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2285b

Marko

Marko

Well-Known Member
hi everybody

I'm eying this nice receiver locally, and would like to ask for some feedback by those in the 2285 know, if I may.

I've tried to find the actual phono stage frequency response specs of the 2285b, but have not found anything specific online. Does someone here have the info?

Also, how good is the tuner section?

fwiw, I'm presently using a Yamaha cr-2020, which has a real decent tuner section, and phono stage. I'm just trying to dial in the optimum synergy mojo, in my present setup, and room acoustics. The 2020 is damn near perfect, yet I know I can use a *bit* more grip, +clearer lowend seperation between say the kickdrum and bass guitar. The 2020 is super close.

I'm thinking the 2285b will give me that *bit*, but since I use all the inputs, I don't want to go backwards on the other stages.

So, if someone has the 2285b manual, can you find out if the phono stage is a 30-15 frequency response, or 20-20?

best regards,

Marko
 
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Marko said:
Thanks!

...any opinions out there on the 2285b tuner section?

cheers,
Marko
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You know, I had two 2285B's at one time and really didn't play the tuner that much. Good performer, especially after an alignment. The tuner sound is not remarkable but that is the case with almost all Marantz standalone tuners and receivers that I've owned.
 
I like the tuners in mine. If you are used to the Yamaha sound, you may find the Marantz a little bit "warm", but they are both very nice to listen to. I think the differences come down more to a matter of listening preference than 'better' or 'worse'.
 
My 2285B is the last amp I will ever buy, it's perfect. I don't listen to the radio really, and from what I can tell the tuner is competent but not incredible.
There is also minor hiss audible right next to the speakers, but given the deep and breathtakingly clear sound I don't care at all. I have heard it described as warm, and it is certainly not cold and harsh like the 80s gear I had, but it sounds very neutral and precise to me. I am pretty fussy about sound and I have zero complaints after four years of pretty intense listening.
 
SoCal Sam said:
You know, I had two 2285B's at one time and really didn't play the tuner that much. Good performer, especially after an alignment. tuner sound is not remarkable but that is the case with almost all Marantz standalone tuners and receivers that I've owned.
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Sacrilege! Repent!
 
aaquaa said:
Sacrilege! Repent!
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LOL! Posting IMHO is risky in the Marantz forum!!

Anyways, I've owned plenty of Marantz receivers and the 2130 and 2110 scoped tuners so my opinion stands. Of course the 10B, 20B, and the 19 are not on my black list.
 
MatthewK said:
My 2285B is the last amp I will ever buy, it's perfect. I don't listen to the radio really, and from what I can tell the tuner is competent but not incredible.
There is also minor hiss audible right next to the speakers, but given the deep and breathtakingly clear sound I don't care at all. I have heard it described as warm, and it is certainly not cold and harsh like the 80s gear I had, but it sounds very neutral and precise to me. I am pretty fussy about sound and I have zero complaints after four years of pretty intense listening.
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If I had only one receiver, I would have been perfectly happy with the 2285B. However, it is a numbers game around here so the 2285B had to go.
 
I keep only one receiver, and it's a blackface 2285b. A mint HK430 is on the way, but I'm afraid this fling won't be a long one.

I understand the "not remarkable" part, but I get great reception + warm atmosphere from my girl, which is all I ask from FM radio. Maybe this depends on your favorite stations.
 
Hi Marko, I suspect you are referring to the piece up at Echo Audio right now. I saw it last weekend, the back of it at least (it was still on hold when I came in). If you have not purchased from Kurt at Echo before, do not hesitate to grill him about the piece. He is super knowledgeable and a first class seller. Ask if you can take it in the back and have a listen. He runs a laid-back, no pressure shop.

However beware trying to improve on a setup you feel 'is damn near perfect'. I cannot tell you how many times I have thought that of my McIntosh MAC4100 + ADS L810 pairing... thinking "I wish could have a little more resolution" or "I wish the soundstage had more depth". But when I try different setups, I realize that my McIntosh/ADS combo does everything just about 95% the way I like it. And it can do it that way on a variety of music all day. In the end, that last 5% is not worth a few extra hundred dollars that could otherwise be spent on more music. Unless of course you looking to collect gear just for the sake of collecting... then that is another costly endeavor altogether. :music:
 
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Jupiter1610 said:
...I cannot tell you how many times I have thought that of my McIntosh MAC4100 + ADS L810 pairing... thinking "I wish could have a little more resolution" or "I wish the soundstage had more depth". But when I try different setups, I realize that my McIntosh/ADS combo does everything just about 95% the way I like it. And it can do it that way on a variety of music all day. In the end, that last 5% is not worth a few extra hundred dollars...
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The 2285B sells for $300-400 while the 4100 fetches $700-800. I'd take the money and what I consider to be better sound.
 
I also have a 2285b and am very happy with it. The tuner sage is quite strong IMO, I listen to NPR mostly and it preforms very well with the classical music show and vocals.

The other function I use it for is vinyl so I also have some experience with the phono section, which meets my expectations very nicely. I have a pair a cerwin vega d5's which are rather harsh in the upper frequency range but when I spin some vinyl through them with the 2285b it sounds MUCH better, takes some of the harshness and edge out.

I think it's worth trying in your set up, just to try something new if anything. But all this is of course my humble opinion. Hope I helped :thmbsp:
 
The 2285B sells for $300-400 while the 4100 fetches $700-800. I'd take the money and what I consider to be better sound.
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Really not trying to draw a Marantz versus McIntosh comparison here. Just warning that if he is already mostly satisfied with the Yamaha, he might regret going in a another direction with the Marantz (if it means giving up one for the other). I have almost given up my Mac many times thinking I would obtain hi-fi nirvana, but found that the 4100 bested all challengers.
 
Jupiter1610 said:
Really not trying to draw a Marantz versus McIntosh comparison here. Just warning that if he is already mostly satisfied with the Yamaha, he might regret going in a another direction with the Marantz (if it means giving up one for the other). I have almost given up my Mac many times thinking I would obtain hi-fi nirvana, but found that the 4100 bested all challengers.
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The 4100/L-810 are what they are.
 
To report with much sadness, the people running the store quoted me a price, so I tried to research this model better. Here I want to say a hearty thanks to everyone who pitched in to the thread.

But, when I did decide to pull the trigger and was all ready, piggy-bank cash in hand, I asked the owner about the servicing it gets before it's resold. At that point, the owner of the biz decided to raise the price considerably, saying that if he sold me the 2285b at the price quoted, he would have to fire somebody.

Keep in mind that he left no info for his employees to go on, when I was there, and to their credit, they tried to make a sale, and gave a price based on what they saw as the historical mark-up pattern used.(my guess)

So I told him not to fire anyone, that I understood his rationale, and passed on the 2285b.

...anyways, you guys are great to help!...don't stop!

be well,

Marko
 
I hope you get some good karma for being so understanding, and it sounds like the owner needs to have a heart to heart with some folks. IMO he didn't treat you exactly right, and what would he have done had you bought the thing immediately when the price was first quoted to you?
 
Gun Doc said:
I hope you get some good karma for being so understanding, and it sounds like the owner needs to have a heart to heart with some folks. IMO he didn't treat you exactly right, and what would he have done had you bought the thing immediately when the price was first quoted to you?
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The 2285b was at the very end of the 30-day hold to clear for theft, and the sales guys could not find anything in thier records to show what the owner wanted for it. So Iprompted them to give their best guess. Now, this brick+mortar place always has their tech go through every item that goes out the door anyways, and I knew this. But I had to ask to what extent the checkover went...like how about tuner alignment?(and such)

To my surprise, he responded like I said. Anyways, with a 33% price increase from out of nowhere, I walked. I know it's harder than ever business-wise for him to make it against the stereo sharks in town floating around, perhaps he's near folding the tent to respond like that.

I'm sure I'll find something else real cool...:-)

thx!

Marko
 
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