RE: I was reading up on the Marantz 15 dual monoblocks

Vintage Asylum

Classic gear from yesteryear; vintage audio standing the test of time.

Posted by E-Stat (A) on August 16, 2016 at 08:11:05

In Reply to: RE: I was reading up on the Marantz 15 dual monoblocks posted by Chas on August 15, 2016 at 16:48:05:

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.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - I was reading up on the Marantz 15 dual monoblocks - airtime 09:06:44 08/15/16 (16)

RE: I was reading up on the Marantz 15 dual monoblocks - mcgjohn@yahoo.com 09:36:20 08/16/16 (2)

RE: I was reading up on the Marantz 15 dual monoblocks - airtime 11:10:32 08/16/16 (1)

RE: I was reading up on the Marantz 15 dual monoblocks - dlb945 12:03:11 08/20/16 (0)

RE: I have a pair - Russ57 19:29:32 08/15/16 (3)

RE: I have a pair - airtime 07:08:31 08/16/16 (2)

RE: Would have liked the long version:) - Russ57 17:52:50 08/16/16 (0)

I had a 250M. - Mr. Dick Hertz 16:45:45 08/16/16 (0)

RE: I was reading up on the Marantz 15 dual monoblocks - Chas 16:48:05 08/15/16 (7)

RE: I was reading up on the Marantz 15 dual monoblocks - E-Stat 08:11:05 08/16/16 (0)

The 250 captured the pinnacle of that 70's sound - airtime 16:59:48 08/15/16 (5)

RE: The 250 captured the pinnacle of that 70's sound - Coner 13:23:40 08/16/16 (0)

RE: 510M - jaynemo 10:41:40 08/16/16 (3)

RE: 510M - airtime 11:08:13 08/16/16 (2)

RE: 510M - jaynemo 13:34:03 08/16/16 (1)

RE: 510M - airtime 14:00:43 08/16/16 (0)

I had two of them at one time - realistico 16:40:52 08/15/16 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: I was reading up on the Marantz 15 dual monoblocks - E-Stat 08:11:05 08/16/16 (0)

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