RE: So what other amps should I try, and why DO I need a preamp?

Posted by AJ (A) on November 6, 2014 at 08:34:46

In Reply to: So what other amps should I try, and why DO I need a preamp? posted by airtime on November 2, 2014 at 12:34:04:

I will go against the grain here. I have a mint example of a McShane Level II upgraded Citation II. I have mint updated Marantz Model 8b,5s,2s.

I have had a Citation I- sold it, still have a Marantz 7 and a pair of Model I Consolettes.

We are very lucky to have Jim McShane who has developed the process and support to maintain, upgrade and refurbish the Citation line up.

I think that the Marantz line up , 8b being the sweet spot, runs circles around the Citation II in tonality, harmonics and naturalness. You have to consider speaker interface, room power considerations, as you would always... the Marantz is superior to me. Technically, the Marantz is irrefutably better constructed than the Citation ( better than Mac as well I would argue). Design wise , Citation is spec'd to burn up out of the box with output tube bias off the charts even in 1962-crazy 100ma bias current!- who does this let alone a engineer with the pedigree of Hegeman? ( McShane rightfully addresses this for today's tubes- but would you really run them this hard even if you could buy original Tungsols by the crate?)

The 12by7a never to be used again -wonder why- was it an exercise in "specmanship" not quality of tone?. Look at the conservative design and layout of the Marantz line up and ask who has left the most enduring legacy- Marantz with Sid Smith or Hegeman?

Both brilliant but think about it from a reliability , performance and cost perspective. I would argue the transformers for the 8b and their configuration and compensation networks are equal to or rival the Citation line.

At the end of the day you must "listen" to good examples of both. I get the lure of the Citation, beefy, powerful ... in the end it did not do it for me.

All I'm saying is don't let others influence you if you have not heard the differences. The investment in either will be good- they are not making any more.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - So what other amps should I try, and why DO I need a preamp? - airtime 12:34:04 11/02/14 (17)

RE: So what other amps should I try, and why DO I need a preamp? - AJ 08:34:46 11/06/14 (0)

big sleeper - unclestu 20:35:41 11/04/14 (0)

From the alternate page.. - Dingojazz 10:27:14 11/04/14 (3)

RE: From the alternate page.. - Doug A 15:26:17 11/06/14 (1)

RE: From the alternate page.. - sony6060 05:50:12 11/07/14 (0)

Had the MKII KT-88s - now I'm looking for smaller tubes - airtime 09:31:22 11/05/14 (0)

So, had you been thinking about nabbing a HK Cit II and rebuilding it? - jbrrp1 10:03:15 11/04/14 (0)

RE: So what other amps should I try, and why DO I need a preamp? - sony6060 06:24:29 11/04/14 (3)

You know what - I'll wait it out for a Marantz 8B - airtime 06:29:38 11/04/14 (2)

RE: You know what - I'll wait it out for a Marantz 8B - sony6060 06:33:52 11/04/14 (1)

So it's a Marantz 8B and a gold watch for retirement - airtime 08:40:53 11/04/14 (0)

Integrated amp? - mnilan 10:30:54 11/03/14 (0)

RE: So what other amps should I try, and why DO I need a preamp? - tubular.well 07:21:39 11/03/14 (0)

They Have Been Going For $1500 On Ebay - geezerrocket 13:04:32 11/02/14 (1)

RE: They Have Been Going For $1500 On Ebay - Jim McShane 16:58:38 11/02/14 (0)

RE: So what other amps should I try, and why DO I need a preamp? - BCR 13:00:15 11/02/14 (0)

RE: So what other amps should I try, and why DO I need a preamp? - Eli Duttman 12:58:06 11/02/14 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: So what other amps should I try, and why DO I need a preamp? - AJ 08:34:46 11/06/14 (0)

RE: So what other amps should I try, and why DO I need a preamp?

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