Great Thread!
I just found a near mint 1900 on CL the other day and am planning a rebuild. Right now it sounds very soft and mushy. I'm not that impressed at all. My unrestored Marantz 2230 kicks its butt.
Anyways, now that your restore is complete and hopefully you have put on the extra 100 hours; how does it sound? Especially compared to its non restored sound.
Could you also do me a favor and give an overall sound summary on the parts you replaced? In other words, What difference did you hear when you swapped out the electrolytics? What sound difference do you thing the resistor swap made? Etc...
I'm trying to decide weather to do a typical rebuild or an all out one like yours.
Thanks,
Mike
OK...Were to start....I have 2 1900's....
1. I sent One 1900 to Terry for a Full Recap.
2. The 2nd One....I did a "FrankInTosh" Rebuild....I wanted to see by replacing as much components would this sound better...Plus the 1900 is Easy to work on.
1st 1900 Terry had replaced the Caps and Tuner Alignment.
Sound check is using the Original Main Caps: Very Warm and Inviting Sound.
Bass is Laid back (Mushy) as to Bass Thru Mids sound as 1. Treble is out in Front.
Sound check using New Main Caps:
This has taken the Mushy Bass out and I can Clearly hear Bass, Mids and Treble. This SHOULD be done (IMO) with a Complete Cap replacement.
The sound is a "Jazz Club" in a box!!!!!
2nd 1900..."FrankInTosh"...2 steps with this Project. 1st..Caps replaced, Transistors (Only) on Pre Amp Boards and Main Caps.
Bass, Mids and Treble can be Clearly heard. Bass has more Bottom end (ELNA Silmic II in recap) to Thank...Still "Jazz Club" in a box.
Replacement of Resistors...I can take the Volume control and turn this Fully Up...No Joke..Clear and Clean Sound...Sound is Cleaner but still has that Mac signature profile.
Film Replacement...Have over 200hr on the Films...I did not noticed any change...Sometimes when you replace Films(Depends on the Brand) it may sound TOO clean...Not so with the WIMA. So the Films are New and not OLD so replacement is clearly up to your Wallet.
I have Both in Rotation and Really Love the Sound of Both 1900's. THe "FrankInTosh" takes it a notch up with overall sound.