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Marantz 8 (not 8b)

onemug

onemug

Super Member
I got a Marantz 8 a few days ago. Hard to pass up as it is in mint condition cosmetic and electrical wise. I've had an 8b for 7 years and grow more fond of it every time I listen to it. My 8b has been totally reliable but it's nice to have a backup "in case", and having a backup is as good an excuse as I can imagine. :)

Will be curious as if I hear much difference between the two models. If anyone has listened to both and would like to share what they "heard" and not what the specs told them, I'd be interested.

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Nice that is in really good condition wow :thumbsup: did it come with a cage? I wonder if my wife would go for the i really need a back up reasoning. i have never heard an 8 so i cant give an opinion on that but i will be interested in what you think after you had them a while.
 
Chrisxo55441 said:
Nice that is in really good condition wow :thumbsup: did it come with a cage? I wonder if my wife would go for the i really need a back up reasoning. i have never heard an 8 so i cant give an opinion on that but i will be interested in what you think after you had them a while.
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Thanks. Did not come with a cage.

Re Wife...Ask her how many tires came with her car. She'll probably say 4. Then remind her there are actually 5 (1 in the trunk) cuz someday you may need a spare. :). Don't know if that will fly. Maybe after a nice dinner and wine?

I'll let you know how the comparison goes.
 
I also have an 8.
Cage was extra, not standard.
Both amps are fixed bias Mullard circuits, the 8 has custom order Acrosound(?) ultralinear screen tapped output transformers, the 8b in house design ultralinear screen tapped output transformers. A swag on differences would be that the 8b possibly had better square wave performance when new. Other differences in sound could be tube types /branding and being recapped as well as the OPTs. Either amp was a totl Marantz stereo amp.
 
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Pio1980 said:
I also have an 8.
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Curious as to what output tubs have you liked the best in your 8?

I've always been pleased with the Winged C SED's in my 8b and happened to have an extra quad of them for the 8 to make the comparison "a little" more fair.
 
Mine came with new matched EH 6CA7s, which would have been my default choice as Sylvania 6CA7 is oop. In a limited comparison between the Sylvanias and iirc Siemens EL34 in a Dyna Mk-II, I preferred the Sylvania 6CA7s. Other than that my tube rolling experience is limited.
My other present choice would be Gold Lion KT77 as the alternative to the EH 6CA7s, based on rep and my instinctive preference for beam tetrode tubes in triode and UL over EL34 pentodes.
 
Nice! enjoy the 8. Looks great. Many years ago I believed that one of tell tale signs of 8 vs. an 8B, if you didn't see the back of the unit silkscreen , was the placement of the Marantz logo on transformer shroud.

It seems the 8's and very early 8Bs ,of which I have one, have the logo on the transformer shroud. Later 8Bs seem to have them up front on the chassis face. I'm not sure I could tell the sound performance difference between the two although the 8b transformer was done in-house with compensating networks for better square wave performance as mentioned.

There was an article in absolute sound that I have where , I believe, SId Smith mentioned this.

I would say don't worry about any differences and enjoy - I would definitely tend to the electrolytics in the power supply, bias circuit etc. an check the seleniums. As robust as the electrolytics are in Marantz tubed gear, I have had seen several failures including my 8b, 5 and 7 . I think you are in the best position to tell us the differences in sound

Nice piece.
 
kcin said:
Nice! enjoy the 8. Looks great. Many years ago I believed that one of tell tale signs of 8 vs. an 8B, if you didn't see the back of the unit silkscreen , was the placement of the Marantz logo on transformer shroud.

It seems the 8's and very early 8Bs ,of which I have one, have the logo on the transformer shroud. Later 8Bs seem to have them up front on the chassis face. I'm not sure I could tell the sound performance difference between the two although the 8b transformer was done in-house with compensating networks for better square wave performance as mentioned.

There was an article in absolute sound that I have where , I believe, SId Smith mentioned this.

I would say don't worry about any differences and enjoy - I would definitely tend to the electrolytics in the power supply, bias circuit etc. an check the seleniums. As robust as the electrolytics are in Marantz tubed gear, I have had seen several failures including my 8b, 5 and 7 . I think you are in the best position to tell us the differences in sound

Nice piece.
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Thanks. Had it about a month now and it brings me a lot of joy.

I'm with you regarding not "worrying" about differences. I just simply love listening to music. I hear slight differences but both the 8 and 8b along with my 9's sound good enough to be keepers.

It has been gone through by someone I hold in high regard and should be plug and play for a long time as the others have been that have been touched by him.

I am planning on starting a thread here this weekend on these classics. Haven't seen much talk about them in awhile. They are "music machines".
 
I welcome your threads- seems we don't get much tubed marantz talk here- I am a big fan- I've got everything but the 9's and the crossovers- love to see some talk & pics on your 9's!

thanks.
 
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I haven't lit mine up in several weeks since the dog got my hearing aids.
Got replacements, once I get used to them as my new "normal" I can enjoy music again.
 
onemug said:
Thanks. Did not come with a cage.

Re Wife...Ask her how many tires came with her car. She'll probably say 4. Then remind her there are actually 5 (1 in the trunk) cuz someday you may need a spare. :). Don't know if that will fly. Maybe after a nice dinner and wine?

I'll let you know how the comparison goes.
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These days you'd better check, spair is optional!
 
kcin said:
I welcome your threads- seems we don't get much tubed marantz talk here- I am a big fan- I've got everything but the 9's and the crossovers- love to see some talk & pics on your 9's!

thanks.
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I went to start a thread and I seem to have a case of writers block. Can't think of what to say so for now I'll just post/reply here. If there's anything you're interested in about the 9's, let me know. There is so much I like about them I wouldn't know where to start.

What you posted on the different Marantz logo positions on the 8/8b's seems to hold true from what I've seen. In doing research before I bought the 8, many a forum stated the 8 has an octal socket on the back, the 8b does not. That's incorrect. The early 8b's, with serial #'s around 4000, had the octal socket on the back. My "8b" w/socket is in the mid 4000's.

What path took you to your Marantz's?
 
Pio1980 said:
I haven't lit mine up in several weeks since the dog got my hearing aids.
Got replacements, once I get used to them as my new "normal" I can enjoy music again.
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You can look at my avatar and know that I understand how these things happen. :)
 
onemug said:
What path took you to your Marantz's?
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Hi, mostly an appreciation for excellent design and execution. I do like the el34 for what it does well and the 8b is just such a jewel - it got me off the stereo 70 merry go round.

Here's a pic of the 2s and Consolettes playing together
 

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kcin said:
Hi, mostly an appreciation for excellent design and execution. I do like the el34 for what it does well and the 8b is just such a jewel - it got me off the stereo 70 merry go round.
Here's a pic of the 2s and Consolettes playing together
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Nice photo, nice system. I'd pay admission to listen to a system made up of those components. Quad 63's?

I'm a strong 300b lover but I like the el34 a lot also. I figured Marantz would know how to use it. Surprising that McIntosh never used it.

Here's a photo of my 9's. I feel a need to explain their unusual placement :idea:...I do have the perfect rack to place the 9's, 7 and 10b in. They were put on the couch temporarily to make sure they survived shipping. Soon after, I wrenched my knee and it's taking a long while to heal so it's been a case where function is more important than form.

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Really nice! I have had some 9's slip away but I think I wised up too late and did not get in on them before prices had skyrocketed. I don't think I will ever get a pair now unless they fall into my lap. You're right.. for me as the years go by the amps and equipment definitely get heavier! --- here's the full squad ..my placement is not much better than yours in this instance...but I was trying a bunch of things out. Love those 9's






marantz squad.JPG
 
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