If I had the bucks, this is what I'd buy.

They do not maintain the classic Marantz house sound. but it is a good sound never the less. Just a very clean crystal clear type sounding gear.

And BTW amazingly complicated and difficult to repair.

I used to call the SC-9 wiring the spaghetti works. I one connection and it's all over!

The SC-9 was so problematic that in the end I would have just given it away. The sound was as good as it gets but not very reliable.

RE: I had the Esotec SC-9 preamp, posted on April 10, 2016 at 09:04:33
Mr. Dick Hertz	I guess if I could afford the Esotec gear, I could also afford the care and feeding of same. Your point on reliability is well taken. Reliability is uppermost in just about everything I buy.

RE: If I had the bucks, this is what I'd buy., posted on April 11, 2016 at 13:31:20
orthophonic Audiophile Posts: 861 Location: Central Florida Joined: January 21, 2003	I have the amplifier, honestly I never cared for it with the speakers I used, Dahlquist, Quads, Magnepan, Thiels and Altec. I guess the only reason I kept it all these years on a shelf is to look at it, it sure is pretty. It is reliable, I hook it up every year or so to see if my opinion of it has changed, it hasn't. It is probably going to that auction site one day.

I've never heard the Esotec series., posted on April 11, 2016 at 14:11:59
Mr. Dick Hertz	But they sure are purdy.

RE: I've never heard the Esotec series., posted on April 12, 2016 at 10:10:22

Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001

Yep! They are!

Dave

Vintage Asylum

If I had the bucks, this is what I'd buy.

70.95.184.101