Vintage Asylum

Classic gear from yesteryear; vintage audio standing the test of time.

Return to Vintage Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Marantz Classics Reissued 1996

76.179.20.144
Posted on April 30, 2015 at 09:36:38
mark.korda@myfairpoint.net
Audiophile

Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011
 Hi, in some of my old Audio mags, and the magizine was Audio, Marantz reissued the big mono amps model 9's and the model 7 preamp. I'm almost sure it was about 1996. Was there a reason that they didn't take off like their fathers of years before? I know they were pricey. Without my copy of Audio, and I will find it, they were visually identical....thanks..Mark Korda.

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: Marantz Classics Reissued 1996, posted on April 30, 2015 at 12:52:47
BCR
Audiophile

Posts: 2444
Location: connecticut
Joined: April 7, 2009
 Because people want the real thing made by the founder Saul Marantz. Would you want a kit car or an original? Just my opinion !

 

RE: Marantz Classics Reissued 1996, posted on April 30, 2015 at 13:13:46
geezerrocket
 I'm sure founder Saul Marantz made few if any of the originals. More likely, he employed skilled labor to manufacture "his" gear.

If it says Marantz on the outside, and uses the same circuit with better (film caps, bridge, resistors etc...) modern parts; Than what's the difference? I certainly wouldn't consider it a kit amp or a knock off.

Ken Ishiwata is certainly no slouch when it comes to designing Marantz gear.





 

RE: Marantz Classics Reissued 1996, posted on April 30, 2015 at 14:23:21
unclestu
Dealer

Posts: 5851
Joined: April 13, 2010
 Marantz reissues were cosmetically identical to the originals, nut added an IEC socket for power.They were farmed out to VAC for the construction.

While hardwired as per original, the reissues were not the same. Silver plated teflon wire was used throughout and film coupling caps were used. With such changes , it would be natural for the sound to change from the original. The general concensus was that the reissues were significantly brighter than the original.

While hardwired, the wire bundling ws not up to the standard of the original tied bundles


IMHO, and YMMV

 

RE: Marantz Classics Reissued 1996, posted on April 30, 2015 at 16:13:00
mark.korda@myfairpoint.net
Audiophile

Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011
 Thanks Uncle Stu, great answer......Mark Korda

 

I was lucky enough to be able..., posted on April 30, 2015 at 21:51:27
kootenay
Audiophile

Posts: 8445
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Joined: October 16, 2007
 to compared them to its original sibling from our local dealer back in the 90's. I thought the original sounded a little sluggish compared to the re-issue also the bottom end and top octave performance were much better on the re-issue as well. However, where the original excelled was in the midrange department as it sounded lush and rich as opposed to the re-issue, which sounded very neutral. Also, I didn't find the re-issue to be bright sounding if anything it was very neutral sounding in the overall scheme of things.


 

RE: Marantz Classics Reissued 1996, posted on May 1, 2015 at 04:09:04
kentaja
Manufacturer

Posts: 4614
Joined: March 26, 2001
 Ken Ishiwata may indeed be a fine audio engineer but he did not design the original Marantz 7, 8, 9 that was the work of Sid Smith. Unfortunately Sid had no part of the reissues he was not even asked to participate in the project. A mistake.

They are indeed knock-offs. If one wants a modern amp then by all means buy a modern amp. If one wants a Marantz 7, 8 or 9 they are better off sticking with the originals as pricey as they might be.

 

RE: I was lucky enough to be able..., posted on May 1, 2015 at 05:01:41
vinnie2
Audiophile

Posts: 4481
Location: North Carolina
Joined: September 28, 2013
 Had the original been recapped? If not that could have been a good part of the sluggish sound.

 

Had The New One Been Re-Capped?, posted on May 1, 2015 at 05:52:52
geezerrocket
 If the new one had PIO coupling caps (rather than film) it may have sounded more lush in the mid range.

Point being, one can easily tailor the sound with tube and capacitor selection.



 

Do You Consider The Reissued McIntosh Mc 275 To Be A Knockoff?, posted on May 1, 2015 at 06:31:58
geezerrocket
 Do you consider the reissued McIntosh Mc 275 a knockoff?
If you do, fine. If you don't, fine.

I own a pristine Sherwood S-5000 that while good sounding in stock form, sounds fantastic now that Mike Samra worked his magic - This thing keeps getting better!

Kootenay's sentiments mirrored mine, albeit with a humble S-5000 rather than the vaunted Marantz. The original S-5000 sounded a bit thick in the middle and rolled off on top with a robust bottom that was somewhat bloated and loose.

AS (After Samra), There is just so much more detail while maintaining it's original character - no brightness what so ever. The bottom is tight, fast and extended - This may be due to the massive Russian Teflon coupling caps.

I think designers from the golden age would lust over today's available parts and if given the chance, would certainly upgrade their initial design.

Having stated that; Today's designers would probably love to have the great iron (transformers), along with tube selection of yesteryear - Telefunken, Amprex, RCA, Sylvania, Mullard, Westinghouse, Mazda, and on and on......

Even if I had the resources to compare vintage vs new transformers, tubes, and caps, I don't have the time. I have more important things to do while the weather is great. I didn't get a 1 handicap by sitting inside all day doing critical listening.

It's a interesting debate with no right or wrong answer(s). Have great weekend.





















 

Because they sounds like crap!, posted on May 1, 2015 at 10:00:26
blakey
Audiophile

Posts: 212
Joined: October 24, 2000
 Owned both the reissue 8B and 7C and they sounded nothing like the originals. The reissues sound terrible

 

I'm not sure as I've never ask..., posted on May 1, 2015 at 10:25:05
kootenay
Audiophile

Posts: 8445
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Joined: October 16, 2007
 But based on the owner's penchant for refurbishing any vintage equipment that he owns, I would assumed he had done it.

But, in any case it was sluggish sounding. To be honest if I had the choice between the two the re-issue would have been it, however, the Conrad Johnson Premier Eleven power amp beside it sounded awesome as well.



 

RE: Do You Consider The Reissued McIntosh Mc 275 To Be A Knockoff?, posted on May 1, 2015 at 12:34:27
kentaja
Manufacturer

Posts: 4614
Joined: March 26, 2001
 The MC275 is built by McIntosh not another company. Opinions will differ on which version is best.

Of course designers of the golden age would have been delighted with passive components available today. Sid Smith sure was.

The Marantz reissue project could have been something very special if they had bothered to involve Sid Smith. Sid was hurt by the snub.

 

IMHO they were made by VAC under contract from Marantz..., posted on May 2, 2015 at 06:32:06
viridian
 Which is different than Mac who actually make the repros in house. The original Macs were point-to point wired and all of the recent iterations use circuit boards. Many prefer the new Mac to the vintage. I always found the 240 to be a hazy amp in stock form; the original 275 and 225 are both cracking good. I have had both a Marantz 8 and an 8B here and was not overly taken with either.

 

RE: IMHO they were made by VAC under contract from Marantz..., posted on May 3, 2015 at 12:21:06
FRG7SWL
Audiophile

Posts: 2109
Location: NorCali
Joined: March 26, 2003
 Mark Korda, Audio magazine's June '97 issue contained that Anthony H. Cordesman review of Marantz's re-issue Model 7 Preamp & Model 9 Mono Amp. Which was his "first true high-end system", powering original Quad electrostatic speakers. Cordesman surmised, "after 40 years, the Model 7 & Model 9 designs hold up well against the latest tube preamps & amps. The new Model 7 & Model 9 are extraordinary tributes to the design skills of Sid Smith & Saul Marantz & to the work of VAC's Kevin Hayes in helping to re-create the original designs & manufacturing methods". 73s para Sactown

 

RE: IMHO they were made by VAC under contract from Marantz..., posted on May 4, 2015 at 09:57:41
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 For original QUAD ESL 57's I think I would have preferred the repro Model 8B wired in triode. The extra power would have only been good for spectacular arching! This amp was much more popular than the 9.

I don't care what the public says, I would love to have any of them!

Dave

 

RE: Marantz Classics Reissued 1996, posted on May 4, 2015 at 09:59:53
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 I am not sure that the silver plated Teflon wire was a step in the right direction.

Dave

 

RE: I'm not sure as I've never ask..., posted on May 4, 2015 at 10:04:17
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 I don't know but I would suspect that the beefed up the power supply in the reissue, in keeping with modern design.

Dave

 

RE: I'm not sure as I've never ask..., posted on May 5, 2015 at 07:11:24
FRG7SWL
Audiophile

Posts: 2109
Location: NorCali
Joined: March 26, 2003
 Crazy Dave, Anthony H. Cordesman used original generation Marantz gear with his Quad electrostatics. "My first true high-end system was based on the Marantz Model 7 pre-amp & Model 9 mono amps & the original Quad electrostatic speakers", Cordesman recalled. "I made the mistake of selling this system before I went on an overseas assignment, & it was years before I had another that sounded as good. ... These Marantzes are among the most attractive components produced during the golden age of tubes, & the work of designers Sid Smith & Saul Marantz has become the stuff of legends". 73s para Sactown

 

RE: I'm not sure as I've never ask..., posted on May 5, 2015 at 07:27:03
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 I can't argue with that! I would take any one I could get my hands on, but given current prices, the best I could do was copy the circuit.

I have heard QUADs and think that they still represent SOTA. I wish I had the right room for them. Oh well!

Dave

 

Old thread but..., posted on October 4, 2015 at 10:16:46
onemug
Audiophile

Posts: 1276
Location: So. California
Joined: April 19, 2003
 I came across it while doing a search and want to offer some "IMO" and "FWIW" thoughts for someone else doing a search on this subject.

from the original post, "Was there a reason that they didn't take off like their fathers of years before?"

They were made in a limited production run so there was nothing to "take off".

I have had the 8b/7c/10b combo (originals) for years and went looking for a pair of 9's to complete the dream. These are hard enough to find, reissue or original, but I did find a pair of originals and am so thankful I will be able to listen to these for as long as I can or am able. No comment on the reissue as I haven't heard them but I know I would have always wondered what the originals sounded like if I had gotten the reissue first.

I can say this about the originals...To my ears (and that's all anybody can opine about) the 9's are an extremely enjoyable amp to listen to. Like they were engineered for sound first and not "specs".

Amps that I find the most enjoyable are and have been: Nelson Pass's Class A amps and some extremely well made 300b and 2a3 amps. Those are what my ears want more of. What surprised me was the el34 based Marantz 8b. Mated with the their 7c, I can get lost listening to them all day long. It was a gamble on the 9's, based on what they sell for, but I won.

If you love music, I think you would love these Marantz pieces.

 

Page processed in 0.037 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]