Marantz 500
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Exactly.
Well here's a thread from several years ago. There seem to be several more here on AK as well.
Personally I'd imagine the lack of information stems from its relative exclusivity. It was expensive, and TOTL when it was introduced, so few could afford one. It's definitely a really good find, I've considered looking for one a few times over the years.
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/how-many-marantz-model-500-owners-here.109917/
Personally I'd imagine the lack of information stems from its relative exclusivity. It was expensive, and TOTL when it was introduced, so few could afford one. It's definitely a really good find, I've considered looking for one a few times over the years.
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/how-many-marantz-model-500-owners-here.109917/
! Oh and Welcome from Switzerland !
KutzlerTrans
Jennie & I with Buddy and Barney.
There is the Man that knows his 500's.
If i remember right, Johns unit is quite beefed up.
If i remember right, Johns unit is quite beefed up.
jstang
Honey,I can't hear you...
Well without hearing more from the OP...
The OP MRmarantz is from Switerland ? What is the actual local AC voltage?
The 500 can be configured for 100/120/200/220 as documented in the Service manual. And a undocumented 240v.
I would double check that first. Just some thing I would start with. These amps are multivoltage and some have traveled the world
These amps have a 2.4kva transformer. A majority of its 85 pounds. You need to feed the beast....
Also, grounding via the AC power cable is critical for this amps. There is a stage of the voltage amplifier that is referenced to chassis ground and the chassis it tied directly to the AC power ground.
So that third prong is important for this amp.... And the quality of ground in your home is important too... In my home I found the local ground from the breaker box to a cold water pipe was loose and ineffective. I repaired that ground and added a 12 foot grounding spike.
People used to complain these amps were some time unstable... I tend to think grounding issues played a role in that.
I have a 500 on the bench now, I have been sitting on for way too long and really need to finish up for the owner. Life got in the way.... I have not been on this site in months and am finally getting back to normal activities for me...
Also, use the 100% correct type fuses as specified in the manuals. NO substitutes... Remember the AC power fuse is reduced in size as the AC supply goes up. That is in the manual.
Start with the basics...and follow the owners manual to the "T".... The owners manual references a lot of this. Both the owners and service manuals are critical to this amp.
Johnk
The OP MRmarantz is from Switerland ? What is the actual local AC voltage?
The 500 can be configured for 100/120/200/220 as documented in the Service manual. And a undocumented 240v.
I would double check that first. Just some thing I would start with. These amps are multivoltage and some have traveled the world
These amps have a 2.4kva transformer. A majority of its 85 pounds. You need to feed the beast....
Also, grounding via the AC power cable is critical for this amps. There is a stage of the voltage amplifier that is referenced to chassis ground and the chassis it tied directly to the AC power ground.
So that third prong is important for this amp.... And the quality of ground in your home is important too... In my home I found the local ground from the breaker box to a cold water pipe was loose and ineffective. I repaired that ground and added a 12 foot grounding spike.
People used to complain these amps were some time unstable... I tend to think grounding issues played a role in that.
I have a 500 on the bench now, I have been sitting on for way too long and really need to finish up for the owner. Life got in the way.... I have not been on this site in months and am finally getting back to normal activities for me...
Also, use the 100% correct type fuses as specified in the manuals. NO substitutes... Remember the AC power fuse is reduced in size as the AC supply goes up. That is in the manual.
Start with the basics...and follow the owners manual to the "T".... The owners manual references a lot of this. Both the owners and service manuals are critical to this amp.
Johnk
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Bert 1100
Super Member
I'm not sure where we can see the OP is from Switzerland....
But I know I am
and our voltage is now officially 230V AC, at home I know for a fact I have usually 233-235V AC.I set all my vintage multivoltage Marantzes for 240V.
And all of those vintage Marantz I've seen had a third prong and the earth wire tied to the chassis.
Thanks for replying Jstang. Im from Idaho by the way. Just was hoping to get an opinion on sound comparison between the 500 and 510m. I am going to be running a 7t pre Altec 19's and Altec 14's. Im assuming I should put the 500 on the 19"s and 510m on the 14's. I am currently running the 510m on the 19's and a 250 on the 14's. Im pretty new at all of this so any suggestions would be appreciated...
jstang
Honey,I can't hear you...
Idaho is not Switzerland .... But the advice on power and grounding still stands.
I am not very familiar with the altec's .... too many speakers in my collection as it is ....
Can u post a link to their specs...?
The 500 ( in good condition ) is better at handling difficult demanding loads.... The 510m sounds great, I have refurbbed a few so I have heard both... The 500 has the edge with 4 ohm and very re-active loads. It does sound different in some ways from the 510.
Might be a question of taste, but I like the 500 sound over the 510. But both are great sounding amps...
Flip side of the coin... The 500 is a complex machine... And most of them need some amount of tune up....they are complex mechicially and more complex electrically...
The 500 has protection relays and rail fuses.... Which has its plus and minus.... But that has saved my ass and vintage speakers when I have done something stupid.... It has seen blown rail fuses and gone into protect mode....without any damage to the amp or speakers. Keep in mind the huge power supply could roast any speaker out there. Thanks to the protection circuits....no damage to my Ohm Fs.
The 500 can double down from 8 to 4 ohms , 250 to 500 wpc. The 510 can not. Actually the 500 clips at 600wpc into 4 ohms.
If you are a car guy.... It's like comparing a big block 427 Chevy to the Chrysler 426 hemi form the 70s.... The hemi was a more difficult motor to live with....but it out performed the Chevy at the extreme edges.... When the hemi was set up right....watch out.... Both were great motors and a real blast to drive....
Johnk
But the advice on power and grounding still stands.I am not very familiar with the altec's ....
too many speakers in my collection as it is ....Can u post a link to their specs...?
The 500 ( in good condition ) is better at handling difficult demanding loads.... The 510m sounds great, I have refurbbed a few so I have heard both... The 500 has the edge with 4 ohm and very re-active loads. It does sound different in some ways from the 510.
Might be a question of taste, but I like the 500 sound over the 510. But both are great sounding amps...
Flip side of the coin... The 500 is a complex machine... And most of them need some amount of tune up....they are complex mechicially and more complex electrically...
The 500 has protection relays and rail fuses.... Which has its plus and minus.... But that has saved my ass and vintage speakers when I have done something stupid.... It has seen blown rail fuses and gone into protect mode....without any damage to the amp or speakers. Keep in mind the huge power supply could roast any speaker out there. Thanks to the protection circuits....no damage to my Ohm Fs.
The 500 can double down from 8 to 4 ohms , 250 to 500 wpc. The 510 can not. Actually the 500 clips at 600wpc into 4 ohms.
If you are a car guy.... It's like comparing a big block 427 Chevy to the Chrysler 426 hemi form the 70s.... The hemi was a more difficult motor to live with....but it out performed the Chevy at the extreme edges.... When the hemi was set up right....watch out.... Both were great motors and a real blast to drive....
Johnk
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Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I would love to share a link on Altec model 19 specs, but I dont know how. But there is a ton of information on this site and others Maybe someone reading this could help me out...Also going to take the 500 to my tech to look over, are there some suggestions that I should share with him?Idaho is not Switzerland ....
I am not very familiar with the altec's ....
Can u post a link to their specs...?
The 500 ( in good condition ) is better at handling difficult demanding loads.... The 510m sounds great, I have refurbbed a few so I have heard both... The 500 has the edge with 4 ohm and very re-active loads. It does sound different in some ways from the 510.
Might be a question of taste, but I like the 500 sound over the 510. But both are great sounding amps...
Flip side of the coin... The 500 is a complex machine... And most of them need some amount of tune up....they are complex mechicially and more complex electrically...
The 500 has protection relays and rail fuses.... Which has its plus and minus.... But that has saved my ass and vintage speakers when I have done something stupid.... It has seen blown rail fuses and gone into protect mode....without any damage to the amp or speakers. Keep in mind the huge power supply could roast any speaker out there. Thanks to the protection circuits....no damage to my Ohm Fs.
The 500 can double down from 8 to 4 ohms , 250 to 500 wpc. The 510 can not. Actually the 500 clips at 600wpc into 4 ohms.
If you are a car guy.... It's like comparing a big block 427 Chevy to the Chrysler 426 hemi form the 70s.... The hemi was a more difficult motor to live with....but it out performed the Chevy at the extreme edges.... When the hemi was set up right....watch out.... Both were great motors and a real blast to drive....
Johnk
