Marantz 1030 as a preamp
- Thread starter Lsteele1
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Welcome to AudioKarma!
No problem at all, from what I see. I had that little Marantz. Sweet machine, but in bad need of a recap. I say try it, see what happens.
Again, welcome to the best site on the web.
No problem at all, from what I see. I had that little Marantz. Sweet machine, but in bad need of a recap. I say try it, see what happens.
Again, welcome to the best site on the web.
Thank you for the warm welcome! This is my 1st post, but this site is pretty much my go to for info on equipment I look at. It really is an amazing site!
Should you get that Marantz recapped, I'd look for some very efficient speakers, and enjoy. That's 18 delicious watts, when tuned up.
I've been on the hunt, any suggestions?
Not sure what direction your musical tastes lie, but Cerwin Vegas are cheap to buy, and extremely efficient. True rock and roll pounders, but if you lean towards a more refined sound, you might consider some of the Boston Acoustic stuff. Not real efficient, but always good, in my opinion.
If you're new at this hobby, I'd find a place I want to get to, and aim towards that. Otherwise, you'll be like the rest of us, with a garage full of crap, and an angry wife/girlfriend/whatever.
Enjoy the ride, and read all you can. Seriously, think about where you want to take your sound. Loud?? Refined? Do you want to climb the audio mountain and hear mousefarts in your favorite recordings?
I can appreciate the 140k McIntosh system I heard at AKFest 2008, but I'm not necessarily concerned with getting there.
I have some Vandersteen 2C's that are basically good enough for me. Still looking for that Threshold amp that some irate wife wants to let go in the family spring cleaning, lol.
If you're new at this hobby, I'd find a place I want to get to, and aim towards that. Otherwise, you'll be like the rest of us, with a garage full of crap, and an angry wife/girlfriend/whatever.
Enjoy the ride, and read all you can. Seriously, think about where you want to take your sound. Loud?? Refined? Do you want to climb the audio mountain and hear mousefarts in your favorite recordings?
I can appreciate the 140k McIntosh system I heard at AKFest 2008, but I'm not necessarily concerned with getting there.
I have some Vandersteen 2C's that are basically good enough for me. Still looking for that Threshold amp that some irate wife wants to let go in the family spring cleaning, lol.
One last suggestion - Ebay is a crap shoot. Local sales can be inflated (people google gear, find a BIN on ebay, and figure their clapped out panasonic thrusters should bring 100 bucks, lol).
The best place, in my opinion, to get quality, well-loved gear?? Bartertown.
Spend 25 bucks, become a subscriber, and the door opens to a wealth of wonderful stuff. Speaking of speakers, there's a wonderful M&K sub/sat system that Bostown is selling for an absurd price, shipping included.
I've bought my best stuff here, and will always use Bartertown first.
The best place, in my opinion, to get quality, well-loved gear?? Bartertown.
Spend 25 bucks, become a subscriber, and the door opens to a wealth of wonderful stuff. Speaking of speakers, there's a wonderful M&K sub/sat system that Bostown is selling for an absurd price, shipping included.
I've bought my best stuff here, and will always use Bartertown first.
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I'm just having fun researching and buying vintage gear. That's what's I am really into. I am being given a pair of Pioneer HPM-100's that I am very much looking forward to having. I'd love to have some sweet McIntosh gear, but I'm with you, I'm not too concerned in actually obtaining it. It's all about the hunt, the acquisition, and the experimentation and listening.
I found it, I'll have to check it out.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
Interesting. I quoted your have a link but my post showed up with your Found it. did an edit.
Post your location so folks can know, too.
Your 1030, early unit with preamp output/power amp input? Early enough to have an engraved faceplate? I had one, recapped it, enjoyed it and sold it on Barter Town. I'll probably reup soon enough.
Post your location so folks can know, too.
Your 1030, early unit with preamp output/power amp input? Early enough to have an engraved faceplate? I had one, recapped it, enjoyed it and sold it on Barter Town. I'll probably reup soon enough.
Yeah, I thought bartertown was an outside site, but I figured I better search around and found it! It does have the preamp/main in options. I don't believe the faceplate is engraved though.
Dreadful? I've heard it, others have sang its praise. I never found it "dreadful". Fine stuff for a new enthusiast, if not the be-all, end all.
FOH Engineer
Lunatic Member
The 1030 is a great piece in its entirety, it's not Jadis,Krell,Levinson etc. But years later who took the bath on resale value, not the Marantz guy for sure...It sounds wonderful with efficient speakers for low level listening, It also has to me ,what sounds like a pretty good phono pre, based on my listening and use, and with a Marantz tuner attached it looks great. blows away any black plastic Best Buy reciever crap at twice its used price , listened to side by..( home theater receivers used as home theater pieces are of course not part of the comparison I'm thinking of.....if that's your thing. Obviously that's a different animal...)
Dreadful pre amp .....Not
Dreadful pre amp .....Not
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Lavane
Lunatic Member
There are some transistors on the preamp board and phono board that should be replaced, 458's I think. They didnt hold up well and get noisy. Common in other brands as well. There are 4 on the preamp board and at leased two possibly 4 on the phono board, I cant remember. Its been awhile since I rebuilt one.
Mine was the later model with no pre-out and main-in jacks. So I added them. I gave the 1030 to my son to use as a preamp for a Marantz 140 power amp I gave him until I could find a 1060 to replace it. He actually prefered the 1030 preamp stage over the 1060. He thought it sounded cleaner. But he does like the 1060 phono stage over the 1030. I guess I could swap phono boards.
Mine was the later model with no pre-out and main-in jacks. So I added them. I gave the 1030 to my son to use as a preamp for a Marantz 140 power amp I gave him until I could find a 1060 to replace it. He actually prefered the 1030 preamp stage over the 1060. He thought it sounded cleaner. But he does like the 1060 phono stage over the 1030. I guess I could swap phono boards.
FOH Engineer
Lunatic Member
I like when comparitive information (such as Lavane has done above) is used , or alternative mods to upgrade performance degraded by time are mentioned as a remedy or upgrade. When anyone begins dissing an entire decade of components in one sentence I instantly have major doubts..#1 About the quality of the information that formed the opinion ...#2 How many pieces of the thousands available were actually lived with by the author long enough to sort through the strengths and shortcomings..
Had a 1030, recapped it, replaced those C458 transistors and a few more mods. Paired it with some bottom of the range Altec (420A) GPA515LF, Visaton TL-16H
in a 3 way first order system, SPL somewhere about 100-102dB. Nice enough amp but nothing to get excited about. Working through the Yamaha line, recapped
CA-800 and CA-1000, started CA-1010 then CA-2010. Need to fit in a Pioneer SA-8800. The CA-800 is a nice starting point.
in a 3 way first order system, SPL somewhere about 100-102dB. Nice enough amp but nothing to get excited about. Working through the Yamaha line, recapped
CA-800 and CA-1000, started CA-1010 then CA-2010. Need to fit in a Pioneer SA-8800. The CA-800 is a nice starting point.
