I just picked up a nice 2245 with wood case my first Marantz piece.I noticed back plate with serial number different than most all I have seen.shows 140 watts instead of 310 watts and doesnt say made in japan, does anybody know anything about this, thanks if you can help, by the way sound is warm and incredible hooked to jbl 4311b and pioneer hpm 40s that thing ROCKS!!!!!
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Marantz 2245 different than others I have seen
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Arkay
Lunatic Member
As jailtime's post indicates, there are two versions of the 2245. One is the typical, silver-fronted Japanese version with silkscreened lettering. The other is a less common type, with the lettering on the faceplate "engraved": you can see and feel the recessed lettering. The engraved versions were, I believe, make in the United States, just before production was shifted to Japan. These faceplates often have a slightly more "golden" tinge to their color.
What voltage is it running on, and is your unit multi-voltage or fixed voltage? Any other indications (stickers, for example, or accompanying documents) that might suggest where it was sold? Any markings on the inside?
What is the serial number? That might help put a date on it, by comparison with other units of known date.
Can you post pics?
What voltage is it running on, and is your unit multi-voltage or fixed voltage? Any other indications (stickers, for example, or accompanying documents) that might suggest where it was sold? Any markings on the inside?
What is the serial number? That might help put a date on it, by comparison with other units of known date.
Can you post pics?
No "engraved" units were ever produced in the USA - except, perhaps, some prototype engineering/design models which I doubt were ever sold. All the 22xx series were made in Japan - no exceptions. I have gone through a lot of "engraved" (really stamped) units and they are fun to work on because they represent the time when the Japanese contractor was trying to figure out the best way to put the units together. Wiring changes, label changes, component changes are all evident. Once the silver faced units appear, the systems become fairly standardized.
Here's how you can tell if the unit is an early model (aside from the serial number - which isn't necessarily reliable because the back tag can easily be changed out):
1- There will be a universal voltage block attached to the rear panel. Later units left that out and there are just two screws inserted in the rear panel holes as fillers.
2- the chassis will be gold colored - not just the front panel.
3- there will be a paper label stuck to the inside of the metal cover defining the PC boards that were in common between different models and what parts were left off when assembling for this one. Later units included all the parts even if they were not actually used and the label went away.
4- No Marantz brand labels on the output transistors or the transformer.
5- No red insulator washers added to the three screws that hold the indicator lamps in place.
6- The wiring to the FM meter is passed through a hole in the clamp making it almost impossible to open up the back and replace the fuse lamp there.
7- Lots of other subtle changes that any tech would notice if they work on these (how the dial pointer wire is secured changes, gluing each push button goes away, front panel shaft nuts go away, blue tinted fuse lamps go away, the knob stripe changes, the back speaker connectors change from all black to red/black pairs etc. etc.)
When working on one, I like to think about the workers who put these early units together - discussing with the production engineers the best ways to streamline assembly, etc.
One thing worth noting - all the changes were made to conserve money and make the unit easier and cheaper to produce. The "engraved" panels were eliminated because they were more expensive to make.
AND- since purchases were made in bulk the most interesting units are those transitional ones where, for example, the chassis is gold but the front panel is silver. I have even seen gold chassis with gold front panels that are NOT "engraved" including the gold/champagne colored knobs (the tobacco stained units don't count
).
DH
Here's how you can tell if the unit is an early model (aside from the serial number - which isn't necessarily reliable because the back tag can easily be changed out):
1- There will be a universal voltage block attached to the rear panel. Later units left that out and there are just two screws inserted in the rear panel holes as fillers.
2- the chassis will be gold colored - not just the front panel.
3- there will be a paper label stuck to the inside of the metal cover defining the PC boards that were in common between different models and what parts were left off when assembling for this one. Later units included all the parts even if they were not actually used and the label went away.
4- No Marantz brand labels on the output transistors or the transformer.
5- No red insulator washers added to the three screws that hold the indicator lamps in place.
6- The wiring to the FM meter is passed through a hole in the clamp making it almost impossible to open up the back and replace the fuse lamp there.
7- Lots of other subtle changes that any tech would notice if they work on these (how the dial pointer wire is secured changes, gluing each push button goes away, front panel shaft nuts go away, blue tinted fuse lamps go away, the knob stripe changes, the back speaker connectors change from all black to red/black pairs etc. etc.)
When working on one, I like to think about the workers who put these early units together - discussing with the production engineers the best ways to streamline assembly, etc.
One thing worth noting - all the changes were made to conserve money and make the unit easier and cheaper to produce. The "engraved" panels were eliminated because they were more expensive to make.
AND- since purchases were made in bulk the most interesting units are those transitional ones where, for example, the chassis is gold but the front panel is silver. I have even seen gold chassis with gold front panels that are NOT "engraved" including the gold/champagne colored knobs (the tobacco stained units don't count
).DH
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No "engraved" units were ever produced in the USA - except, perhaps, some prototype engineering/design models which I doubt were ever sold. All the 22xx series were made in Japan - no exceptions. I have gone through a lot of "engraved" (really stamped) units and they are fun to work on because they represent the time when the Japanese contractor was trying to figure out the best way to put the units together. Wiring changes, label changes, component changes are all evident. Once the silver faced units appear, the systems become fairly standardized.
Here's how you can tell if the unit is an early model (aside from the serial number - which isn't necessarily reliable because the back tag can easily be changed out):
1- There will be a universal voltage block attached to the rear panel. Later units left that out and there are just two screws inserted in the rear panel holes as fillers.
2- the chassis will be gold colored - not just the front panel.
3- there will be a paper label stuck to the inside of the metal cover defining the PC boards that were in common between different models and what parts were left off when assembling for this one. Later units included all the parts even if they were not actually used and the label went away.
4- No Marantz brand labels on the output transistors or the transformer.
5- No red insulator washers added to the three screws that hold the indicator lamps in place.
6- The wiring to the FM meter is passed through a hole in the clamp making it almost impossible to open up the back and replace the fuse lamp there.
7- Lots of other subtle changes that any tech would notice if they work on these (how the dial pointer wire is secured changes, gluing each push button goes away, front panel shaft nuts go away, blue tinted fuse lamps go away, the knob stripe changes, the back speaker connectors change from all black to red/black pairs etc. etc.)
When working on one, I like to think about the workers who put these early units together - discussing with the production engineers the best ways to streamline assembly, etc.
One thing worth noting - all the changes were made to conserve money and make the unit easier and cheaper to produce. The "engraved" panels were eliminated because they were more expensive to make.
AND- since purchases were made in bulk the most interesting units are those transitional ones where, for example, the chassis is gold but the front panel is silver. I have even seen gold chassis with gold front panels that are NOT "engraved" including the gold/champagne colored knobs (the tobacco stained units don't count
DH
Thanks for the excellent description.
Do "all" of the earliest 2230/45/70's have the engraved faceplates or was it an option? I have a tech that used to know Saul and Sid. When I asked him about this he thought these had something to do with Marantz's 20th anniversary but he only vaguely recalls and isn't positive.
You have a pm.
Yes,
They were all produced on the same line at the same time and are around the first seven thousand or so for all three models. I have also heard of the 20th anniversary story but have no way to verify it. I personally think that they originally intended them all to be that way but ran into $$$ problems - deciding to eliminate features that did not affect sonic or build quality but helped the bottom line. Kenwood always used "engraved" front panels and it may be competition from them that first convinced Marantz to go that way.
I always wonder what the buyer of a Marantz thought after coming home with the boxed version only to discover that it was not engraved - unlike the demo unit at the store. I'll bet it caused some problems for a while.
DH
They were all produced on the same line at the same time and are around the first seven thousand or so for all three models. I have also heard of the 20th anniversary story but have no way to verify it. I personally think that they originally intended them all to be that way but ran into $$$ problems - deciding to eliminate features that did not affect sonic or build quality but helped the bottom line. Kenwood always used "engraved" front panels and it may be competition from them that first convinced Marantz to go that way.
I always wonder what the buyer of a Marantz thought after coming home with the boxed version only to discover that it was not engraved - unlike the demo unit at the store. I'll bet it caused some problems for a while.
DH
Arkay
Lunatic Member
whsh93a, Thank you for the very informative post. I inserted "I believe" in front of the bit about the engraved ones being made in the US, because that was hearsay that I wasn't sure about. Guess the person who told me that was wrong. I have a couple of earlier engraved Marantz, but not the 2245 (mine is non-engraved), so I had no way to check. Nice to have correct info -thanks again!
Also completely agree how much fun it is to "track changes". There are so many little variations between units sometimes it almost seems that getting two receivers that are really the same is the exception to the rule!
Also completely agree how much fun it is to "track changes". There are so many little variations between units sometimes it almost seems that getting two receivers that are really the same is the exception to the rule!