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Marantz 2226b?

skotdee

skotdee

New Member
New user here, looking to get into the world of vintage marantz. I had my heart set on the big bad 2270 but recently got an opportunity to acquire a 2226b locally for a great price. Much lower power output I know but man I can save some money and just looking for advice whether I should jump on this or hold out for a more powerful unit.

Also if I go with the 2226b I need to figure out what speakers to pair it with. Looking for vintage look but I am tempted by new builds and I’m enamored by the klipsch heresy IV, which would respond well to the low drive of the 2226b but could also handle a future upgrade to a more powerful model.

Someone tell me I’m crazy to spend $3k on speakers or is it a good idea? I mainly listen to old rock, blues, funk, jazz etc but will throw some old school hip hop in the mix so I’d like to have a substantial bottom end as well.

I will say the room I’m looking to fill is in the smaller side if that matters. I’d be open to a smaller bookshelf speaker but I need some punch and prefer the vintage look and or vibe.

Any advice? Someone please point me in the right direction! Can I make the 2226b work?

thanks!
 
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Welcome to the forum I have a 2225 and its rated at 25wpc of course but most I've heard of bench test at 31-32wpc when healthy. It's not a powerhouse but it sounds really good.

Its a good receiver to cut your teeth on. Easy to work on and enough power to get loud. Mine is hooked up to some Polk Monitor 7s and sounds good with the genres you mention. You don't need to spend $3K on speakers. ADS, Polk, Ohm and others made nice speakers in the 70s, 80s and 90s that don't require a ton of power but would sound good. I'm not a horn speaker fan and I've heard the Hereseys can be a bit light on bass but some people love them. I'm sure others can give you advice on speakers.
 
Just get some good, fairly efficient speakers and you will love it. And it likely won't be your last Marantz. :D
 
Bill S said:
Welcome to the forum I have a 2225 and its rated at 25wpc of course but most I've heard of bench test at 31-32wpc when healthy. It's not a powerhouse but it sounds really good.

Its a good receiver to cut your teeth on. Easy to work on and enough power to get loud. Mine is hooked up to some Polk Monitor 7s and sounds good with the genres you mention. You don't need to spend $3K on speakers. ADS, Polk, Ohm and others made nice speakers in the 70s, 80s and 90s that don't require a ton of power but would sound good. I'm not a horn speaker fan and I've heard the Hereseys can be a bit light on bass but some people love them. I'm sure others can give you advice on speakers.
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The 2226B is a nice unit, however much more difficult to work on than the 2225 thanks to the preamplifier board being mounted parallel the faceplate. it's a real PITA to dig out and near impossible to "live test".
 
goldswimmerb said:
The 2226B is a nice unit, however much more difficult to work on than the 2225 thanks to the preamplifier board being mounted parallel the faceplate. it's a real PITA to dig out and near impossible to "live test".
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Thx, didn't know that. I've had some receivers that were that way as well. Good to know. Important to do it right the first time then I guess. You don't want to dig it out again.
 
All good info guys, thanks so much! The 2226b is being serviced as we speak and is avail at such a great price I don’t think I can pass it up. Will be a great entry to Marantz audio for me I think.

Back to the heresy IV’s, I will say this model is the first to feature a bass port which is said to solve the lack of bass issues from previous models. I know it’s prob overkill but those speakers are still very tempting particularly with their sensitivity which would pair well with this lower powered model marantz. Looking at a “only cry once” mentality and springing for a newer tech speaker that will hold up and accompany future upgrades.

Am I off base?
 
skotdee said:
All good info guys, thanks so much! The 2226b is being serviced as we speak and is avail at such a great price I don’t think I can pass it up. Will be a great entry to Marantz audio for me I think.

Back to the heresy IV’s, I will say this model is the first to feature a bass port which is said to solve the lack of bass issues from previous models. I know it’s prob overkill but those speakers are still very tempting particularly with their sensitivity which would pair well with this lower powered model marantz. Looking at a “only cry once” mentality and springing for a newer tech speaker that will hold up and accompany future upgrades.

Am I off base?
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Sounds like a good plan. I will say there are other high sensitivity speakers out there that may be to your liking. Maybe try to hear some different kinds before investing in something. There were a lot of Hereseys made through the years so there will always be models available for purchase if you go that route.

I'd suggest going to the speaker section of the AK forum and creating a post. Tell them what you'll have for power, room size and the sound/music you're after and you will get a lot of good suggestions. Maybe even some from people with the same or similar receiver. Might even be people in your area who will let you audition some.
 
I fully restored a 2226b about a year ago. It wasn't overly difficult, except for the preamp board already mentioned. When complete, it was a very nice sounding and good looking unit. Paired with a set of big Klipsch heritage speakers like Cornwalls, it is magnificent.

I will also add that my fully restored 2270 is much much better still.
 
bobdod said:
I fully restored a 2226b about a year ago. It wasn't overly difficult, except for the preamp board already mentioned. When complete, it was a very nice sounding and good looking unit. Paired with a set of big Klipsch heritage speakers like Cornwalls, it is magnificent.

I will also add that my fully restored 2270 is much much better still.
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Well guys my 2226b may have fallen through, local store owner now leaning towards keeping it for himself. What a tease!

So I may be back to hunting the 2270. May I ask what makes it that much better? Just WPC or is there more? If the sky’s the limit is it clearly better than lower wattage models?
 
Personal preference. Some prefer mid powered receivers, some high power. You could argue the 2270 is a mid power but I feel the 2230, 2235, 2245 are more typical of what I call mid power. Vintage prices are crazy right now and then there is the "Marantz Premium" that comes into play. I don't think they are necessarily better than some other brands but they are more expensive. I've seen restored 2270s going for $2K. That buys you a lot and even some nice new integrateds aren't that much.

The higher you go in wattage, the more you'll pay of course. If you're looking at efficient speakers, you don't need a lot of power. A 25 or 35 wpc amp will get a horn speaker quite loud. So much so you won't be able to take it for too long. If you're a paying member (subscriber), keep an eye on the classifieds. There are some really good deals that come up on restored equipment. You could always put a wanted to buy ad on there if you can't be patient. It's certainly worth the $25/year subscription.
 
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skotdee said:
Well guys my 2226b may have fallen through, local store owner now leaning towards keeping it for himself. What a tease!

So I may be back to hunting the 2270. May I ask what makes it that much better? Just WPC or is there more? If the sky’s the limit is it clearly better than lower wattage models?
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Compared to the 2226b, the 2270 has more detail and control of the low end, a broader soundstage, and more cohesive stereo imaging. This is subjective of course. If budget is a factor, the 2270 will be the better buy. A restored 2226b will cost you about half of what a 2270 goes for. For that kind of money, the 2226b isn't a good proposition. While the 2270 can run towards 2k, when restored it will not disappoint you sonically, and the look cannot be matched by any newer gear. The demand is also high, so it won't lose any value while you have it to enjoy. Selling a 2226b or 2270 in the future won't be very difficult. assuming you don't grossly overpay when buying, you won't lose any money. When you think about it from that perspective, you will have a "free" receiver while you own it. Would you rather have a free 2226b or a free 2270?
 
Something else to consider: I personally think the vintage market prices are not sustainable and we're in a bubble. When Marantz 22 wood case sells for almost $500 on eBay, you know things are crazy. Like I said, there are vintage receivers by other manufacturers that are just as good and priced much lower (think Sony STR-7065 with the wood case - 65wpc).

But my opinion aside, if you must have a Marantz you could consider a 2245. I believe the physical layout is the same and I think the tone boards and power boards are the same part number. I would think the 2245 will sell at a good discount from the 2270. I've never heard one myself but accounts from owners are all +.
 
Bill S said:
Something else to consider: I personally think the vintage market prices are not sustainable and we're in a bubble.
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People have been saying this for at least the last 10 years. I remember when people were screaming "bubble" when 2270s were selling for the "unfathomable" price of $500. As the prices went up, people continued to claim that it is a temporary bubble. I've yet to hear anyone explain their reasoning for why they think this is a bubble. Most people I've sold vintage gear to in the past few years have been <45 years old. If you think the market is going to crash when all the geezers go off into the sunset, you need to return to reality. Prices only go up when supply is limited or demand grows. With vintage audio, it is BOTH. No bubble here.
 
goldswimmerb said:
I don't see restored in that listing, but JA is a fairly good shop afaik.
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Ok maybe not restored but at least cleaned up good and thoroughly checked out. I’m new to the terminology :) I did speak to them and it sounded like there were some updates not listed. They assured me it was in excellent condition.

I know that’s definitely on the higher side of pricing, hoping I didn’t overpay by too much but couldn’t pass up the 2275. I’m trying to be one and done on this for now so I figured I’d take bobdod’s advice and go big.

Either way it looks like a sweet unit, I can’t wait to check it out and see what this thing can do!
 
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