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Marantz 7T preamp sound

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scotch207

New Member
I'm a relatively new member AK but a long time Marantz collector. I've noticed some very good comments regarding the 7T preamp. The current prices also indicate the 7T is at least fairly desirable.

I actually owned one about 20 years ago but it sounded very tinny (the treble appeared to have about a 10db boost). The general consensus at that time was all 7T's sound that way. One collector friend claimed the only value in a 7T was the cosmetic parts that could be used on a 7C!

This is not a Marantz slam. I own (2) 3300's and a 3600. The sound is just what you'd expect from a high quality preamp. I'd just like to know what other members currently think of the 7T. Was everyone wrong 20 years ago?
 
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I've had 2 since the early 70s I never had an issue with the sound. No repairs either.

I bought both second hand. Listening with one of them right now.
 
I bought a minty 7T recently to run two Marantz 500's that are being restored by Tom Ishimoto right now.

I read about the mythical Marantz 500 for many years and finally had the chance to pick up the two in non working condition on eBay ( I probably paid too much ).

In lurking the forum here, I ran accross several treads about preamps for the 500. Member jstang here has posted some interesting things about his restored and modified 7T which he was using to drive his 500. He goes into some great detail about it in more than one thread.

I won't be restoring my 7T immediately but I'm pretty pleased with the one I found which has a very nice wood case. When I opened it up, it looked brand new !!

Check out jstang on the subject :D
 
ooba tooba said:
I studied these pages long and hard when I wad deciding to build a vintage Marantz system, and I just couldn't justify paying for the t. I figured by the time i bought one, and upgraded/modified it, I might as well save up for a C. I found a 3300 and 250 for 600 on cl and am quite happy with the performance. The t looks like a better build, but i really just cared about the sound, and comparisons match them close. Having owned both yourself, how does the 3300 measure up to your t?
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My limited experience comparing the 7T to the 3300 is like night and day. I didn't like the 7T sound at all. I don't believe I kept it for more than a year (maybe a few months). Compare it with the 3300 that's been part of my system for more than 20 years and a 3600 that's been set up for about 10 years. I've met other collectors that thought the 3300 was just average but I think they're pretty good. The 7T was Marantz's first venture into transistor preamps (similar to the Mcintosh C24). It just might be a learning curve issue before getting the magic right.
 
ooba tooba said:
If you do a search comparing the t, c, and 3300 here there is a great thread with fredmarantz going into many details and side by sides.
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That was an interesting comparison. I wouldn't have thought the 7T would come out on top. I'll have to keep an open mind. Maybe someone in the Los Angeles County/Orange County area of California would be willing to show me the error in my thinking (or hearing).
 
I bought a 7t to use with a 250m and 20b. I like the sound of it. Don't find it tinny at all.

I've heard several accounts (not internet misinformation) that Saul himself used a 7t with his Model 9's in his home system for several years.
 
I see

You must be the one who bought two 500s from AudioVideoChoices :scratch2:

Trucker1964 said:
I bought a minty 7T recently to run two Marantz 500's that are being restored by Tom Ishimoto right now.

I read about the mythical Marantz 500 for many years and finally had the chance to pick up the two in non working condition on eBay ( I probably paid too much ).

In lurking the forum here, I ran accross several treads about preamps for the 500. Member jstang here has posted some interesting things about his restored and modified 7T which he was using to drive his 500. He goes into some great detail about it in more than one thread.

I won't be restoring my 7T immediately but I'm pretty pleased with the one I found which has a very nice wood case. When I opened it up, it looked brand new !!

Check out jstang on the subject :D
Click to expand...
 
sixthday said:
I see

You must be the one who bought two 500s from AudioVideoChoices :scratch2:
Click to expand...

Ha. Yes I am :yes:

They were not perfect but they weren't abused. Tom is currently restoring the first one and is in the process of bias matching the output transistors.

There were a whole slew of them that supposedly came from one system that was Altec based. Additionally, they were a little strange looking with nonoriginal rack handles with black vinyl on the faces. I have sourced replacement handles from jcorder which look pretty good.

I think one just re-listed on the auction site ( I guess it's hard to sell a non-working unit for "parts" ).

I'm still trying to figure out what speakers to use but I have some ideas :D
 
As I mentioned, jstang (among others) has written some interesting posts regarding the 7T. Here is a fun thread with some interesting links within the thread (see jstang's post mid page 3, one contains the fredmarantz post referenced earlier). The upshot to me is that the 7T may benefit greatly from some specific modifications. Don't know how this affects collectabilty :scratch2:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=346452
 
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