Ahh, the 8B (Caution, reminiscing ahead)

Posted by 1973shovel (A) on February 13, 2012 at 14:51:37

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

In 1976, I bought a system based around Absolute Sound "Editor's choice" list or something.

The speakers were Dahlquist DQ-10's, an Audio Research SP3-A-1 preamp, and an SAE power amp. I always thought I did pretty well, and enjoyed the system.

Some years later, while going through a divorce in the mid 1980's, I joined an audio club. Another member told me he wouldn't give me 2¢ for my SAE, and loaned me his Marantz 8B to try out.

Be advised that I didn't know much about the workings of components back then. I was more of a music lover than a hobbyist. I remember two things prior to trying the 8B. One was the feeling that I might damage the DQ-10's, since the Marantz was only 35 watts (and I think Dahlquist recommended 50 WPC as a minimum, if I remember correctly). The second thing was that I figured I already had the best of both worlds, since I had tubes in the system with the ARC preamp, and the SAE amp had made it on a list, after all!

How wrong I was. The 8B opened up the Dahlquists and let me hear them like I never heard them before. I had a fondness for Marantz gear anyway (their SS stuff from my high school days), but now I knew just what a musically enjoyable difference a good tube amp could make.

I was in no financial position to buy the 8B at that time. Being unemployed and going through a divorce will do that to you. I began upgrading Dynaco tube amps as an alternative, and have been hooked on the sound (and fun) of tube amps ever since.

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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

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

Ahh, the 8B (Caution, reminiscing ahead)

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