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marantz 500??

HAL9000

HAL9000

i like marantz!!!
HI,

i looking for a marantz model 500.
Model_500_0011.jpg

can anyone tell me more about it?

is it a good amp? technically
how many have been sold?
how does it sound compared to other marantz?
and does anyone know someone who is selling or is prepared to sell a model 500?
 
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HAL9000 said:
HI,

i looking for a marantz model 500.
Model_500_0011.jpg

can anyone tell me more about it?

HAL9000 said:
s it a good amp? technically
Click to expand...

Yes. Specs are here: http://www.classic-audio.com/marantz/0500.html

HAL9000 said:
how many have been sold?
Click to expand...

Good question. Not enough. At least short by one, since I don't have one (yet). :D

HAL9000 said:
how does it sound compared to other marantz?
Click to expand...

Can't comment with authority, never having heard one, but if it is anything like its siblings the 170, 300dc or the 510M, it is likely to sound GREAT. The characteristic Marantz sound is usually described with terms like "detailed, but warm", "rich, tube-like", "a deep well of power", and the famous "three-martini sound". That said, much of that characteristic sound comes from the tuners and pre-amps, more than the power amps (which is as it should be).


HAL9000 said:
and does anyone know someone who is selling or is prepared to sell a model 500?
Click to expand...

No...sure wish I did! :D

Good luck with your hunt for one. If you find one, let us know your opinions of it.

[I'm assuming your post was an honest one, not an indirect feeler for selling one, yourself. Such practices are frowned on around here.]
Click to expand...
 
I've been looking for one off and on too. That and a 3300 will probably finish it for my Marantz collection. I've never heard one but looks pretty impressive. They are relatively rare especially a nice one that is complete with the front door. They fetch some big bucks.

Good luck.
 
Back in the early/mid 70' s when I was a teen I heard one powering a set of OHM Fs.... All I can say is that I can still remember the sound/experience as if it was yesterday..... The combination of the two ( the F's & the 500 ) made you feel as if your were standing on stage with the band playing live.... with you standing in the middle of them.... How much of it was the 500 and how much of it was the F's.... I can't said. If I could find a "New in Box" set of F's....I would find a 500 to pair up with them.... But as OHM says on their site "The F's are the end of their service live..." So, its a tough buy for the F's used for me, but I still might get the Marantz 500.....

jk
 
Very, very rare Marantz.
Don't know how many were sold here in the states.
When I bought my 300 DC back in 1978, I saw an ad for the Marantz 400. I called Marantz and was told that the 400 was a prototype. It never made it to production. The 500 was a limited run.

Ron
 
Geez, I wish I could come up with some documentation for all this, but from memory:

Marantz made very few of the 500 power amp. It was widely hailed as sounding great, but being terribly unreliable. One audio magazine said something to the effect of "this might be the best-sounding solid state amplifier we've ever heard, if we could keep it up and running for more than a week at a time." Marantz replaced it with the reliable but "more pedestrian" 510/510M.
 
winters860 said:
Geez, I wish I could come up with some documentation for all this, but from memory:

Marantz made very few of the 500 power amp. It was widely hailed as sounding great, but being terribly unreliable. One audio magazine said something to the effect of "this might be the best-sounding solid state amplifier we've ever heard, if we could keep it up and running for more than a week at a time." Marantz replaced it with the reliable but "more pedestrian" 510/510M.
Click to expand...


well i;m not so happy to here that.
i have seen pictures of the inside.
and i said to myself. is this a good amP??
because it has a 2.2Kv transformer! and a gigantic power board.
so i thought does this model live long??

two other owners told me that both their model 500 where broken. and repared

i maybe getting one this week... hope for the best!!!
:yes: :no: :tears:
 
Aage said:
Get one with the panel that covers the front jacks, it looks much nicer. Gooder, even.
Click to expand...

so far i know it is in good condition..
and complete:yes:

but getting it will be hard i think :tears: :tears: :tears:

well again hope for the best!
 
If you get a chance to get it, go for it. They are rare, and if they have issues with longevity, will become even rarer. You will be one of the few to get to hear one of these, and if you don't over-pay for it (but what is a fair price?), you shouldn't lose money on it.

Make sure yours is checked out properly by a qualified tech, to reduce the chances of a self-destruct, and treat it well. That is, match it with suitable speakers and don't over-drive it (probably hard to do without going deaf, but... :D ). Give it sufficient air circulation to avoid over-heating, and don't let excessive dust accumulate on it.

At least, that's what I suggest. If I found --:scratch2: Nah, I'll be optimistic and say "When I find..."-- one, I' would --Oops! I will(!)-- be all over it. :yes: Already got in some practice at that, when I found the 300dc. :yes: :D

If/When you do get it, be sure to let us know how it sounds.
 
is it a good amp? technically

Outstanding, maybe (one of) the worlds best at the time

how many have been sold?

Very few

how does it sound compared to other marantz?

It was designed to be the very best regardless of cost, similar to the model 9 and 10b.

and does anyone know someone who is selling or is prepared to sell a model 500?

They are very expensive used...

They were often used to drive demonic loads like dayton wrights and infinitys, that's part of the reason some have been damaged.

http://www.hifi-museum.com/js/marss/mar_500.htm
 
Wonder if it was the same amp section as the 2500 receiver and maybe had the similar toroidal transformer that gives some problems as the 2500/2600 with the tranny going bad? No one that I know that has the 2500 has said anything problematic about the amp circuitry going bad IMHO so far. The tranny is a different story.

Does the original poster know anything more about the construction or circuitry of the 500 amp? I thought the 510 was the 2500 equivalent. I'll have to check my schematics around to see.

Bart

(PS try to get fred longworth to chime in on this thread)
 
The 500 has a different transformer then the 2500/2600, more of a traditional transformer... The 500 weights in at close to 80lbs vs 40lbs for the 510.

jk
 
Hello,
the 500 is a some years older circuit design and has not much in common with 2500/2600 of 1978. It has one conventional, but huge transformer. Build in USA on typical blue epoxyd Marantz pcb. I think its the most powerful Marantz amp of the 70ies. Think it doubles the weigth of the rather slim 510M also built in the USA.
The 510M has some design features of the later 2500/2600 like that cooling tunnel with the cooling finns around the transistors but no double power supply or toroidial transformer.
From a todays service point of view, that old 500 is really challenging to repair and keep it stabile, a 510M or 2500/2600 are childs play.
Advances in power transistor development in the 70ies made it easyier from year to year to produce high power amps cheap. This lead to the receiver wars of 1978-1980.

Helmut
 
Well i have spoken with the owner. and he is willing to sell it. because of it's age..
he bought it new!!!!!. and a friend who worked at marantz repair. replaced all the power transistors (with some kind of orginal motorola, but better ones for stability). he alsow had a marantz 2500 (bought new !! too) (very rich person :smoke: ) sold it agian for reasons unknown

the 500 is in excellent condition. 100% orginal appart from the modification in the 70's (well it;s fine by me)
is looks great i have seen pictures. very nice and complete.

BUT!!!!!!!


WHAT is the so cald problem with this model.
i have 5 or 6 reaction from posters who said that de 500 is a **** amp :tears: :tears: :tears: (two former owners)

could anyone tel me what is the so called problem???
 
Arkay said:
If you get a chance to get it, go for it. They are rare, and if they have issues with longevity, will become even rarer. You will be one of the few to get to hear one of these, and if you don't over-pay for it (but what is a fair price?), you shouldn't lose money on it.

Make sure yours is checked out properly by a qualified tech, to reduce the chances of a self-destruct, and treat it well. That is, match it with suitable speakers and don't over-drive it (probably hard to do without going deaf, but... :D ). Give it sufficient air circulation to avoid over-heating, and don't let excessive dust accumulate on it.

At least, that's what I suggest. If I found --:scratch2: Nah, I'll be optimistic and say "When I find..."-- one, I' would --Oops! I will(!)-- be all over it. :yes: Already got in some practice at that, when I found the 300dc. :yes: :D

If/When you do get it, be sure to let us know how it sounds.
Click to expand...

indeed. i will post inside view pics etc.
en tell people hopw it sounds compared to japanese models
and the marantz 250 :thmbsp:
 
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