marantz imperial 5

[decaturron]

Hi guys, I just picked up a pair of marantz imperial 5 speakers. They look pretty good and sound good. They still have the marantz badges on the front in perfect condition. I paid 20 bucks for them. I looked online and they always refer to imperial 5G mine do not have a G whats up with that?

 

[Sam Cogley]

Hi guys, I just picked up a pair of marantz imperial 5 speakers. They look pretty good and sound good. They still have the marantz badges on the front in perfect condition. I paid 20 bucks for them. I looked online and they always refer to imperial 5G mine do not have a G whats up with that?

The Imperial x, Imperial x-G, or x-G badging is a mystery to me, and I don't think we've ever figured out a satisfactory answer around here.

 

[Blue Shadow]

There are two different model 5 Marantz speakers. Other than that, I have read, but don't know if it is true because I read it on the www, that the G means the foam grilles.

I have a pair of Imperials without the G and with an old looking grille cloth soon to be changed.

 

[Sam Cogley]

Wasn't the Imp 5 the model with two very, very different versions under the same name?

Blue, I've heard that about the "G" models - but I can't figure out how that works for the 8s and 9s, even if it's accurate for the smaller models. The only Imp 8 pictures I've seen from the old days show the JBL-ish foam "eggcrate" grilles, then there are my 8-Gs (no Imperial) that also had the foam grilles.

 

[Blue Shadow]

Yes the 5 has two very different models with that number.

The foam for G info was read on the web that is why I put the disclaimer there. I don't know if it is true either.

Whatever, the speakers with the old foam can have nice cloth grilles installed and the speakers can be enjoyed.

I think there are a lot of lost tidbits of information many here would like to know about their particular chunks of gear.

 

[Vintageman1]

Imperial 5 "early version"? Try here:
http://www.classic-audio.com/marantz/imp5e.html

 

[Sebastiona]

I have some Marantz 5-G's (so without 'imperial' spelled out) with cloth grilles that seem to be original. From what I've seen you can have either a 'Marantz Imperial x' or a 'Marantz x-G', both looking exactly the same. To add to this confusion, I've an original add of the 5-G's that explicitly states Marantz Imperial 5G.
Anyway, I like them a lot, and in the end that's what counts.

 

[DaWoofer]

I heard or read that the woofer basket differs. One basket is blue and considered the better speaker. If thats the G or not I can't remember.

 

[Sebastiona]

I heard or read that the woofer basket differs. One basket is blue and considered the better speaker. If thats the G or not I can't remember.

I do know that most of the Imperial series had blue cones for their drivers. The actual (stamped steel) basket of my woofers is just black.

 

[sliver240]

I have a pair I let my mom use. Sound pretty nice actually!:thmbsp:

 

[DaWoofer]

The ones I speak of have the black cone and "blue basket", is your cone blue?

 

[Sam Cogley]

I do know that most of the Imperial series had blue cones for their drivers. The actual (stamped steel) basket of my woofers is just black.

My Imp 8s have blue cones and bare steel baskets.

 

[decaturron]

My baskets are black and the cones are a lovely blue with great rubber surrounds.

 

[walkandtalk]

Imperial 5/5G Service Manual

Maybe this will shed some light on the question:

(my scanner's kaput - so these are just snaps)

 

[walkandtalk]

Imperial 5 / 5G Service Manual

Here's the last few...






I can say that I also have pairs of Imperial 6 and 6G's, and they both have the blue woofers. I really think it's a matter of grill coverings...

 

[Sam Cogley]

I really think it's a matter of grill coverings...

That certainly seems to be the case, though I'm positive I've seen some Imperial 8 advertisements with the foam grilles. The difference seems to be utterly insignificant, more of a marketing change than anything (maybe the concept of imperialism wasn't the greatest selling point in the late Vietnam era).

 

[Blue Shadow]

Thanks for the service manual. That does answer the G question on the 5.

 

[vegaman9]

i have the imperial 6G mine have the bleu woofer cone. my buddy onwardjames has the regular imperial 6.same blue cone, same drivers,same crossover and everything. his has the stocl grilles that look old and retro.mine have some crap grilles that i need to work on. Walkandtalk, dont you love the wet, buttery sound that comes out of the imperial 6? if the man cave caught on fire i would grab them first.

 

[walkandtalk]

The 6's are special.

 

[Sebastiona]

Thanks for the service manual, Walkandtalk! Much to my surprise, I see that Marantz has used a mylar capacitor in the crossover. I was planning on recapping my 5g's, but now I'm wondering if that would make any sense.