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Marantz 2238B vs. 2285B - in search of a better sound ..

Sergey Green

Sergey Green

Active Member
Have two recapped 2238B and two recapped (black and silver) 2285B units in my collection. Played one after the other the whole day yesterday and although the 2285B's come across as very articulate and detailed the lower model 2238B's just sound fuller and more musical to my ears. It is almost as if I do not want to accept it (the 2285B's do look nice to look at) I will probably end up having both.

Does anyone else observe that same difference, or is it just me? What other alternative is it worth trying; NAD, H/K, ... ?

Perhaps it depends on the speakers, mine are Focal Aria 948, can't complain about the sound.
 
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I don't think so. Two (2285B and 2238B) were done by one person, someone I know, whereas the other two were reworked prior to purchase. The two 2285B's sound almost identical, and so do the 2238B's. The lower models, however, do always appear to come across (as I hear it) fuller and more musical than the upper ones.

Do the capacitor brands make difference? I know there is huge difference for speaker cross-overs, but the power boards ...?
 
Well that is one of the huge debates in the vintage stereo world. Some people will tell you that it makes a big difference and some will say it does not. I personally think it makes a bit of a difference. For some reason I believe elna silmics sound better or warmer then most. But thats based on non scientific data and many other factors probably unknowingly influenced my bias to the silmics.
 
Joshstereo said:
Yes which is why I generally do recaps with silmics. Look inside them and see which caps were used.
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I could not tell what those caps are, they are either obscured by the other components, or set with the label away from the visible point. Have a look at this picture, the big blue ones, what do you think they could be? I see the smaller dark blue (near the speaker relay) look like could be panasonic, but what the larger (lighter blue) ones are - I have no idea.

How long does it usually take to replace the caps?

original.jpg
 
Hard to tell really but looks like a combination of Panasonic (the blue ones?) Nichicon (gold ones) and I think I see a brown one which is a silmic.
 
Joshstereo said:
Hard to tell really but looks like a combination of Panasonic (the blue ones?) Nichicon (gold ones) and I think I see a brown one which is a silmic.
Click to expand...

That is kind of what I guessed as well. The caps are more visible on 2238B and those are mostly golden (Nichicon), says so on the labels. What those light blue on 2285B are - I could not tell.

Thanks for having a look at it. Now (I hope) I know where the difference is. Clearly caps make huge difference in speaker cross-overs, but in the power board .. I could have not guessed.
 
Sergey Green said:
I could not tell what those caps are, they are either obscured by the other components, or set with the label away from the visible point. Have a look at this picture, the big blue ones, what do you think they could be? I see the smaller dark blue (near the speaker relay) look like could be panasonic, but what the larger (lighter blue) ones are - I have no idea.

How long does it usually take to replace the caps?

original.jpg
Click to expand...
Those are Nichicon and are ok caps to use in the power supply board would not effect sound only the caps used on the preamp tone board signal path will make a difference.
 
Sergey Green said:
No, those are actually Panasonic FC caps (blue), now being replaced with ELNA Silmic II. Will report about the sound on Sunday.

Also see this post "Silmic II Initial listen"
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/electrolytic-capacitor-shoot-out.381961/page-2
Click to expand...
Will make no sound difference so just leave those alone. Recap the signal path in preamp board if you want to hear the difference. I recommend not using electrolytics caps but Wima MKS 2 Stack Films on all the lows. Huge improvement in detail and 3D sound stage.
 
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