Vistance
Super Member
I was preparing a 3250 preamp and 170 DC amp to sell, figuring I didn't need to keep these around unused since I've swapped out for a lower powered amp where I was using these. This setup never ever gave me a problem. I let it sit for a few days, I went to test it some more since I never used all the functions. Everything was great. I went to hook up a turntable which was fine to it, suddenly there's background hum. I unplug the turntable, it goes away. I change inputs of my test device to another input and now the hum is back. I turn it off and back on, hum is gone.
Then it came back on so I unplugged EVERYTHING, still humming. Volume dependent humming that won't go away on any input, with nothing but the power amp plugged in and the speakers hooked up. I am so angry I can't see straight and the first thought I'm having is taking my crowbar and just smashing the both of them (If they weren't both somewhat valuable, they'd be in pieces because my patience is gone). I swear, I am so tired of vintage equipment CONSTANTLY breaking down and being a waste of time. In the past 6 months I've had several vintage pieces die on me, this Marantz did it in. I could write all the others off for just being inferior quality, but this time I'm convinced vintage is just not worth the time. I'm through buying vintage. I'm going to start buying modern gear from '90+ and swearing off anything older than that. I'll be looking at that "They don't make them like they used to" phrase in a completely new light...
All the popping buttons, the staticky controls, the channels going in and out, the hums, let someone else deal with it. I'd rather spend my time listening to the music and enjoying it than funding some technician fixing antiquated gear that doesn't even sound any better than newer equipment. So looks like the next time I'll be posting here will be if I ever get ahold of some of the decent newer Marantz gear. Given those prices, it'll probably be a long time...
Then it came back on so I unplugged EVERYTHING, still humming. Volume dependent humming that won't go away on any input, with nothing but the power amp plugged in and the speakers hooked up. I am so angry I can't see straight and the first thought I'm having is taking my crowbar and just smashing the both of them (If they weren't both somewhat valuable, they'd be in pieces because my patience is gone). I swear, I am so tired of vintage equipment CONSTANTLY breaking down and being a waste of time. In the past 6 months I've had several vintage pieces die on me, this Marantz did it in. I could write all the others off for just being inferior quality, but this time I'm convinced vintage is just not worth the time. I'm through buying vintage. I'm going to start buying modern gear from '90+ and swearing off anything older than that. I'll be looking at that "They don't make them like they used to" phrase in a completely new light...
All the popping buttons, the staticky controls, the channels going in and out, the hums, let someone else deal with it. I'd rather spend my time listening to the music and enjoying it than funding some technician fixing antiquated gear that doesn't even sound any better than newer equipment. So looks like the next time I'll be posting here will be if I ever get ahold of some of the decent newer Marantz gear. Given those prices, it'll probably be a long time...