Best Marantz Pre Amp

[airtime]

Louis had a thing for Marantz for sure! I've seen several of his home pictures and he was an avid Marantz fan.

I had the 18 & 19 as well. They both had a very distinctive early sound. But then again I've been leaning more towards newer gear and their sound style - what ever that means.

charles

 

[targeteye]

The 3650 or SC-9 is good if you have a 10k-47k impedance amp. if you have the proper amp to match it's ok. An improper match - you have crap.

Curious what it is about the 3650 that make is susceptible to varying loads? I'll have to dig out the schematic when I get home.

ALso, seems like the goal of preamp should be to sound like its not really there at all (except for the phono stage obviously).

Steve

 

[airtime]

The 3650 seems to be particularly sensitive to impedance loads. Actually more so than any other preamp I've had. And wow have I had a few!

It was fine with my newer amps that had a 10 or 20k load. bump it up to 100-250k and you start having roll off issues and diminished dynamics.

Also the 3650/SC-9 used a MAZE of interlocking pin connectors that were an endless source of intermittent connections. When you have to keep a cover off a preamp to fiddle with loose connections everytime you use it - I'm sorry but that is unacceptable. Even for a Marantz.

Sometimes less really is more. Like the humble 3250,3600,3800

 

[SB Marantz]

Send all your 7Ts to me.....

People miss some obvious refub steps that make substantial differences....

Satchmo knows....

Is this an old ad?

 

[airtime]

No, Satchmo really did use the 7c and I believe the 8b tube amp. This is a home picture. Also notice the 10b tuner

 

[jstang]

That's a 7t in the background.... and I am kind of sure he had a model 15 in this rig....

Sure he had tube rig at some point.....

He is also "rumored" to have smoked the "weed".....may be that's why they are so happy in that picture...? "Yea man.... ya dig? "



My understanding is that Satchmo knew Saul and lived near him in Queens.... One small and really cool world when you think of it.....

May be they rolled a few together and turned up the tunes.... ..... like everyone else did back then....

jk

 

[SWL3600]

I like the 3600.....I have two of them.

 

[dr*audio]

I used to have a 3800. I absolutely love the look of it, and it has tons of useful features. Then I got a deal on a Perreaux SX-1 preamp and I preferred the sound of that so I sold the Marantz. Someday I hope to find another 3800 and modify it to improve the sound. It has one IC inside that performs most of the preamp functions, except Dolby and Phono. I believe that chip is responsible for the charactaristic sound it has. When I first heard the Perreaux in my system, it sounded like a veil had been lifted between me and the music. I am not knocking the 3800 here, I am just sharing my experience and noting that there is room for improvement, and that the 3800 deserves it!

 

[targeteye]

The 3650 seems to be particularly sensitive to impedance loads. Actually more so than any other preamp I've had. And wow have I had a few!

It was fine with my newer amps that had a 10 or 20k load. bump it up to 100-250k and you start having roll off issues and diminished dynamics.

Also the 3650/SC-9 used a MAZE of interlocking pin connectors that were an endless source of intermittent connections. When you have to keep a cover off a preamp to fiddle with loose connections everytime you use it - I'm sorry but that is unacceptable. Even for a Marantz.

Sometimes less really is more. Like the humble 3250,3600,3800

Can you give an example of an amp that doesn't play well with the 3650? I did a check of the 3650 schematic and can find nothing that would explain this behavior. Especially since your saying the higher the input impedance of the amp worse the problem.

Steve

 

[airtime]

Maybe I should start over with this rant!

For years I had read about the attributes of this preamp. So when I finally got my hands on a 3650/SC-9 preamp, I had that all too familiar mind set commonly known as "unrealistic expectations".

During the time I owned my 3650/SC-9 it was, let's just say - "A really bad time". I ended up selling my 3650 for literally pennies on the dollar. I guess I'm imprinting my own bad experineces with this unit.

 

[jstang]

I have my 3300 still, sounded good to my ears.... But sounded a bit too busy in the high freq ....exaggerated might be the word. Maybe needed more refurb work to find its sweet spot.

Many years ago I had a 3600. Too long ago to really comment, other than I should have kept it. I liked it a lot, but I built my own preamp and mono blocks... which I really liked better. The home builts are on the shelf collecting dust now.... and the 3600 was sold to make room. Oh well....

jk

 

[targeteye]

I totally understand airtime. Rebuilding mine was a "challenge" as well. Not a rebuild for your faint of heart. As you know the preamp was designed to also fit in the same case as an amp as in the case of a 1300 integrated. As a result it can be a real challenge to work on.

I find it has a very nice Phone section and although I don't have any experience with the others properly rebuilt i'm wagering it is one of the better phono stages out there. I like it better than my Kenwood Basic C2 that also has a well thought of Phono section.

Steve

 

[jstang]

Some urls....

http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=23388

This one was started by me.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=168248

 

[bigredplane]

Marantz Sc-6

I see about all the good preamps from Marantz are getting air time here except the Sc-6. Does anyone have some experience the that one?
Scott

 

[bigredplane]

SC-9 vs. Sc-6

Well let's put this as a other question. Thinking of picking up a Sc-9 or a Sc-6 to go with my Sm-6's. Can anyone give me sound diffences in sound of the two?

Thanks

 

[airtime]

Personally, I would check the construction of the SC-6. Sonically they are similar. By the construction, I mean the SC-9 is a nightmarish mesh of interlocking pins that can cause a lot of intermittent problems. Again, this is just my two cents.

But there isn't much difference between the two.
charles

 

[jblmar]

The 3650 seems to be particularly sensitive to impedance loads. Actually more so than any other preamp I've had. And wow have I had a few!

It was fine with my newer amps that had a 10 or 20k load. bump it up to 100-250k and you start having roll off issues and diminished dynamics.

Also the 3650/SC-9 used a MAZE of interlocking pin connectors that were an endless source of intermittent connections. When you have to keep a cover off a preamp to fiddle with loose connections everytime you use it - I'm sorry but that is unacceptable. Even for a Marantz.

Sometimes less really is more. Like the humble 3250,3600,3800

Charles,
i have my 3650 since 1979. Bought new. Use it almost every day and never had an issue with it, except for the usual switches needing a cleaning from time to time. The power switch was a PIA, but I got around it buy replacing the switch and addind a pair of relays.
Have you worked on a few 3650 or are you commenting only on one? Did you buy new or used?
I did a recap a few years ago along with replacing all (100 IIRC) resistors on the main PCB. The wires were never an issue.
What were the issue(s) you were having with it?

I think you gave up on the 3650 to soon. Your problem may have been a broken wire somewhere.
If you think the 3650 had a lot of wires, don't consider any Teac R2R decks.
They will drive you nuts.

 

[jpk000]

jstang - what steps would you take to refurb the 7t?

 

[SWL3600]

The 3300 has a lighter sound than the 3600. But it is also one of my favorites

I have a rebuilt Marantz Model 30 that has a preamp section that is supposed to be very similar if not the same as the 3300. Comparing it with my 3600 hooked up to the main-in connections I'd say your description is spot on. I like them both....easy enough to switch over if my mood dictates a change in sound.....and it often does.

 

[marantzhead]

I have a 7t with 16B(recapped) and 3300 with 250. Both are excellent.