Marantz PM6006From real comments

Verdict distilled from 35 mentions across 11 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment35%
PROS 35%
CONS 65%

Rank based on 35 mentions across 11 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a budget amp with a well-regarded phono stage and natural, dynamic sound
  • You mainly use analogue sources and can avoid heavy reliance on optical/digital inputs
  • You're willing to troubleshoot grounding or use a ground loop isolator if noise appears

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need silent, reliable digital/optical input performance out of the box
  • You want to avoid returning or repairing units due to QC inconsistency
  • You dislike depending on workarounds like earthing wires or moving your router

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Roland Blues Cube Artist
Lightweight and gig-friendlyTube-like tone and feelExcellent clean channelExpensive, hard-to-find Tone CapsulesInconsistent or harsh crunch channelNo included footswitch
Roland Blues Cube Artist
Lightweight and gig-friendly
Tube-like tone and feel
Excellent clean channel
Expensive, hard-to-find Tone Capsules
Inconsistent or harsh crunch channel
No included footswitch
2Premium
Friedman Little Sister
Exceptional tonal versatilityGreat cleanup via guitar volumeBig, huge-sounding tone for its size/wattageDark, bass-heavy voicing for somePrice relative to alternativesRequires volume-knob technique, not true multi-channel
Friedman Little Sister
Exceptional tonal versatility
Great cleanup via guitar volume
Big, huge-sounding tone for its size/wattage
Dark, bass-heavy voicing for some
Price relative to alternatives
Requires volume-knob technique, not true multi-channel
Best value
3Mid
Orange OR15
Exceptional versatilityGreat with pedals / clean platformLong-term keeper ampCleans not its strongest suitFizzy or excessive gain out of the boxStock preamp tubes considered weak
Orange OR15
Exceptional versatility
Great with pedals / clean platform
Long-term keeper amp
Cleans not its strongest suit
Fizzy or excessive gain out of the box
Stock preamp tubes considered weak
4Mid
Marantz PM7000N
Detailed, warm sound qualityGood speaker pairing versatilityHEOS streaming and internet radio convenienceAirPlay over Ethernet reliability issueDAC only active via optical/coaxial inputsLacks classic gold Marantz aesthetic
Marantz PM7000N
Detailed, warm sound quality
Good speaker pairing versatility
HEOS streaming and internet radio convenience
AirPlay over Ethernet reliability issue
DAC only active via optical/coaxial inputs
Lacks classic gold Marantz aesthetic
5Budget
TC Electronic BH250
Powerful for its sizeTonePrint effects built inClean, full, realistic toneAlways-lit tuner displayInsufficient power for loud full bandsSingle effect slot limitation
TC Electronic BH250
Powerful for its size
TonePrint effects built in
Clean, full, realistic tone
Always-lit tuner display
Insufficient power for loud full bands
Single effect slot limitation
6Premium
Mesa Boogie Badlander
Tight, modern high-gain toneBuilt-in CabClone IR / direct outBuild quality and versatility praised by ownersHigh priceMissing third channel and solo boostNo EL34 as originally expected / power tube gripes
Mesa Boogie Badlander
Tight, modern high-gain tone
Built-in CabClone IR / direct out
Build quality and versatility praised by owners
High price
Missing third channel and solo boost
No EL34 as originally expected / power tube gripes
7Mid
iFi xCAN
Strong power for demanding headphonesCompact, high-quality buildEnjoyable Bluetooth sound qualityEarly sound-mode switching bugLimited single-ended power for some planarsNot fully wireless
iFi xCAN
Strong power for demanding headphones
Compact, high-quality build
Enjoyable Bluetooth sound quality
Early sound-mode switching bug
Limited single-ended power for some planars
Not fully wireless
8Premium
Friedman BE-100 Deluxe
Exceptional tonal versatilityOwner satisfaction and 'best amp ever' sentimentSmooth, musical high-gain distortionHigh priceOverwhelming number of optionsSome find it too polished or lacking rawness
Friedman BE-100 Deluxe
Exceptional tonal versatility
Owner satisfaction and 'best amp ever' sentiment
Smooth, musical high-gain distortion
High price
Overwhelming number of options
Some find it too polished or lacking rawness
9Mid
Vox AC15CH
Built-in reactive attenuator
Vox AC15CH
Built-in reactive attenuator
10Mid
Roland JC-22
Great pedal platformLush onboard chorusExceptional clean toneBackground hiss/humWeak onboard distortionSome pedals don't pair well
Roland JC-22
Great pedal platform
Lush onboard chorus
Exceptional clean tone
Background hiss/hum
Weak onboard distortion
Some pedals don't pair well
You are here
31Mid
Marantz PM6006
Grounding/workarounds are fixableRich, natural soundGood value for moneyBuzzing/hum on digital inputsSusceptible to Wi-Fi/electrical interferenceInconsistent quality control
Marantz PM6006
Grounding/workarounds are fixable
Rich, natural sound
Good value for money
Buzzing/hum on digital inputs
Susceptible to Wi-Fi/electrical interference
Inconsistent quality control

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Sound quality earns genuine praise from owners. Multiple listeners describe the PM6006 as having a lush, natural sound with great dynamics and balance of frequencies, calling it one of the best budget amps around. The phono stage in particular gets singled out as a highlight. This is the amp's clear strength and the reason many people keep it despite other issues.

A recurring buzz on digital inputs plagues many units. Numerous owners across different countries and even the PM6005/PM6007 siblings report a faint to noticeable hum or buzz on optical inputs, sometimes only on one channel, and sometimes worsening on the phono input too. It tends to appear above certain volume levels, and some describe it as a factory-wide defect rather than an isolated fault, while others say the same model works fine for them.

Fixes exist, but they require extra owner effort. Owners found workarounds including grounding the amp chassis to an earth pin or turntable ground, using a ground loop isolator, enabling Source Direct mode, moving Wi-Fi routers further away, or removing USB Wi-Fi dongles from a connected PC. Marantz support reportedly denied faults on units sent back for repair, leaving some buyers to solve it themselves or return the amp entirely.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?