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In Reply to: RE: I was reading up on the Marantz 15 dual monoblocks posted by airtime on August 15, 2016 at 09:06:44
I had the 250 in the late seventies and early eighties, a friend had the close cousin to the 15, the 16. Both were good but the 16 was better. Both blew away the McIntosh MC 2505 and MC2105 at the time.
None would hold a candle to modern SS amps, but were very good, maybe the best SS amps at the time. The early Marantz amps were really well designed and way above most of their time.
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None would hold a candle to modern SS amps, but were very good, maybe the best SS amps at the time.
There is one amp of that vintage, however, that arguably would still be considered competitive today - the Threshold 800A circa '75. I was working part time at a shop in Atlanta that sold Dayton-Wright electrostats. At the time, the D-W rep (Dan D'Agostino!) had recommended a Dunlap-Clarke amp to handle their rather unforgiving load. It was reliable and didn't wince at the reactive load, but wasn't spectacular sounding. Then Julian got an 800A with its triple Darlington outputs!
It was far better sounding and a groundbreaking amp in many respects. It introduced the later much copied concept of sliding class A bias that reduced its power consumption and heat output. It was also the first child of a stellar engineer who continues to innovate today with his products at Pass Labs and First Watt. At the close of the 70s, he introduced the Stasis series used by Telarc records for their cutter . I enjoyed a Stasis 3 for nearly thirty years driving Acoustats.
Nelson Pass' Threshold 800A
I think Mike Samra has one in his collection.
I think if I go the Marantz route again I would go for the 250 or 250M. I agree that newer amps have come a long way. And I also agree that the 250 did sound better than the Mac's which I did have both models.
The reason why I have a soft spot in my heart for the 250 is because I always felt that amp hit the pinnacle of capturing that 70s sound. It captured the 70's at it's best.
I really felt that was what was missing from my collection. A rock solid example of 70's solid state sound.
You can probably find a 240 for less cost. I'm with you,
they sound great.
Is coming up on about 8 years from the last time Soundsmith serviced it.
Perhaps its time for another check up.
Mated to a 3600 preamp, and now I'm going back to FM the 125 tuner is in the shop now.
Factory wood cases adorn all.
I had the 3600. And the 3800,3300,3850 (or was it the 3650?) and even a few of the Esotec line products.
Hate to admit it I liked the 3300 out of the entire bunch. The 3650 aka the PM-9 was a frigging nightmare of wiring harness and connections.
I've also had the 125 tuner as well as the 104,112,115 I think. Funny but my favorite tuner was if I remembered the 104 and the 115. Again if I remember.
I never had my hands on the 300dc or 510m. they were getting too pricey at the time and I was fading out of the buying end. However I really did like the humble 170DC.
Receivers - well had a few as well.
charles
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