At $6,000 each, the AV 20 and AMP 20 are by no means inexpensive. But compared to the flagship AV 10 and AMP 10, they come in at a more approachable price point while still delivering performance that firmly belongs in the high-end category. This pair strikes a balance between cost and capability that makes sense for anyone who wants reference-level processing and power without stepping all the way up to a processor that costs two to three times the price.

A do-it-all preamp + 12 channel amp combo (available and usable separately) that can accommodate virtually any system and desired setup. But using it to its fullest capabilities does entail a significant learning curve.

The AV 20 and AMP 20 create a presentation that feels expansive yet detailed in a way that pulls you right into the content.

For the moment, this 20 series combo offers superb performance. Given that it sits in a price sweet spot not directly challenging the reference models from the manufacturers I mentioned in the opening is a significant upside.

And as far as like the AV20 processing, I thought this was going to sound like every other Morance Prep Pro receiver that I've tried in the past, but I actually did. Again, I did like the way that this sounded.

The AV20 combo is not only every bit as good, it may be a better investment when shopping the Marantz brand.