• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Marantz 8B on ebay....

Register to hide this ad
BULLWINKLE said:
Is that a repro? Look at the electrical cord on the back, did they have that kind of plug in in the 60's?
Click to expand...


The IEC socket/jack wasn't used when Marantz classics were made. I can't attest for the re-issued 8B/7.
 
That's a reissue Anniversary Edition unit. Built for Marantz, by VAC in Florida, in about 1998 or so. That's what basically put VAC on the map, ~9 years ago! They were the ONLY company that could do the job RIGHT, when Marantz contracted out to build the Anniversary Edition units. They even sourced the original DRAWINGS for the Marantz logo (BTW, the two "a"s in Marantz are NOT drawn the same way in the logo!), and built the original type transformers TO EXACT ORIGINAL SPEC. Same for the meter and such.

The reason there's an IEC socket and binding posts, is that Marantz COULD NOT have sold the unit in Europe (EU countries, basically) without those changes, due to safety regulations. So, that's the only real consideration to modern technology in those units...

Regards,
Gordon.
 
I get a bad vibe from the auction write-up. "Dad used to listen to it..."- he makes it sound like it's been around for ages, at least in implication. His dad COULDN'T have listened to it before 1998, because it WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN BUILT YET. Definitely need CLARIFICATION from the seller!!

Regards,
Gordon.
 
I also noticed that the switch on the back is made of plastic. Looks new too.

The old ones had the metal togle switches.
 
GordonW said:
That's a reissue Anniversary Edition unit. Built for Marantz, by VAC in Florida, in about 1998 or so. That's what basically put VAC on the map, ~9 years ago! They were the ONLY company that could do the job RIGHT, when Marantz contracted out to build the Anniversary Edition units. They even sourced the original DRAWINGS for the Marantz logo (BTW, the two "a"s in Marantz are NOT drawn the same way in the logo!), and built the original type transformers TO EXACT ORIGINAL SPEC. Same for the meter and such.

The reason there's an IEC socket and binding posts, is that Marantz COULD NOT have sold the unit in Europe (EU countries, basically) without those changes, due to safety regulations. So, that's the only real consideration to modern technology in those units...

Regards,
Gordon.
Click to expand...

Are these sonically the same (or better) than the original?
 
mikey3117 said:
Are these sonically the same (or better) than the original?
Click to expand...

These (and the 7C and Model 9 reissues) were carefully built with the exact, identical, components as the originals, and were even wired in the same manner. (In comparison, the MC275 that was reissued by MacIntosh at around the same time was printed circuit boards - not the Marantz.) All point to point hand soldered connections. The parts, wherever possible, were made by the same original suppliers. For a very short time you could buy these parts, including the output transformers, from VAC. They might still have some of the resistors and caps up for sale. The concession to modern UL rules is the power cord plug and the on-off switch. Stereophile reviewed them at the time, and of course didn't like the 7C ( too many controls for them) but I think gave a positive review of the 8B and 9s.

A few years ago you'd see these on ebay all the time - selling for about $1500, or half the original MSRP ($3k in 1998 I recall). Don't see them very often now. Plenty for sale in Japan, selling for close to the same as the originals.

Back in 1998 someone with about $15k to burn could have bought a new 7C and pair of Model 9 amps and been happy forever.

I'd be suspicious the auction is using stolen photos to make a quick buck.
 
spartanmanor said:
How do you know these photos are stolen? :scratch2:
Click to expand...

I don't, I said I'd be suspicious of it. There is a difference.

I'd only bid on this if I lived locally and I could go see it for real before the auction ended and pick it in person if I won.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom