Marantz 2285b, wooooooww!!!

EDUBAG

Hello guys,

just got last week a marantz 2285b made in 1978. I have heard by a lot of people that vintage equipment sounds better than modern gear (generally speaking).

So i got this receiver for my office rig and tried it in my main system rtia7 towers, and woooooooooooowwwwwwwww!!!! What a beatyfull sound and great strenght i was shocked to say the least that this receiver almost my age (i was born in 76) could push the towers so easily and loud.

At 85 wpc is no slouch but i am comparing it to my pio elite avr as pre amplified by a 200 wpc rotel rb990bx and can say that the marantz goes almost as high and sounds better (in my opinion).

If some of you guys have similar gear please share since it was an eye opener for me.

Now i am going after pioneer spec 1 and spec 2 that i found close by. To try those as a permanent two channel system.

Again wow wow wow.

Thanks,

ed

dkg999

I've always thought the mid-70's Marantz receivers sounded great, but then I'm biased because a Marantz 2270 was probably my first "real" audio gear I bought as a kid. Congratulations!

EndersShadow

I found this true as well with my Dad's on Yamaha stereo reciever. It powered some cheap Sony floorstandings and added all kinds of bass and response my newer Sony reciever couldnt....

I actually am going to take my Denon 1610 off and try the Yammy with my current office gear at some point to determine if I should just sell it and keep the Yamaha instead...the only problem I have is that I wanted to add a sub for 2.1 and am not sure how to wire that correctly...

ken brydson

EDUBAG wrote: »

Hello guys,

just got last week a marantz 2285b made in 1978. I have heard by a lot of people that vintage equipment sounds better than modern gear (generally speaking).

So i got this receiver for my office rig and tried it in my main system rtia7 towers, and woooooooooooowwwwwwwww!!!! What a beatyfull sound and great strenght i was shocked to say the least that this receiver almost my age (i was born in 76) could push the towers so easily and loud.

At 85 wpc is no slouch but i am comparing it to my pio elite avr as pre amplified by a 200 wpc rotel rb990bx and can say that the marantz goes almost as high and sounds better (in my opinion).

If some of you guys have similar gear please share since it was an eye opener for me.

Now i am going after pioneer spec 1 and spec 2 that i found close by. To try those as a permanent two channel system.

Again wow wow wow.

Thanks,

ed

That is so funny that you posted this today. Just yesterday I re-did my office rig with my Marantz 2252B (bought new in '78)and added a Sony CDP-C8ESD that I just bought from Starkiller here on the forum. TT is a Kenwood KD-2070, speakers are RTA8t's ($30 on CL). I was amazed at how good it sounded. I also was asking myself about using a newer unit. I have a Sony STRDA1ES sitting in my closet. Ther Marantz isn't going anywhere :biggrin:

tonyb

I'm a big fan of the older Marantz, Sansui receivers. Built like tanks and some good sounds to boot. Just wish I never sold my old stuff years ago. Just goes to show that build quality trumps technology at times. Congrats on your pickup,if you ever have some coin laying around,treat yourself to upgrade the innards a tad,you'd be surprised at what those old receivers are capable of.

Fongolio

I've got a Sansui G6700 receiver in my bedroom that rocks the Casbah. I'm rebuilding and refinishing a couple of Yamaha CR series receivers as well (CR800 and CR1000). Beautiful real wood cabinets on all three of them. The CR1000 has a teak cabinet. Sweet sounding too and very powerful. I just love vintage gear!

snow

Here are a few pics of a Pioneer I sold a litttle while back.



REGARDS SNOW

EDUBAG

Wow snow, that is a nice unit. Do you know how good the spec i / 2 combo is? It seems that you know vintage pioneer.

I think i can get them both for 600 - 800, would it be a super better sound than the marantz?

sucks2beme

I like vintage gear as much as anyone else, but the prices on some of this
30+ year old gear is too much. You can buy a used much more modern
amp at that price range and have something that is going to last a while.
Unless some very good tech heaped some resto love upon it,
it's a ticking time bomb.

snow

EDUBAG wrote: »

Wow snow, that is a nice unit. Do you know how good the spec i / 2 combo is? It seems that you know vintage pioneer.

I think i can get them both for 600 - 800, would it be a super better sound than the marantz?

I cant answer that for you, every brand has its following some prefer the Pioneer sound others Marantz Kenwood Sansui etc, you would simply have to listen for your self and see which you prefer. As far as to how good the spec combo is would likely depend on whether or not it has been re capped lately and bad solder joints resoldered etc.

REGARDS SNOW

George Grand

The vintage Pioneer and Sansui are pretty to look at, but super-overrated from a sonic perspective. They probably all (Marantz, Kenwood, etc.) are. Best sounding receiver I ever heard had 33wpc and second best is 15.

I have my "dream" pieces from years ago now that I can afford them. An Acoustic Research "Receiver", an Acoustic Research "Amplifier", and an Acoustic Research "FM Tuner". While these are some of my MOST cherished audio possessions, not for one moment have I deluded myself into thinking these can compete with other rigs/equipment I have.

debussyj

I have a classic Marantz Model 22 receiver in my bedroom setup driving a pair of classic Polk RT-5 bookshelf speakers. The sound is very warm and sweet with lots of bottom end and punch. It's amazing what these older receivers can do. They were so elegant, mine glows blue with that classic gyro AM/FM tuner wheel. It's a great tuner too. I remember drooling over these when I was a kid wanting one and my parents saying "right" no way. So I bought this one a couple of years ago. Really love it.

TroyD

Since seeing one and hearing about it from El Roma, I've always wanted the Advent receiver.....

BDT