RE: Marantz 8B In Stereophile

Posted by Marantzguy (P) on February 13, 2012 at 15:38:10

In Reply to: Marantz 8B In Stereophile posted by rosendds@frontiernet.net on February 13, 2012 at 08:24:34:

Hi, rosendds:

I still own four of thes amplifiers and have owned most of them for the better part of thrity plus years. I would never think about running one in original, untouched condition for obvious reasons. Can you say "holy expensive smoke"?

One thing that I do know is that a properly restored 8-B is one of the sweetest sounding stereo power amplifiers ever built. Yes, it is a good idea to update the seleniums, remove and replace coupling caps and also two of the under-the-chassis electrolytics and several smaller ones. Substituting some resistors here and there is also a good recommendation.

How many of you have seen charts of total harmonic distortion with a fresh pair of tubes in a restored unit versus one which had original component parts? It is more than an obvious difference, that is, measurably-lowered distortion.

Of course, once you have gone in there and done such updates, your unit is going to be worth LESS than one without (an insane situation, if you ask me personally). I paid real money in 1980 for one ($225 then), got one at a rummage sale for $25 in 1981, purchased another one from an ad around 1982 (another $225 purchase) and was GIVEN ONE for nothing in the nineties. The rest is history.

They are capable of utterly musical sound reproduction and a fairly excellent rendering of depth and width, given proper source material through an appropriate preamplifier, etc.

And, how many of you have actually experienced listening to a restored pair, strapped as monoblocks and running "triode-connected"? I have.

Outstanding sound reproduction and an expensive way to run up your power bill.

Happy listening!
Richard Links
Berkeley, CA

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Marantz 8B In Stereophile - rosendds@frontiernet.net 08:24:34 02/13/12 (30)

umm.. that thing looks like a BOAT ANCHOR! - centaurus3200 14:05:51 08/29/12 (0)

Who on earth needs Stereophile????? - johnmil 06:36:24 02/18/12 (0)

Interesting review - Ross 20:33:52 02/17/12 (0)

Restoration vs collecability value - airtime 09:33:45 02/15/12 (3)

RE: Restoration vs collecability value - dls123 13:44:55 02/15/12 (2)

RE: Restoration vs collecability value - rosendds@frontiernet.net 13:59:26 02/15/12 (1)

RE: Restoration vs collecability value - Crazy Dave 08:56:08 02/17/12 (0)

RE: Marantz 8B In Stereophile - moffat 09:00:55 02/15/12 (0)

Great news!! - henrybasstardo 18:37:43 02/13/12 (0)

RE: Marantz 8B In Stereophile - Marantzguy 15:38:10 02/13/12 (2)

If I were you... - Crazy Dave 08:49:45 02/14/12 (0)

RE: Marantz 8B In Stereophile - rosendds@frontiernet.net 18:20:14 02/13/12 (0)

Ahh, the 8B (Caution, reminiscing ahead) - 1973shovel 14:51:37 02/13/12 (0)

RE: Marantz 8B In Stereophile - airtime 14:40:52 02/13/12 (0)

RE: Marantz 8B In Stereophile - Eli Duttman 09:00:13 02/13/12 (15)

OT… BTW, I had the chanced to audition both.... - kootenay 12:38:00 02/13/12 (4)

RE: OT - unclestu 13:30:44 02/13/12 (1)

The Marantz 9 re-issue came in the store brand... - kootenay 14:47:46 02/13/12 (0)

RE: OT… BTW, I had the chanced to audition both.... - rosendds@frontiernet.net 12:44:14 02/13/12 (1)

Yes, it's the output transformers which make the difference - 1973shovel 14:03:10 02/13/12 (0)

RE: Marantz 8B shows - unclestu 11:30:58 02/13/12 (1)

RE: Marantz 8B shows - Eli Duttman 11:54:19 02/13/12 (0)

RE: Marantz 8B In Stereophile - Crazy Dave 11:02:37 02/13/12 (0)

RE: Marantz 8B In Stereophile - Lee of Omaha 10:08:29 02/13/12 (6)

RE: Marantz 8B In Stereophile - dls123 23:24:41 02/14/12 (2)

FWIW, most of the signal caps were early polyesters with a few bumble bees for good measure (nt) - Steve O 19:32:54 02/16/12 (1)

RE: FWIW, most of the signal caps were early polyesters with a few bumble bees for good measure (nt) - dls123 07:19:53 02/17/12 (0)

RE: Marantz 8B In Stereophile - Steve O 13:16:23 02/13/12 (0)

RE: Marantz 8B In Stereophile - Eli Duttman 11:47:18 02/13/12 (0)

RE: Marantz 8B In Stereophile - rosendds@frontiernet.net 10:47:10 02/13/12 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: Marantz 8B In Stereophile - Marantzguy 15:38:10 02/13/12 (2)

If I were you... - Crazy Dave 08:49:45 02/14/12 (0)

RE: Marantz 8B In Stereophile - rosendds@frontiernet.net 18:20:14 02/13/12 (0)

RE: Marantz 8B In Stereophile

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