I'm think I'm gonna swear off vintage Marantz

kbott

kbott

Addicted Member
The reliabilty of them just seems to suck.. My experience is really just based on garage sale buys, the $5-10 take a chance. I've picked up 5 of them now and everyone has some problem or another. It's almost always related to channels droping out somewhere along the signal path either on an inpurt or output.

Conversly every Pioneer I've picked up, same circumstances, works like a champ. I love that Marantz sound but I wish I could hear it in stereo :tears:
 
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OK kbott!! Send me all the Marantz 170's, 300's, 500/510's, 2385's, 2500's and last but not least 2600's that you find! I'll even pay shipping to rid you of those cantankerous beasts! ;)

seriously, a good cleaning of the controls, or two cleanings, can work wonders! :thmbsp:
 
Funny,

I've had the exact opposite experience!!!

I've only had my Pioneer RG-1 and a 608 Pioneer tuner work for me, as well as a refurbished 909.

But, a bunch of Pioneer amps and receivers, ranging from a 636, 737, 680, and a few lower-end models, a TT, and two timers all have been dead on arrival or in serious need of work.

The Marantz units have all been a-ok, including a 2225 and a gaggle of 1060s.

I think it's luck of the draw.

These units are getting old, and time and neglect has taken it's toll on 'em.

Yard sales are probably cleaning out the garages, attics and the basements, and these units have been sitting idle in hot/icy cold/damp areas of the home, along with the Huffy, the lawn Jarts, and the Slip 'N Slide.

I love Kenwood gear, but also have yet to pick up a unit that didn't have some niggling issue with it- usually a cold solder joint or in need of some serious De-Oxit cleaning.

My Yammies, although built like tanks, seem to always have an issue with them as well- a lazy start-up relay, a bad volume potentiometer, bunk meters, ect.

Lotsa these units, after 25 to 35 years of service, need a little TLC. That's all.
 
In all of my years of flea market/thrift store/garage sale hunting I have only come across 2 Marantz's. I think they were both 2015s? They were just to small, at 15 watts, for my liking. Maybe someday I'll run across a beefier one so I can see what all the Marantz comments are about. I'm sorry to hear of your bad luck but don't give up. Give those problem units away to bolly or one of the other AKers to keep up your karma and to keep them out of the landfill. You'll get one that is a keeper someday.
 
Seems like every Marantz I pick up has issues also. Including the 4300 I am working on. Others have issues too, but not like the Marantz units.

Not bashing them. Once they are repaired they will work fine for years.

Rob
 
It seems to me it is natural for anything electronic that is 30 years old to need some attention.
 
Until this morning I couldn't even FIND a Marantz at a garage sale. Today I found a Model 27, but it's pretty beat up. Well, I'll give it a bath and a once over before I rush to judgement.
 
good idea. change to sansui or pioneer.
Marantz isn't really Marantz anyway. It's superscope or somesuch thing. Saul sold it early on.
 
Funny how our experiences differ. Back in the 70's I swore off Sansui because EVERY piece I bought new or used required service in a short time.

My experiences with Kenwood, Marantz and Pioneer were better, however the Marantz 2500 reciever I had was the weakest 250W/side I ever owned.
It was not a good match at all for a pair of AR9's.

CAVEAT: At this point in time as ExJxC said:

It seems to me it is natural for anything electronic that is 30 years old to need some attention
Click to expand...

Best,

Paul :thmbsp:
 
kbott said:
The reliabilty of them just seems to suck.. My experience is really just based on garage sale buys, the $5-10 take a chance. I've picked up 5 of them now and everyone has some problem or another. /QUOTE]

I'm not sure why you would have a high level of expectation for paying 5 to 10 dollars for a marantz at a garage sale. I'll pay that all day for any pre 1980s marantz blown up or not. I think you would be doing a disservice to yourself for not buying them and at least passing them on to someone that will appreciate them. (saving them from the land fill)

BTW, what models are you getting for that price range? Be aware that the Marantz of Japan was sold to Philips in the early 80s. After than Philips did continue to build some high quality Marantz branded items in the Marantz Esotec line but the rest of the gear was cheapened considerably.
Click to expand...
 
What do you exspect for flea market prices...Personally I would exspect problems..These old pieces won't last forever without failures. :smoke:
 
Usually people sell their broken stuff at garage sales. Not the good stuff! I ask the seller if it works. They're usually honest and tell you what's wrong with the unit. Usually. Then you can get a better price!
 
I've never found a Yamaha without problems. Usually in the tuner section.

I think it's amazing that you are finding Marantz units for 5-10$. Working or not that's practically a give away. I have NEVER found any Marantz unit with a price less than $100.
 
"however the Marantz 2500 reciever I had was the weakest 250W/side I ever owned." Yeah, kinda how I feel about Marantz. Nice gear, but I much prefer their Japanese competition, be it Pioneer, Sansui or Kenwood, not even to mention the "upper tier" of Japanese gear (Accuphase, Luxman, Kyocer, Denon or Onkyo, IMO).
 
I don't usually go to garage sales, but maybe iI should. (I figure I have enough "junk" already) BUT, ya never know when you'll come across an old Mac or something. Some people think it's just an old "stereo"

I bought a Marantz 140 and 3200 new in '77, and they still work beautifully.

Don't pass up any vintage Marantz, Mac, Pioneer, etc... many people would buy them for parts (if it's not worth fixing) especially meters. :thmbsp:
 
Thanks for the birthday wish, Bolly:thmbsp: (yep, 49 today:tears:)

(since I retired, I have more time to devote to the Group. No one else will listen to my rants anyway :no:)
 
Well, I'm gettin there:yes:
11,707 and I'll be where you are now (I say "now" because by then, you'll have 1,675, 798:yes:)

(Gonna try get a life, too:thmbsp:)

Thanks for the laughs!

Tony.
 
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