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I recently purchased a gold Marantz SC-7, Yamaha M4 amp, Akai GX-635D/DB reel to reel, Technics SL-1600MK2 turntable, Sansui TU-919 tuner, and JBL L220 speakers among other things. Original owner (purchased system in 1981), near mint, including all the original manuals for $650. Normally I buy this stuff to restore and re-sell but these all look like keepers.
I've found plenty of info on everything except the Marantz SC-7 (did find a service manual and schematics) to indicate performance or value. No completed listings on eBay. Saw that one unit sold in Japan a few years ago for around $1700. Not much on AudioKarma either.
Do you guys know anything about this preamp? Thanks.
Follow Ups:
This was mine. It was nothing special acoustically but definitely collectible.
That's a nice one. The SC-7 and SC-9 look exactly the same (same number of controls, same functions). Does anyone know what the differences are?
Your unit is a very fine preamp and part of the Esotec series. In the late 1970s Marantz was struggling to compete (perhaps ever since the 10B tuner) and decided to introduce a premium product line. Sort of like Lexus is Toyota's premium line. These were some of the final units designed in the US, manufactured in Japan, just before Marantz was sold to Philips. Often vintage collectors look down on Marantz gear when the model designation begins with letters instead of numbers. Esotec gear is clearly an exception to that general rule.
This was their next to TOTL preamp. There was also a SC-9 (see link). I have a small collection of Esotec gear, and all of them are very nice. My PM-4 amplifier also does not include the Esotec designation, only Marantz and PM-4. I have never understood why. Maybe units destined for the US were so labeled, and international ones were not. All of my units have a switch on the rear to adapt for international voltages. Some of these may have been bought by military persons in a PX overseas.
I have no connection to the seller in the link. You can tell the resemblance. See also:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MARANTZ-SC-7-Preamplifier-PreAmp/291180572543
I'm sure you will enjoy all these units. Reel to reel is fun also.
rtbarr
There was also a thriving grey-market in the late 70's and 80's. Some of my thrift store Yamaha gear was dual voltage too. When I sold audio equipment, people used to bring grey market gear in to try to get warranty service. So grey-market or PX, the equipment isn't talking, so we will never know.
Dave
I was wondering where the SC-9 fell in. I read that the first Esotec components were not labeled as Esotec (my SC-7, the matching SM-7 amp and your PM-4).
The original owner told me he purchased the entire system overseas in 1981 while he was in the service. He did a lot of "research" (probably reading Audio or Stereo Review, picking based on specs) before putting together this system. I asked him why he didn't purchase the matching SM-7 amp. He picked the Yamaha M4 because it had better specs. Too bad, the SC-7 and SM-7 are a nice looking pair.
This stuff brings back good memories. I was just getting into the high end at that time, having just sold my Pioneer SX-1980 receiver for $300 (big mistake) and building bridged Hafler DH200 amps to drive a pair of Magnaplanar Tympani 1D speakers.
The series was a try at reestablishing the company's reputation that had hit bottom. The series had a couple of tuners including 1 with a scope and power amp. Not sure how long it was around and how heavily sold in the US but it seemed to be a market flop though pretty well regarded by those who got their hands on the units.
It has been a few years since I last saw any trend as to pricing but if it has been pretty flat, the price you paid should be close to the market value of just the preamp.
Don Brian Levy, J.D.
Toronto ON Canada
nt
pics ??????????
nt
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