Need a little integrated?

mdaudioguy
mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
edited May 2012 in Electronics
Just picked up an open-box (a floor model that was never connected to anything) Marantz PM5004 integrated amp for $139.99 from Best Buy. Just wanted to put that out there in case anyone was interested. Haven't even heard it yet, but it can't be awful.... can it? :wink:
Post edited by mdaudioguy on
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,808
    edited May 2012
    It should be pretty respectable based on what I've read...
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  • CCNJ
    CCNJ Posts: 384
    edited May 2012
    Wow - The PM 5004 retails for $449. So I would say that $139 for an open box item is a killer price. Not a lot of professional reviews on the PM5004 but many customers gave it a good rating.
    Rig1 - Totem Hawks, Benchmark HDR, Parasound A21, Sonus, Samsung 52 LCD, Audioquest Type4
    Rig2 - LFD LE IV Integrated, Harbeth P3ESR, Rega Dac, MF V-Link, IMAC, Audioquest Type4
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited May 2012
    I think you're good at that price, even their AVRs are fairly "musical" compared to others. I mean an integrated for less than 150, new? Get-outta-here!

    Have fun!

    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]
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,171
    edited May 2012
    Killer price compared to retail. As far as sound, depends on what your expectations are. I'm sure it's decent, but not sure it will knock your socks off.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,381
    edited May 2012
    Man, you got my price beat. I picked up one a couple months ago and it is a sweet little amp. If it had a little more power it would replace my Denon. I had to push it close to 40% to get my RTA11TL's to show some life in my relatively large listening room. The sound is nicely refined with a touch of warmth. It is relatively low power at 35W into 8 ohms but would me great for a small room. The headphone section also sounds quite nice.

    http://www.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/new_products_from_marantz/
    http://www.stereophile.com/budgetcomponents/marantz_pm5003_integrated_amplifier/index.html
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited May 2012
    Glad to hear you like yours, Stan. What are you doing with it now? My expectations are realistic. I'm wondering what I'll think of it as compared to a Cambridge I once had, which I really liked. If I like it, I might just go grab the other one they had! Or maybe point my son in that direction.

    Most I'll probably use it for is to push some bookshelves. Now to find what they might be...
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,381
    edited May 2012
    Right now it is sitting in its box waiting to be put into service or sold. I saw the amp for a nice price and curiosity got the better of me. I like the amp but just doesn't have the drive to fill my rather large listening area (family room and kitchen). My old Denon receiver does this effortlessly.

    It would be great in a smaller room pushing some bookies. If I keep it, I'll likely do a 2ch setup in the basement with a pair of Monitor 5's or the S8's.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • DeadFeat1
    DeadFeat1 Posts: 51
    edited May 2012
    Really love my PM5004 driving RTiA1s. You bought a really fine integrated at a great price. I stumbled on mine at Best Buy for $231 w/ a $12 rebate from my credit card...Enjoy

    I can't turn it up past 1:00 because it is far too loud in my 12 x 13 room. 9:00 to 10:00 provides very enjoyable listening levels. Stereophile gave it a very favorable review...
    Don't forget to enjoy the music...
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