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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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In Reply to: Very poor in NYC, need stereo advice posted by Rashomon on February 12, 2007 at 12:37:05:
Rashomon,When I was a student living on next to nothing and moving every year, I used a Marantz 2235 receiver (2X35W). One of these in good nick is far better sounding than it should be- a bit warm and slightly tubby in the bass, but detailed, dynamic, quiet, and natural sounding- non-fatiguing and very listenable for hours. Marantz took their tuners seriously and the tuner section is much better than my much newer 100W Sony receiver. Even the phono section is just fine- I used this 2235 for 12 years ('73-'85) as my main system with a Technics SL-D2/Shure V15. What was quite scary is running the 2235 into my Audio Research D115- there's a preamp out on these- and the sound from phono, line, and FM was really impressive- the preamp section must be quite linear and quiet. The 35W is plenty- working fine in my office system with Vandersteen 2C speakers. This one is a keeper, I still have it and the original box and manual- used without a repair in three countries, and over 34 years (purchased in 1973)!
You do have what sounds a very tight space and my thought is to get some kind of two bay shelves arranged so you might stack the receiver and a VCR/DVD player with the TV on top. The receiver then acts for the TV sound as well. These have a headphone output too and I'm having very good luck with the lower end Sennheiser monitor (isolating) headphones, using the HD280 which I got new of Ebay for $70. These (after a lot of break-in) give a sound quality similar to quite expensive speakers.
Prices for the Marantx 22XX receivers vary today, but I see what appear to be quite nice ones for around $90-120. There was a really nice 2235 on Ebay yesterday (2.11.07 )that went for $120, a 2245 went for $80. The lower power ones 2215, 2216, 2220, 2230, 2235, etc seem a little sweeter and smoother than the bigger ones- I have a 2275 also.
Dirty noisy pots and controls and burned out lights are the main problems these seem to suffer.
My attitude is that a nice Marantz 22XX receiver with their full, warm sound and nice blue lights could really help liven up the typical Manhattan "Junior Executive Starter Apartment". I think having the FM/AM- which is a decent sound too- is worth the space a receiver takes. And my experience is these receivers are so good, it's not out of the question in the future, with a little more money- and interior volume- you could run one into say an Adcom 545/II amplifier (100W, perhaps $250) to a pair of nice floorstanders- how about the used Infinity Primus 360s at $175, and with a reasonable source- used NAD CDP or one of the Toshiba 39XX $60 DVD/CD wonders, and have actually a decent sounding system.
Gosh, 70 hours per week for nearly no pay- you're not an architect are you?
Cheers,Bambi B
Manhattan budget audiophile system:Marantz 2235- $120
Toshiba 3980 DVD/CD- $70
Infinity 360 -used $175 > very good sound, shielded and delightfully small footprint (8" X 13"). Better, for $250-$300 would be used Vandersteen 1B or 1C , or there must be good bookshelf speakers- I've never looked into them
Technics SL-1200 TT- $150When you're wealthy:- add an Adcom 545/II- $250 > the only Adcom amp I found really nice, then replace the Marantz with a Conrad-Johnson PV tube preamp ($400) and a used Marantz ST6000 tuner ($175).
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Follow Ups
- The Magic of Marantz 22XX - Bambi B 16:39:51 02/12/07 (2)
- Re: The Magic of Marantz 22XX - Bill the K 08:21:29 02/14/07 (0)
- Re: The Magic of Marantz 22XX - sherod 20:00:17 02/13/07 (0)
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