Kind of vintage, but not quite - Marantz PM-25 integrated amp. Anyone, anyone at all?

mhardy6647
mhardy6647 Posts: 33,779
edited December 2013 in 2 Channel Audio
So - this cute little Marantz integrated amplifier - not quite modern, but not quite vintage, either - followed me home from the freebie pile at NEARC (www.nearc.net) on Saturday. Seems low-ish end but fairly nice overall. Sounds pretty good, actually.

Anyone hear have one (present or in the past) or know anything about it? Looks to date from the early 1990s(?). www.hifiengine.com has the ROW manual for the fairly similar PM-35 (appears to be the next model up) but there's scant info on the PM-25 dredged up by Google.

Any information/opinions greatly appreciated and gratefully received.

Thanks!
Post edited by mhardy6647 on

Comments

  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    edited October 2013
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Anyone hear have one (present or in the past) or know anything about it?

    In this same situation, I'd check with mhardy, he knows more about this kind of stuff than anyone else around here. ; )
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,779
    edited October 2013
    jeepers, it's worse than I thought! :-O
  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited October 2013
    Lol!
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited October 2013
    May be I could answer if I see the pictures and nudies of it. No picture makes a man bored....:D
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,779
    edited October 2013
    yeah, yeah, I know - us guys are so visual - that's what keeps Victoria's Secret in business...

    There are a coupla photos of the thing on teh webs... but I'll take a few anon and post.

    Also - the reason it was a freebie (based on my assessment) is rather interesting. It works fine - 100% all righty. It has one anomaly, though. The outer (negative) conductors - i.e., the metal outside sheaths - on the RCA jacks for the line-level "CD" input are gone. Not there. Gonzo. I am thinkin' someone had a pair of "death grip" cables on them at some point and - when the cables were removed - they didn't go quietly.

    All the other line level inputs (and the gold plated phono inputs) are OK, however. The CD input has a "CD Direct" switch on the front panel (which presumably bypasses some of the signal crud in the amp) so there is (could be) some incremental added value in resuscitating those two jacks.
  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited October 2013
    Yes, I see pictures from the net but real pictorials (including Vic Sec) make a vintage junkie jolly and woody all day long.

    But you definitely should replace these two RCA sockets and it's worth a dollar. I highly suggest you get a similar old RCA sockets from the AKer and use it or the new ones may not fit right.

    From what I can see on the net, it's a nice integrated and a nice scroe indeed. It's a 50 Watter but has with solid heatsinks with some good old 3 Leggies and no IC. I betcha these 50W sounds smooth with simple circuit (Super Linear as Marantz putz it).
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
  • Msabot1
    Msabot1 Posts: 2,098
    edited October 2013
    PM 25....made 89-90....35W/side.
  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,755
    edited October 2013
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    I am thinkin' someone had a pair of "death grip" cables on them at some point and - when the cables were removed - they didn't go quietly.

    PFB the original owner? ;-)
  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited October 2013
    I'm happy to see that you've been referred to...."yourself", lol

    Have no idea about this unit. From the google pics it seems to have an internal layout somewhat similar to the newer Yamaha A-S500 (below) [with less power], which is a pretty decent integrated for not much money.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,630
    edited October 2013
    Those look like nice amps. I had a small HK amp hooked to some Klipsch Heresy ||'s & the little amp did a fantastic job IMO
    ..
  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,603
    edited October 2013
    teekay0007 wrote: »
    In this same situation, I'd check with mhardy, he knows more about this kind of stuff than anyone else around here. ; )

    Dude....that is excellent advice there! lmao...
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,630
    edited October 2013
    I see. The good here is there are other ports & phono. But what a death grip- ive seen some of those. Get the torch ready lol..nice looking unit
    ..
  • waterbob
    waterbob Posts: 1
    edited December 2013
    hi, just seen your post a little late. i was searching around to see how much the marantz is going for as i am currently valueing some of my electronics. anyway here's a little info on it - i bought it in 1989 in edinburgh as part of a hifi seperates system (also got yamaha turntable, panasonic cd player, aiwa tape deck and mini max speakers. i think it was a pretty new item in 1989. amazingly apart from the cd player all are still going strong 24 years on. that's japanese tech for you. the marantz has been an amazing buy, delivering good sound with a decent punch at higher volumes. the cd direct button does indeed bypass some of the crud and gives the sound a noticeable boost. the digital radio also plays just fine though the sound from the turntable is a little on the weak side. overall a great buy and will probably last forever - possibly one of the best value items i have ever bought (think i paid £120). as a slight aside for a reputedly dodgy brand, the aiwa tape deck has served me equally well, though i don't play casette tapes much nowadays!

    hope you find the info interesting