I've owned many marantz recievers over the years.
Certainly not 800 though, as I'd have to be around 229 years old in order to own that many, and properly evaluate, and live with them for a length of time.
I've owned a total of exactly 9 Marantz recievers, the first one being a bought new 4400 Quad reciever that set me back $1200, and had the CRT blow 6 months later. I quickly dumped that for McIntosh gear, and never looked back.
I've also owned numerous Sansui gear over the years, Units like the QR-4500 QR-6500, Sansui Seven, Eight, Eight Deluxe, 7070, 5000, 9090, and I still currently own a near mint QRX-7500, an absolutely perfect QRX-7001 and a mint 7000.
In more recent years, I was buying up lots of vintage Marantz-Sansui Receievers, and have once bought a beautiful, absolute mint 2265 from ebay for $108, plus about $17 to ship it. It was perfect, and played very well IMO. I've owned 2238B's, 2240, 2265, two 2330B's the bought new 4400, and the best of all, and I do regret selling, was an abolutely perfect 2285B Black Face Euro Model, with perfect matching Black Face 5025 Cassette Deck. All of the Marantz's I've owned an auditioned in my own home running through vintage JBL Monitors, I felt this reciever had the best sound of the lot.
That isn't to say that there wasn't better sounding marantz gear made before, or after this time era, as there no doubt was, such as the revered Marantz 7 and 8.
I sold that Black Face 2285B, and Cassette together on ebay 4 years ago for $900, which IMO the buyer got a very good "Low Cost" deal on both. Provided he has kept them in the flawless, pristine condition I sold them in, they both are probably now worth $1600-$1800.
Yes, I agree, a great presentation, with great pictures can go far to hype up an auction, and bring much more money.
I'm a member on a couple of yahoo marantz groups, and it was said that one of these Black face 2285B's sold not too long ago for $1400.
The real big dollar recievers from Marantz are the rare 2385B, the 2500, and 2600 recievers, with their cool CRT Displays, as also the 2130 Tuners.
Aa far as sound, like I say, the best I heard for a Marantz reciever was my 2285B Black Face, with the 2265 running a close second. I thought the two 2230B's I had were both abolute garbage, and an overrated reciever. Sure they played loud, but lacked what I felt were good dynamics, and air. With their 3 tone controls, I could not get any type of what I felt was quality sound no matter what I did.
Here's where I feel the Sansui's, while certainly not as pretty, most the time would best any of the Marantz recievers.
I've owned many Sevens, a couple of Eight-Eight Deluxe's, and the 9090, and 909db I feel have no peer as far as vintage recievers go.
In a heads up A/B, I've personally heard my own mint Sansui Eight Deluxe (Which my cousin begged me for, and now owns) best the mint Black Face 2285B hands down.
This Eight Deluxe was an exceptional Unit.
My cousin's also currently using this unit hooked to two JBL Monitors, and says that reciever is his most prized possesion! lol Mark