MartinLogan Introduces the USR51 Receiver For $1,299

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MartinLogan, a leader in electrostatic and high-performance audio technology, just announced the MartinLogan USR51 – a high-performance, 5.1-channel networked AV receiver engineered to deliver world-class processing and size-defying power in an ultra-slim chassis designed to seamlessly disappear behind modern flat-panel displays or within a variety of cabinetry.

As display dimensions continue to expand and both architectural and low-profile speaker solutions grow in popularity, traditional AV electronics have largely remained the same size. The USR51 is a fresh approach to the modern AV Receiver, housing audiophile-grade processing and power within a sleek, covert footprint, delivering incredible performance without the space requirements that full-size components demand.

“In the AV world, almost every component has shrunk over the years,” says Allan Tarrant, Senior Vice President at MartinLogan. “From razor-thin displays to low-profile speakers, performance from compact designs is staggering. Yet despite these advances, most AV receivers have remained large and difficult to integrate into low-profile spaces. Our goal with the USR51 was to deliver a miniaturized, streamlined AVR that easily conceals behind the TV, solving the challenge of where to place equipment in space-saving installations. With the USR51, the answer can be as simple as ‘behind the TV.'”

MartinLogan's USR 51 AV receiver installed. — MartinLogan’s USR 51 AV receiver installed.

Why the USR51 is AV Receiver Custom Integrators

In partnership with Anthem, MartinLogan is proud to bring sophisticated digital processing and practical custom-fit installation capabilities to even the most space-constrained installations:

Ultra-Slim Stealth Profile: At a fraction of the physical size of traditional AVRs, the USR51 delivers up to 5 channels of clean, dynamic amplification (50 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms or 92 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms), powering high-output sound from a virtually invisible chassis.
ARC™ Genesis Room Correction: Includes the full suite of award-winning Anthem Room Correction technology, rapidly calibrating system performance through a series of in-room measurements to optimize playback in any environment.
Native High-Res Streaming: Features built-in support for Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth, enabling listeners to stream high-fidelity audio effortlessly from any mobile platform.
Smart Home Ready: Offers robust IP and IR control, an included IR remote, and compatibility with the Anthem Remote App (iOS/Android), along with seamless integration with leading home automation platforms including Savant, Control4, URC, Crestron, RTI, Elan, AVA, and josh.ai.
Toolless Phoenix Terminals: Outfitted with robust, toolless Phoenix connectors to ensure quick, reliable speaker wiring during on-site installation.

MartinLogan's USR 51 AV receiver from the front. — MartinLogan’s USR 51 AV receiver from the front.

Engineered for Professional Installations

Designed for maximum placement flexibility, the USR51 integrates effortlessly into a variety of architectural spaces:

Concealed On-Display Mounting: Includes a versatile mounting bracket to affix the receiver directly behind a TV display via standard VESA patterns or inside a structured In-Wall Media Box.
Shallow Cabinet Integration: Slips effortlessly into low-profile furniture or shallow cabinetry where traditional receivers cannot fit, utilizing the included IR repeater or Remote App Compatibility for complete non-line-of-sight control.
Compact 1U Rack Mounting: Occupies just 1U of rack space when paired with the optional custom rack-mounting kit (sold separately).

Streamlined Connectivity & Control

eARC Connectivity: Connects seamlessly with television displays via HDMI eARC, Optical, or Analog inputs, enabling synchronized power and volume command directly from standard TV remotes.
Intuitive WebUI & App Control: Designed without an On Screen Display, it prevents viewer disruption. Detailed configurations are managed via the intuitive WebUI or Control App, with volume status displaying naturally on screen.

MartinLogan's USR 51 AV receiver from the rear. — MartinLogan’s USR 51 AV receiver from the rear.

Stealth Aesthetics & Uncompromised System Harmony

“The growing popularity of low-profile speaker systems has driven the need for more compact, streamlined amplification,” says Andrew Lindsey, Product Manager at MartinLogan. “The USR51 eliminates the need for deep furniture or remote gear mounting when adding a surround system. Simply mounting a USR51 and a media streaming device behind a TV fulfills most listeners’ needs. Complex systems that aren’t easy to use can be a point of contention for end users, but USR51 resolves this by offering compatibility with leading control platforms and leveraging the simplicity of eARC. Given the compact design of USR51, there is no space for a bunch of HDMI inputs, so eARC enables a simple yet high-performance audio experience in an ultra-slim chassis that allows you to add multi-channel audio almost anywhere.”

The USR51 serves as the ideal low-profile partner for MartinLogan’s Motion® SLM Series, Motion Compact Series (2i/4i/6i/8i), Motion® Discrete Cinema Series, and full line of architectural speakers.