Oh but yet another comparision of a 2330 vs. 2270

airtime

airtime

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I've had the 2330 back for about a week now. During it's absence I was enjoying using my 2270 more than I normally do. So when the 2330 went back into the rack I did log a few more "refresher" hours on the 2270.

Clarity - the 2330 definetly has a clearer more articulate sound. You CAN pick out the instruments - so to speak. Where as the 2270 having more of that vintage sound can get muddy with less definition during more complex music. But overall I never had an issue with the 2270 as long as the source was good.

Seperation - I find them to be about the same. Perhaps the 2330 having a cleaner sound may give the illusion, or not, of having more. But I find it too close to call.

Dynamics - The 2270 is clearly not as dynamic. It can fill a room with sound. But the 2330 as that sudden crisp strike that can make you jump. Like when a bass drum sounds it's crisp, sharp, clean and CLEAR. A sound really only found in better separates and not typically the receiver class. Also finer detail is notice even in low volume passages. The 2270 can loose that quality quickly.

Tone - Now here is why my 2270 will be advertised at airtime's estate sale. The 2270 does have a very full and lush sound. A great example of the vintage sound. It's full, moving and has feeling. But the 2330 having more "air" between instruments and punchier makes for a leaner tone and heavily towards being VERY neutral. I mean VERY VERY neutral. Like a Yamaha. And again it's tone is more in line with a good separate system.

FM - Well considering the state of FM I don't know if it's worth much discussion. But here it goes. THe FM sound on the 2270 is far and away better. On the 2330 you do enjoy better specs. So you can pull in stations better. And you do have more tuner controls to tweek the signal. Much like the 125, 150 or higher tuners. But what you do get on the 2270 is pure audio gold. I don't get that feeling with the 2330.

In short - The sound of the 2330 is in line with a quality separtes unit. Excellent dynamics, separation, clear, crisp, bouncy with tons of power. On par with the best receivers ever made. However the 2270 does have the sound. An excellent vintage unit with great sound that I still enjoy. Even with my higher ended toys.

charles
 
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Nice review! Too bad the 2330 is tough to come by. I can definitely understand the 2330 winning the dynamics battle, considering that it is twice as powerful.
 
There are two up for sale on Audiogon. Although they are asking in the $700 range. I got mine for $500. But it needed some minor work, done by Terry DeWicky. The FM needed alignment and I think there was a broken tracing coming off a transistor on the buffer or amp board. But I DID NOT DO IT.

charles
 
Nice review. Your results are in line with what I would have predicted between the two models. I've owned a three 2270's and thought them to have a nice lush sound like you mention. The newer receivers like the 2275 and 2385 are sharper and clearer, which is also in line with your observation regarding the 2330. Ultimately, the 2270's had to go because I perceived them to be marginally more dull than the others. This lack of sharpness robs music of the nuances I like, IMO.
 
I still find the 2270 to be the better listen with FM. Otherwise with XM, CDP or even an external tuner, the 2330 is far and away a great sound.

Also I find the 2270 to have a "fuller" bass. So I would assume the 2270 is voiced with a bass boost around 100-150hz. Were as the 2330 is again - more neutral.

charles
 
jstang said:
No replacement for displacement....
Click to expand...

Not to mention a totally different design in the output stage. Different horses for different courses. BTW Nice Review!
Regards,
Jim
 
Did your 2330 just get serviced? Would your review results still be the same if both units are at original specs or updated specs?
 
The unit was service to realign the FM tuner. It was WAY off. And there was a broken tracing somewhere. Terry fixed it. But no, there are no improvements.
 
Very good review. Thanks for including your personal preferences in your observations. Your description of the 2330 leads me to believe that I'd enjoy owning one (I have a 2275). They're all such nice looking machines.
 
Thanks for your reply airtime. If I understand you correctly, both units haven't been significantly serviced since being manufactured? If this is the case, could one or both units have some failing part that could prevent a true comparison with original specs? What I'm getting at, is I'm wondering has the 2330 always been considered the winner over the 2270 in most people's opinion? Is the 2230 a newer model with updated quality when originally manufactured? Thanks, again. Appreciating the shared knowledge.
 
Charles,

I noticed in your signature that you have a 170DC and some of the matching preamps.

I was wondering if you could comment on the sound difference(s) between the 2270 and the 170DC. I'm asking because I have a 2270 with new output caps (it was my first vintage unit, actually). I have always enjoyed the full, lush sound, especially with sparser material - jazz, folk, spoken word. However, I did have an epiphany moment with an FM broadcast of some church chorale music a couple of years ago where I could birds singing outside in the background during the quiet passages.

Anyway, I've been putting together a Marantz separates system from the same era - so far I've got the 170DC (which needs an overhaul) and a 2130. I'm looking for a 7T preamp which, though I understand is not the official matching one, seems to have the sonic qualities I'm looking for. How would compare the sound of the 2270 and a 170DC/preamp combo? Does the 170DC have the leaner sound that you describe in the 2330 or is it more along the lines of the 2270?

Thanks,

Thor
 
The 2330 was "stock". the only thing that was done to the 2330 was repair it and align the FM section. Othewise it was untoched. However the 2270 I was using was fully recapped. No modifications just recapped.

I would describe the sound of a 2330 as leaner than the 170DC amp. And the 170DC amp as leaner than the 2270. So in order of lean and clean sound I would go from 2330 to 170 to 2270.

The 2330 and 170 are really a step up the audio food chain as compared to the 2270 and 2230.

Now don't ignore the 170. I find it to be a wonderful amp. But with one STRICK caveat. It needs a properly matched preamp. Otherwise it will sound weak and dull. I found in my situation the 3600 (mine is fully recapped and tweaked a bit) to work the best. The 3300 sounds very bright and lacks bass.

If I were you I would skip the 7T and look for a 3250 or better yet a 3650. You will get far better results.
 
Charles,

That's very helpful and interesting. I would have thought that the 7T would be good match as I've that it has a laid back, "tubey" sound. But I haven't actually heard it so I can't say. I haven't in fact heard any of the Marantz vintage preamps, just a fair number of the receivers (2230, 2238b, 2270, 2285b).

Thor

airtime said:
The 2330 was "stock". the only thing that was done to the 2330 was repair it and align the FM section. Othewise it was untoched. However the 2270 I was using was fully recapped. No modifications just recapped.

I would describe the sound of a 2330 as leaner than the 170DC amp. And the 170DC amp as leaner than the 2270. So in order of lean and clean sound I would go from 2330 to 170 to 2270.

The 2330 and 170 are really a step up the audio food chain as compared to the 2270 and 2230.

Now don't ignore the 170. I find it to be a wonderful amp. But with one STRICK caveat. It needs a properly matched preamp. Otherwise it will sound weak and dull. I found in my situation the 3600 (mine is fully recapped and tweaked a bit) to work the best. The 3300 sounds very bright and lacks bass.

If I were you I would skip the 7T and look for a 3250 or better yet a 3650. You will get far better results.
Click to expand...
 
Charles (or anyone) - I didn't mean to say 2230 in post #12. I meant 2330. So many numbers to keep in order. Does the fact that the 2330 was manufactured 4 years later than the 2270 give it a better overall sound (2270 manufactured 1971 - 1973)? Did Marantz improve upon everything in their later editions (late 70's as oppose to earlier 70's)? I ask, because I have a 2238B which was manufactured the same years as the 2330 (1977 - 1979). Would you know, or assume that the 2238B would share the same sound characteristics as the 2330 (except for the power rating) & would win out in a comparison with the 2270? I also ask because I'm considering getting a 2270. What would one expect to pay for a 2270 in good condition with wood case (or without wood case)?
 
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I know you said serviced,

but were these two units restored, new caps, etc?

I always hold judgement until after a restoration. I thought my 4400 was just OK until it was re-capped....

The 2270 being older may be part of why it sounds different, but I also wonder about its past history/abuse/usage, and the condition of its caps compared to a slightly newer 2330.
 
Between the time the 2270 was produced and the 2330, yes there was a newly designed line. But this is typical with any stereo line. For good or bad.

And you are correct in noting "when" the unit was produced. But this only holds true for "new" product lines. Not for a continuation of older lines. So there is a difference between a 2270 and a 2238b made the same year. But there isn't much difference between two 2270's made in two different years. Minor changes perhaps, but no deal breakers!

But to answer your question - Marantz did improve it's amp technology and production in the latter seventies. Unfortunatly in the eighties they started looking into making Cheaper instead of better.

As for the 2238b - unfortunatly I had one MANY years ago. And I remember it sounding very similar to the 2226b. That was all I remember about it. But nice sounding indeed. But similar to the 2330 - aah Na! My 2330 is what I classify as "A KEEPER"


charles

addendum - the 2270 was fully recapped and working perfectly up to spec. the 2330 was a "virgin"
 
1.) So the 2330 is consider an improvement over the 2238B in more ways than just power rating? Is there different internal parts, etc. to help with this improvement (I ask this since these 2 models were manufactured in the same years 1977 - 1979)?

2.) Since the 2770 (1971 - 1973) was made 4 years prior to the 2238B does this give an advantage to the 2238B over the 2770? Or are we comparing apples to oranges?

3.) Did you like the 2226B over the 2770?
 
Possuo o 2330 e o 2238, ambos soam muito bem. Tenho vontade de adquirir o 2270, não sei se ele toca como o 2238, digo, se são semelhantes
 
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