Anyone own a Marantz 6100 and a 6300. What was the difference in performance/sound quality?

liam rtr

liam rtr

Active Member
I’m going to buy a Marantz 6300 on Facebook this week. I’ve had my eye on one for a while. Currently I have a Marantz 6100 that I think is average, the build quality isn’t great so I’ve had lots of issues with vibration isolation. I took the 6100 apart and filled it with modeling clay which got rid of all the isolation issues, made it sound ten times better, and made the thing heavy as a tank. My question is how well constructed is the 6300? I’m under the impression that its build quality is much better and won’t have the same issues as the 6100.
 
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It most likely is the "Marantz Tax" as the 6300s bring 2-3x morethan the 6100s for what I'm not sure. It looks like the 6100s may also be pricey in the $400+ range. I'm pretty sure you could find a Technics that sounds as good, but lacks the style and faceplate of the Marantz.
 
MARANTZ has been a great amp company - and has produced some nice digital gear - but their analog products are not the stuff of legend.

I’m with @Andyman on this one. The right TECHNICS deck will be a better bet!
 
Andyman said:
It most likely is the "Marantz Tax" as the 6300s bring 2-3x morethan the 6100s for what I'm not sure. It looks like the 6100s may also be pricey in the $400+ range. I'm pretty sure you could find a Technics that sounds as good, but lacks the style and faceplate of the Marantz.
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I actually was going to buy an sl-1200 but I found the 6300 at a really good price, and I’m selling one of my receivers right now so when it’s all said and done I will have spent nothing. The Technics was gonna cost me.
 
Sondek said:
MARANTZ has been a great amp company - and has produced some nice digital gear - but their analog products are not the stuff of legend.

I’m with @Andyman on this one. The right TECHNICS deck will be a better bet!
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I see sl 1300s and sl-d2s on Facebook a lot running around $150. Would the performance of something like that significantly outperform a 6300?
 
liam rtr said:
I see sl 1300s and sl-d2s on Facebook a lot running around $150. Would the performance of something like that significantly outperform a 6300?
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My dad owned a nice SL-D2. It sounded nice, but I think the build quality would (also) disappoint you.

My thinking is that unless you invest in the next step up - say an SL1200 or one of the new TECHNICS models - you will probably be moving sideways from a stock 6100/6300.

Given that you've done a ton of dampening work on your 6100, I'd suggest sitting tight and save your pennies for the next step up.

Just my 10-cents.
 
Sondek said:
My dad owned a nice SL-D2. It sounded nice, but I think the build quality would (also) disappoint you.

My thinking is that unless you invest in the next step up - say an SL1200 or one of the new TECHNICS models - you will probably be moving sideways from a stock 6100/6300.

Given that you've done a ton of dampening work on your 6100, I'd suggest sitting tight and save your pennies for the next step up.

Just my 10-cents.
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Thanks for the input, maybe I’ll just take a trip to the record store instead.
 
the 6100 is belt drive, 6300 direct drive

I had a 6100 for a while and liked it for its simplicty. It's CEC built with Marantz styling which can get tiresome to look at. I can't say for sure who built the 6300, maybe Technics?

I think if you want a direct drive from the 1970's, go with a Technics for reliability
 
malden said:
in terms of "performance/sound quality", I can't think of a turntable that disappointed me and I've owned dozens. If tuned and set up properly any decent turntable can perform well and sound great.
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That’s kind of how a feel about turntables, as long as they hold speed, don’t have any noticeable rumble, and have a good sounding cartridge then they’re great. I was mostly asking about if anyone could speak on the sturdiness of the 6300 and if they’d had isolation issues.
 
I have heard many turntables that do not exhibit speed stability, so music pitch is not stable and the listening experience is ruined (for me).

I always recommend TECHNICS - particularly their Direct Drive tables - at the budget-end of the market, because whilst they are not perfect, they always get speed stability right.

Speed stability - even if it is not precisely holding at 33.33RPM/45RPM - is the essence of good analog IMHO.
 
Sondek said:
I have heard many turntables that do not exhibit speed stability, so music pitch is not stable and the listening experience is ruined (for me).

I always recommend TECHNICS - particularly their Direct Drive tables - at the budget-end of the market, because whilst they are not perfect, they always get speed stability right.

Speed stability - even if it is not precisely holding at 33.33RPM/45RPM - is the essence of good analog IMHO.
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Absolutely, that’s one thing about my current turntable that I can’t complain about. I’ve never noticed any speed issues, it appears to be dead on.
 
There's a reason the Technics SL-1200 Mk II's are called the wheels of steel. They're a rock solid table, that, if upgraded, sound pretty fine. KAB electro acoustics has many upgrades for these. I have had three done; tonearm rewires, offboarding the power supply, making the strobe able to be turned off, better voltage regulator, adding 78 rpm capability. I might buy the fluid dampeners.
 
Kodaline said:
There's a reason the Technics SL-1200 Mk II's are called the wheels of steel. They're a rock solid table, that, if upgraded, sound pretty fine. KAB electro acoustics has many upgrades for these. I have had three done; tonearm rewires, offboarding the power supply, making the strobe able to be turned off, better voltage regulator, adding 78 rpm capability. I might buy the fluid dampeners.
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I’ve always wanted one, a little while back I saw a mkII on Facebook for $100 in great condition. The guy obviously had no idea what he was selling as the listing just said “turntable for sale”

It was two hours away and needless to say some guy got to it before me. Usually when I see them is good shape they are at least $800. If you want to spend $400 on a beat up one with no platter, dust cover, tone arm, or feet, I see those a lot.
 
liam rtr said:
I’m going to buy a Marantz 6300 on Facebook this week. I’ve had my eye on one for a while. Currently I have a Marantz 6100 that I think is average, the build quality isn’t great so I’ve had lots of issues with vibration isolation. I took the 6100 apart and filled it with modeling clay which got rid of all the isolation issues, made it sound ten times better, and made the thing heavy as a tank. My question is how well constructed is the 6300? I’m under the impression that its build quality is much better and won’t have the same issues as the 6100.
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Both are rather mundane tables on the inside. The 6300 has a rather cheap, unsophisticated DD motor. I'd be more interested in the belt-drive 6100 to be honest.
 
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