Vintage Marantz Stereo Love

I have never owned a vintage Marantz receiver. But I want to.

Got my eyes on the 2230.

Any other ones that should be on the radar?
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Comments

  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 2,987
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    I have a 2385.... smallest of the big boys ... 2500 and 2600 are the prize receivers. I also have a 2252B which is nice too. There seems to be a lot of love for the 2245's

    The lower wattage ones have a very tube like sound to them and are very desirable for that alone.

    the 2270 and the 2325 very nice units.

    Find one and enjoy it. Most of them sound as good as they look!
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
  • kharp1
    kharp1 Posts: 3,453
    I'm with skip on this one...unless it's just something you're wanting to try, I'd look for quality newer stuff. I have a few pieces I've had for a while, but, hardly ever use them. They're nice, but, my other, newer stuff, sounds better.

    For vintage SS gear it is some of the best stuff to own, but, buyer beware. Lots of people taking pieces and spraying Deoxit on the pots of the older stuff and calling it "refurbished." Get a bill of sale from a shop with a parts list if it's been refreshed. Even units that haven't been brought up to date are bringing fairly high prices. That, coupled with the cost of new transistors, caps, resistors, lights, and, the tuning adjusted, will price the piece out of the neighborhood, making it a passion play rather than a smart sound investment.
  • pongshi
    pongshi Posts: 376
    I have a 4270. It's the quad version of the 2270. I run in 2 channel mode. My pride and joy is my completely restored 2325. I do not plan on parting with either one. Both of them are in wood cases.
    Living Room
    Parasound Model 2250v2 amplifier
    Parasound P5 preamp
    Turntable 1 - Technics SL-1210Mk2 turntable with Shure V-15 Type III cartridge
    Turntable 2 - Dual 1229 turntable, Dual AS-12 45 RPM stacker, Shure V-15 Type III cartridge
    Schiit Mani Phono Preamp for Turntable 2
    Oppo UDP-205 CD/SACD USB and FLAC duties
    Technics RS-1500US reel to reel
    Polk SDA SRS (2nd Gen) fully modded
  • oldrocker
    oldrocker Posts: 2,590
    I have a 2385b European model that's going nowhere.

    For me the Marantz visuals are top notch backed up with good sound.

    I wouldn't mind finding a 4270, 2270 or the slightly different looking MR250.

    Of course the big boys being the 2500 & 2600, but for that coin I could get some higher end more modern items but the are the holy grail for Marantz.

    Prices are crazy on the used market as others have said and for the money it usually costs to purchase and then having everything updated can add up real fast.

    Lots of luck, hope you find a bargain like I did.



  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    edited May 2018
    I'm not much of a fan of the Superscope-era Marantz electronics; but I've said that many times before. It is OK but horrifically over-priced (over valued) IME; I assume it's those... Rococo aesthetics ;)

    EDIT: I will say that the unsuffixed "22xx" receivers were pretty nice (the "B" variants were chintzier inside and out in terms of their construction quality, comparing apples to apples, e.g., a 2220 and a 2220B). The 2270 was, I'd opine, the all-around, single best of the Superscope-era lot. They ain't cheap, neither, though ;)



  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    edited May 2018
    2215 (unsuffixed)

    10484259345_34340cb21f_b.jpg2215ambient by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

    10484259235_91b5c76fac_b.jpg2215 innards by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    So I found mine cheap and put some into it and one's that are not as nice without the wood case sell for more than double what I have in to mine....I wouldn't pay that now but they do sound nice and sure are a conversation piece. They don't make'em like this anymore...
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    hb274ppwysky.jpg
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,556
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    I'm not much of a fan of the Superscope-era Marantz electronics; but I've said that many times before. It is OK but horrifically over-priced (over valued) IME; I assume it's those... Rococo aesthetics ;)

    Just about all the vintage stuff is overpriced right now. As the guys from era age,
    at some point demand will drop off. As one dealer told me a couple of years ago,
    "Demand for 4 channel stuff is dropping". Why, I asked?
    "Because everyone who wants it is now too old to carry it"'



    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    hb274ppwysky.jpg

    Yeah, yours is no kidding around beautiful.
    I think you should be glad it's not a 2600...

    The monster powered Marantzes are, at this late date, kind of notorious for packing a little too much heat-producing hardware in too small a space. They're, of course, not alone in that -- many/most of the monsters had issues along those lines (at least after 4 decades), but the 2600s are particularly needy in 2018 unless they've been redone already -- and, as you say, not an inexpensive rehab.

  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    I have never turned the heat on in my house in 3 full winters that I have been here B) Between that and the tubes the big parasound amp and the plasma tv I have plenty of warmth.

    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,010
    DSkip wrote: »
    My honest opinion - if SQ is what you are after, then for the prices ANY vintage Marantz units command, you should seriously consider something from Dayens instead - either the Ampino or Menuetto.

    Not totally after sound quality, more nostalgia. This will be a vintage system powering various vintage speakers powered by a Marantz.

  • kharp1
    kharp1 Posts: 3,453
    The Asian market has had a big impact on the prices. Read an article recently that stated the Chinese will soon have a middle class that is equal to the total U.S. population.
  • kharp1
    kharp1 Posts: 3,453
    I would say one occasionally, but, when sellers see recent selling prices they often don't take in to account that many of those sales are over seas. That market drives the price...at least the asking price...for everyone. As the Chinese, and Asian, middle class emerges their market will drive/dictate many things in our market. The world is getting smaller from a business perspective. We've been the power house for so long that it's probably going to be difficult to accept that our dollar doesn't dictate what happens in the retail world.

    If it's nostalgia you're after then keep your eyes open for one that might need some repair and try and get a "fair" price, then either refurb it, or, pay someone to refurb it,
  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,010
    kharp1 wrote: »
    pay someone to refurb it

    That is my plan. There are a few very experienced folks around the country who do this to these classic Marantz beauties.

  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    kharp1 wrote: »
    pay someone to refurb it

    That is my plan. There are a few very experienced folks around the country who do this to these classic Marantz beauties.

    And you might wait a year
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    of the few guys that do them well many have backlogs ... which may make it a good idea to get one that was done already. If you have to ship it and return ship that's another hundie to consider.
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,010
    A cat on the bay sells them already refurbished and he has outstanding feedback. I would post his user name but I am not sure if it is against the rules.

    He has one of the lower wattage models now...The 2015:

    kirk6ol5kh0j.jpg


  • msg
    msg Posts: 9,307
    I happened across a beautiful one when I was eaten up with vintage a couple of years ago. Turned out the guy was active over on AK, and we got to chatting a good bit. He was really friendly and down to earth (Earth?) and did some absolutely beautiful work with some of those pieces. Seemed very thorough, lots of photos, and included the old parts in case the buyer wanted them for any reason. Kinda like how really good doctors will let you keep your appendix if you ever have to have it removed. I wonder if it's the same dude...
    I disabled signatures.
  • Gerres26
    Gerres26 Posts: 859
    There's a couple lower powered Marantz receivers for sale over on AK right now, you need to be a paying member to see them though. One is a 2226b that needs some work i think. The other is a totally refreshed 2230 with wood case, but like some have said, the price is much higher due to it being serviced already.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    edited June 2018
    2015 is not a receiver one sees every day. It's very pretty, and I reckon it's pretty stoutly built.

    There's a little Twenty-Six here (which I think was 10 wpc, give or take) -- but it has
    lower output level in one channel than the other... and I hate troubleshooting (not to mention working on) soiled-state stuff. :(

    The Twenty-Six is on top of this photo of my tawdry little stack of low-end Superscope-era Marantz receivers.

    14815716390_34aebd4c3e_b.jpgDSC_9835 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
  • kharp1
    kharp1 Posts: 3,453
    I had a 2015 at one time an should have never parted with it.
  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,010
    Just put a best offer on a 2015. Hope to have a baby Marantz soon!
  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    zuul wrote: »
    did someone say vintage marantz? B)

    75copg5fjl42.jpg

    y5o06zgiua99.jpg

    wgc46pqcssy6.jpg

    u6rzb0cc1olk.jpg



    I've always wanted me a Model 250. Just beautiful.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
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  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 2,987
    I have seller's remorse. Over the last few months, I have sold this 4270...
    o4ojt8tzbcgr.jpg
    ...and this 2235.
    du88b2t9cuen.jpg
    But it's for a good cause...my parents' retirement. My dad bought these as thrift store finds 15-20 years ago. I have cleaned, tested, repaired, and most of all enjoyed these units, and now sold them to good homes. It will be a pretty good return on my dad's investment...with me as free labor to fix them up :D
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
  • ThomasD
    ThomasD Posts: 260
    jdjohn wrote: »
    I have seller's remorse. Over the last few months, I have sold this 4270...
    o4ojt8tzbcgr.jpg
    ...and this 2235.
    du88b2t9cuen.jpg
    But it's for a good cause...my parents' retirement. My dad bought these as thrift store finds 15-20 years ago. I have cleaned, tested, repaired, and most of all enjoyed these units, and now sold them to good homes. It will be a pretty good return on my dad's investment...with me as free labor to fix them up :D

    Any more pieces you might be parting with???
    Carver M4.0t, M1.0t, M200t, TX2, C1, C2, Marantz 2230, 2010, 4070, 1030, APPJ 2013, Rega Brio, Marantz Imperial 7's, Klipsch Heresy III, Quartets, KG4's, KG1's, 'The Sixes', R-12SW, Polk SDA 2a's, Monitor 7cTL's, SDA CRS's, 4a's, Zu Audio Dirty Weekends, Pro-ject Acryl TT, Cambridge 851N, 351C, Panamax 5300PM
  • stuwee
    stuwee Posts: 1,508
    zuul wrote: »
    DSkip wrote: »
    Over the past handful of years Marantz in particular has experienced almost exponential growth in pricing.

    Is there a reason for this? In the past year or two I've seen some prices on some old school silver face marantz and pioneer stuff that are just ridiculous... north of $2k... when did they get so popular again? and why?

    Because they have 'That Look' and 'That Sound', Marantz much more than Pioneer, and it's funny how the higher power Pioneer's are getting the big bucks, while the lower power Marantz getting the same.

    I've had (2) 2270's, used as a preamp mostly, never run the amp section with a 6ohm or lower speaker at high levels unless you want see magic smoke come out of the back. Gorgeous phono section, the 2230 and 2245 have one as well. Research the sale and work done, these will last many, many years, well worth the $$'s spent, spend big money on a nice one.


    You will hear ooohs and ahhhhs from anyone walking into the sound room, let them use the controls, feel that wonderful tactile movement. If they don't like the sound...give them another martini B)
    Thorens TD125MKII, SME3009,Shure V15/ Teac V-8000S, Denon DN-790R cass, Teac 3340 RtR decks, Onix CD2...Sumo Electra Plus pre>SAE A1001 amp>Martin Logan Summit's