Blaine,
Let me show my better half.
I ask for your forgiveness.
I also just canceled PayPal claim.
I am very sorry what we had to go through.
I was wrong.
I too feel bad.
Forgive me.
The scars will fade but will always remain.
Gentlemen, you have restored my faith. I'm sorry that both of you had to go through this via this particular 2500. I agree, there were some limits and maybe a few compromises with the power supply that were really pitfalls in the end. This is from the issue of trying to pack so much into a receiver chassis and expecting so much power output from the system. The physical space constraints on the toroidal transformer, current and voltage outputs for 8 ohm (and limitations for 4 ohm power output) plus either wire insulation or thermal fuse technology of the day still exist to a large extent today.
I haven't been able to follow many other 2500 threads lately so I'll ask the following questions as followup to this thread:
1) anyone know what the serial number is of this beast so we can consider being cautious if it ever resurfaces?
2) Has there been any movement on a replacement or reproduction power transformer design, test samples, or production details/costs? I've got a 2500 which has been sitting for 13 years so concerned about any potential turn on, failure, or general need for refurbishing/rebuilding.
3) What became of the 2500 in question when sent to the next shop? Did they actually have a correct transformer, or did they substitute something else (which probably disabled the scope and/or reduced power output)? What did they eventually do?
4) Although this thread apparently got moved to feedback, IMO, there could be and would be a lot of good done by putting it back into the Marantz or Solid State forums as a cautionary tale of buying, hoping, restoration, repair pitfalls, etc. for all vintage gear fans. That the owner and troubleshooter/repairer have (sorta) settled their differences in mutually forgiven way is also another testament to AK values, and IMO, should be shared in a larger context besides feedback forum.
5) If the original 2500 was unsalvageable from a time or $$$ aspect by the owner, one wonders if it was parted out whether the problems it had would then propagate through the Marantz 2500 population at large that needed parts? I only say this partially tongue in cheek, I'm a firm believer in "parts is parts" but sometimes "a lemon is simply a lemon".