Marantz 2325 worth it?

Klunky

New Member
Here's the story about my 2325...maybe you guys can help me decide what to do.
In the mid 1980's my dad and one of his buddies went to an estate sale and got this 2325, a Sanyo tape deck, a pair of University speakers and I think some other stuff for less than $100. It sat in my parents shop getting used and abused by the college-aged staff for several years. When I was in middle school, I got it and the University speakers. I used it until maybe 1995 until it developed some noise problems. Took it to a local repair shop that did NOT have success with repairing it in 1997. Took it to them two more times in 2003 with the same results.
Since then, I've started putting together a McIntosh system for the basement and I don't really NEED the 2325 for anything. I have a 2226 in my garage and I've always liked that style of Marantz so I hate to give it up, but I don't want it to sit around broken forever. I also don't want to spend a fortune to fix it. I could use it in my smaller, upstairs system I guess.
Who is the best person in the U.S. that does Marantz repairs?
BTW the noise problem I mentioned kind of comes and goes. Usually while I listen to music at a low volume level, one or both channels will go silent. After I jack the volume back up, the sound usually comes on. Sometimes it will drop a channel at medium volume levels, but instead of just going silent, there is static. The repair shop I took it to replaced a bunch of parts and took my money and even though they've been around forever and have a good rep, they just couldn't get it. The thought of boxing it up and sending it away to have it return with the same problem makes me sick. Please tell me there is someone around that is great with these things that doesn't charge a fortune. Or should I sell it on eBay "as is" and move on? Any help or advice would be great...THANKS!
 
It could be as simple as cleaning the volume control with deoxit. (Search the site for instructions!) It's hard to imagine the original "reputable" shop not being able to repair it 3 times.....:scratch2: It sure sounds like a dirty volume control which is an easy fix!
 
for now, just try moving that volume knob back and forth quickly and constantly in full range for a good 5 minutes. see if it helps.
 
Yes . . by your historical description it seems that it was prolly used ALOT! I fear that DeOxit was probably tried by the service techs to no avail which means that the pot is actually worn out and needs replacement. Do you know if they already replaced it?

Also when you encounter the problem--have you tried turning the mode selector of speaker selector knobs to see if the signal is being crunched there?
 
Don't give up on that 2325!! You simply have a dirty speaker relay. Easy fix. If you search this forum for "speaker relay", you'll come up with quite a few threads to tell you how to do it. Here's a start: http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=23875. If you need more details, let me know - I have an old 2325 parts unit I can take pics of if you need 'em...

Good luck! :thmbsp:
 
Keep it!!

That Sir is one of the finest vintage recievers around, there is a reason they go for $350 to $500, I have a 2270 and Martin Logans, I got it back in May,blew me away, Saul Marantz was very gifted, my 2270 just cound'nt give the ML's the umpf I craved, so I pre-amped out into my trusty SAE amp, now I'm hearing into the music anew again, have you tryed another amp the way I did? can you borrow one? and is the problem still there? Sorry forgot to say clean that volume control like Mikey said!!! And I guess what I'm saying is if it's not the volume control and some thing with the amp section and you bypass it you still have a killer phono and preamp with that stops people in there tracks cool rig! I've been having fun playing differant amps with mine, they all sound differant, the preamp section of the Marantz is that good, you may even think about a weekend with the big Mac's into it see how you like it!!
There is a guy on Ebay, sold me the 2270, he buys Marantzs and refurbishes them sells them, his name is Larry Parker 102 robinwood drive, Aiken SC 29803 I don't know if does out side stuff would not hurt to ask, he works on Marantz all day long!! PM me for his phone #, where do you live? if you live closer to Michigan I know someone there who is brilliant
Gook luck! Peace Craig
:music: :music: :music: :music:
 
Yeah, why don't you go back into your member CP and enter your location. It can be as general as what state or province you live in. Makes things friendlier, too.
The 2325 is a great sounding receiver, and deserves to be restored. As MANY will attest, and the fact he was voted Member of the Year 3 years running (a tie last year, but still), EchoWars puts the time and effort into restoring our vintage gear that you won't get at a typical repair shop--they make money by turning over the gear as quickly as possible.
By all means, clean the pots and controls with DeoxIt, and take a look at the speaker relay thread.
Good luck on saving a true legend piece.
 
Thanks for all the advice guys. I'd tear into it, but I really don't want to for a few reasons. I'm good when it comes to electrical stuff with cars and car stereos, but it isn't the same with home electrical and also home stereo. I just can't imagine it would be such an easy fix. This shop has been around forever. One of my friends has taken countless McIntosh pieces to this place and has always had good luck with them. He has enough loot to send his stuff to Audio Classics or Terry, yet still he goes to the place in town and is pleased with the results. This place is always busy and I have to wait weeks to get the unit back. I can't believe a place like that would overlook something simple like a dirty pot or faulty relay. If you guys are REALLY curious, I'll try to scan my repair tickets so you all can see what they replaced.
Anyway, I sent a PM to EchoWars to see if he would be interested in working on it. I also updated my CP. I'm in Kansas.
 
Its definently worth a try imo. I would deox all push button switches as well as pots to try to address the problem. If you need to replace the relay you can pm me, I have one that I purchased specifically for that model receiver but never used.
 
Hello Klunky

How did it go, please say ya got good results from a little bit of elbow grease!! and if so any other problems. You have a very nice original there, good luck!!
 
I've heard very good things about Echowars. Whatever you do, do NOT get rid of the 2325. When I retired and moved to a new home, my wife and I panicked about cleaning out the old home and I gave away a Dynaco SCA 35 amp, A kenwood KA 2002 amp, an AR XB turntable and a Sony 5000 F tuner. Don't let this happen to you! :nono:
 
echowars has done the following for me: repair and upgrade an adcom gfa-555 amp; repair, restore and seriously upgrade a pioneer sx-780 receiver; and work on a seriously fubar'd marantz 2325 receiver that i unknowingly bought already screwed up. i would not consider sending the amp to anyone but echowars, with the exceptions of AK'ers emeritus dewickt and merrylander. with these three guys, you get serious, no BS, knowledgeable ability to get the job done on your equipment. if you want a pioneer specialist, that person would member pustelniakr. i've worked with all these guys, and they are above reproach.
 
Not to worry. I talked to EchoWars and found out he lives only a few hours away. Instead of taking shots in the dark and possibly wasting money or frying something, I'll just let the pro deal with it.
 
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