A new toy....

[SB Marantz]

Yesterday the big sucker arrived.

The Marantz SM-800!
Until now i never had the pleasure to own one.

It looks alot like the previous model's 500 and 510 accept that the esotec 800and 1000 are much bigger and heavier.

I can tell you that the build quality is exeptional good.
Metallized epoxy pcb's are used and it show's!

Many thank's to Mike Castor!

 

[jstang]

Nice.....!!!!!

I never saw the 800. Looks just like the 1000..... How many WPC?

Are you going to refub?

How does it sound?


johnk

 

[SB Marantz]

Yes John, it's very nice indeed!

It gives 285 Watt @ 8 Ohm's.
I did not messure it @ 4 yet but that wil happen when i recap the sucker.

 

[bolly]

sweet! :thmbsp:

 

[airtime]

So where do you live and do you leave the house for any long periods of time?

And what room do you keep it in and would I need a hand truck if one to "move" it? ;-)

Wow that looks sweet!!!! Looking forward to hearing your reviews.

charles

 

[SB Marantz]

This sucker weighs more then two 510's.
The ''problem'' is not the weight but the depth.

I can compare it to it's smaller brothers, the 500 and 510 some time.

 

[macman007]

I'll bring the hand truck..........kidding.....wow thats sweet....how do the Esotech series compare sonically to the more vintage Marantz solid state big boys?





007

 

[airtime]

Some of the esotec's were repackaged later 70's gear. But they did make a fair number of excellent integrated amps. Most notabled were the sm6-8's. BUt I think the lower powered ones were nicer???? From the limited experience I've had with the esotec line: more detail and a VERY clean sound. The best I can describe it is it's like a really good NAD C326BEE.
http://www.thevintageknob.org/MARANTZ/MARANTZ-main.html

 

[SB Marantz]

I wil compare the amp to the earlier models.
My personal opinion wil follow............





More pics:

 

[SoCal Sam]

Congrats S.B.! Glad to see the Amplifier Cooling Tunnel made it into some Philips models.

 

[SB Marantz]

Thx but the SM-700 / 800 and 1000 are far from the Philips era.
Designed (Mike Castor) in the USA and produced in Japan (1979)
The later SM-11 was produced during the Philips era. (1983/84)
Also a very nice amp!

 

[SB Marantz]

Here some more info for you:

In 1975 production shifted from the USA to Japan
End of 1980 Philips bought the Marantz trade mark.



http://thevintageknob.org/MARANTZ/MARANTZTIMELINE/MARANTZTIMELINE.html

 

[SoCal Sam]

I knew 1980 was the year Philips took over. The good stuff was carried over.

 

[airtime]

Hey - you're going to go blind if you keep playing with that amp.

Enough small talk - REVIEWS PLEASE!!!!

Charles "Marantz provocateur"

 

[SB Marantz]

I got my Esotec SC-6 preamp to combine with the SM-800.

So tonight i wil give this set a serious listening test.

 

['cisco]

Very nice SB :thmbsp:

 

[airtime]

Were do you find all this great stuff. All I find are Fisher receivers wth the optional 8 track player.

I think my next audio adventure may be with something new. Also I would like to try more of the Esotec line. But they are almost impossible to find. A PM-5 or 6 would be fun to play with. Being the 8 is basically a 3650/300 I've kind of been there already.

Sounds like one FUN night - Enjoy
charles

 

[SB Marantz]

Wel, i was very lucky to notice this sucker just in time otherwise is was gone for sure.

I allso have some other small Esotec's like the PM-4 / 5 / SC-6 / SM-6 and PM-8.
Some others like the SC-7 / SM-7 / ST-7 i sold some years back.

The PM-8 has a totally different power amp compared with the 1300DC / 300DC
Pre-amp section is the same.

 

[SB Marantz]

FINISHED AND PLAYING!!

 

[fredmarantz]

Looks absolutely great!

The big one is impressing !

Looking foreward to seeing those units live - and listen to them!

cheers
Freddy