output. There are alternative solutions but you will need to increase your budget. You can go for floor-standing speakers with built-in powered subwoofers such as the GoldenEar Triton Three+ but the power output of the Marantz PM5005 is not high enough to drive them to high volumes. Going for high efficient floor-standing speakers will be another option, for instance, Omega Super 8XRS is a floor-standing speaker that can be driven with as little as 2 Watts of amplifier power. Another very efficient speaker will be the Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-6000F and is more affordable as well.
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch RP-6000F Floorstanding Speaker
To Sum It Up
The listed bookshelf speakers are some of the best matching ones that you could pair with your Marantz PM5005 and are also quite closely priced. The mentioned floor-standing speakers are capable of providing more bass output and deeper low-ends but will cost more. All of them are worthy of your time and effort to hear them out. Do a side-by-side comparison if is possible and see which speaker sounds the best to you.
