Marantz has introduced the MCR 60n DAB, a compact all-in-one hi-fi system that brings CD playback, HEOS streaming, HDMI eARC, turntable support and stereo amplification into a single box priced at £800 in the UK.
It is aimed squarely at listeners who want a proper two-channel speaker setup without building a rack full of separate components. Just as importantly for a modern living room, the new model is designed to work with a television as easily as it does with a CD collection or streaming service.
The MCR 60n DAB goes on sale in Europe from 15 September 2026, with a UK price of £800 and a choice of Matte Black or Champagne Gold finishes.
One box for CDs, streaming, vinyl and TV sound
The appeal of the MCR 60n DAB is not one headline feature but how many everyday sources it can handle without extra boxes.
Marantz lists a built-in CD player, HEOS multi-room streaming, Bluetooth, an MM phono input for a turntable, HDMI eARC for television audio, a subwoofer output and high-resolution audio support up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM.
That combination makes the MCR 60n DAB unusually flexible. A television can feed audio into the system through HDMI eARC, while music can come from physical discs, a record player, network services or a phone. For households that still use several generations of music formats, it removes much of the usual switching between separate boxes.
HEOS also brings multi-room playback and access to supported streaming services, while AirPlay and Roon Ready support broaden the options for users already invested in other audio ecosystems.
HDMI eARC makes this a genuine soundbar alternative
The most important home-entertainment addition is HDMI eARC.
Instead of treating the MCR 60n DAB as a music-only system, it can sit beneath a television and handle TV sound through a pair of conventional stereo speakers. HDMI-CEC control means the television remote can also be used for basic volume control, keeping everyday operation much simpler than a traditional collection of hi-fi separates.
For anyone unfamiliar with the connection, our HDMI eARC explainer covers why it matters for modern TVs, soundbars and home-cinema systems.
This does not make the Marantz a direct replacement for every soundbar. A conventional stereo pair will not provide the same plug-and-play surround presentation as a Dolby Atmos soundbar with dedicated height and rear channels. What it can offer instead is a more traditional left-right stereo setup that works equally well for music and television. If surround expansion is the priority, our guide to whether you really need rear speakers with a soundbar explains the trade-offs.
65W per channel, with more flexibility than the compact size suggests
Marantz rates the MCR 60n DAB at 65W + 65W into 4 ohms. Internally, the system uses four amplifier channels and can be configured for bi-amping, parallel BTL operation or two speaker outputs.
There is also a configurable subwoofer output, which gives owners the option of adding deeper bass without replacing the main speakers. That could make the system particularly useful in a living room where compact bookshelf speakers are preferred but more low-end impact is still wanted for films and games.
The key point, though, is that speakers are not included in the £800 price. Buyers still need to add a suitable pair of passive speakers, and potentially a subwoofer if required. The advantage is choice: the system is not tied to the speaker drivers built into a soundbar or an all-in-one wireless speaker.
Dirac Live is supported, but it costs extra
Room correction is another notable addition.
Dirac has confirmed that the MCR 60n and MCR 60n DAB support Dirac Live Room Correction. The software measures how the speakers interact with the room and applies correction intended to improve timing, frequency response, imaging and tonal balance.
It is an optional paid upgrade rather than something included in the purchase price, so anyone budgeting for room correction needs to account for that separately.
That matters because room acoustics can have a large effect on a stereo system, particularly when speakers need to sit close to walls or furniture. Dirac support gives the Marantz a useful route to improving performance without requiring the room itself to be redesigned around the hi-fi.
Physical media has not been forgotten
At a time when many compact audio products are built almost entirely around streaming, Marantz has retained both CD and vinyl support.
The front-loading CD mechanism handles standard CDs as well as CD-R/RW playback, while the MM phono stage allows a compatible turntable to connect directly without a separate phono pre-amplifier.
That makes the MCR 60n DAB especially interesting for listeners whose collections span physical and digital formats. You can move from a record or CD to a streaming service, then switch the same speaker system back to the television later in the evening.
Who is the Marantz MCR 60n DAB for?
At £800 before speakers, this is not a budget route into better television sound. A capable soundbar will usually be cheaper, simpler to position and easier to expand into a surround system.
The Marantz makes more sense for someone who wants music performance to be equally important. If you already own a good pair of passive speakers, or want the freedom to choose them yourself, the MCR 60n DAB can become the centre of a system that handles far more than television audio.
It also fits neatly into the kind of compact home-cinema setup where space is limited but there is still room for separate stereo speakers. Our guide to building a home cinema on a budget looks at the wider choices around speakers, displays and source devices.
Tech Torque Verdict
The MCR 60n DAB is a useful reminder that improving TV sound does not have to mean buying a soundbar.
Marantz has combined the convenience expected from a modern streaming system with the connections needed for older physical formats and, crucially, HDMI eARC for the television. Add the option of Dirac Live and a subwoofer, and this compact box can anchor a surprisingly capable living-room audio setup.
The £800 price is only the starting point because speakers are separate and Dirac Live is an additional purchase. But for listeners who value proper stereo speakers, still use CDs or vinyl and want the same system to improve TV audio, the MCR 60n DAB offers a much more flexible proposition than its compact dimensions suggest.
