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Marantz Imperial 6 are GREAT Speakers!

rotobadger

rotobadger

Suffering AZ Cardinals Fan
Subscriber
So, I thought I'd share my recent experiences with my ongoing speaker quest.

I know I'm a relative newbie but I've been furiously experimenting with my equipment (ok that sounded weird) including speakers. For reference, this is what I've had/have so far:

Klipsch KG 4 with Crites upgrade
Infinity Qb
Infinity Qa
Boston Acoustics a100
Boston Acoustics a200
KLH Model 5
Marantz Imperial 6

I won't bore you with every detail but I found that I really enjoyed the a100s and will be keeping them. I was searching for a200 and got a pair. Now, I know they likely need a recap AND their placement wasn't ideal but I got a very good taste of what they sound like...and they do sound great.

So, I then picked up a beautiful pair of Marantz Imperial 6 from the original owner. I spent an afternoon A/Bing them with the BA a200s using my Sansui AU555a.

Every single time I switched over to the Imp 6 I said "wow, these sound so GOOD". I really wanted to like the a200 more but, to me, it was undeniable...the Marantz just impressed. I know I have a limited frame of reference but the Marantz, to me, sound far and away better than any of my other speakers. The a100s were a somewhat distant second (I do love those).

I've read similar comments from other people who say, in effect, that these speakers surprised the hell out of them. Not, "well, these are not bad for 2 ways" but more like "holy CRAP where did these come from??"

I really feel like these are incredibly underrated speakers and am going to go out on a limb and say that their value is going to go up as more and more folks hear them.

I (over) paid $150 for them but love them so much I really don't care.

There are other factors that play into what makes speakers sound good or bad, I get that. But I really encourage you guys to pick up a pair if the price is right. It's definitely worth taking the chance.

So, now I'm gonna try out some BA a150s as originally planned. But the Imperial 6, for now, are my main, here to stay, speakers.

Thanks for letting me gush!

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rotobadger said:
So, I thought I'd share my recent experiences with my ongoing speaker quest.

I know I'm a relative newbie but I've been furiously experimenting with my equipment (ok that sounded weird) including speakers. For reference, this is what I've had/have so far:

Klipsch KG 4 with Crites upgrade
Infinity Qb
Infinity Qa
Boston Acoustics a100
Boston Acoustics a200
KLH Model 5
Marantz Imperial 6
Click to expand...

For your listed speakers, how would you rate them? Of course, the Imperial 6 is at the top. What's next, and down the line.
 
RTally said:
For your listed speakers, how would you rate them? Of course, the Imperial 6 is at the top. What's next, and down the line.
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That's a bit of a tough question but if pressed:

Imperial 6
BA a100s
KLH Model 5
BA a200s (With the understanding that they are likely not up to spec)
Infinity Qb
Klipsch KG 4
Infinity Qa

I feel like there is a distinction, for me at least, between what sounds "better" and what is most pleasing. However, in this case, I feel like the Marantz are both better AND pleasing. The a100s just spoke to me for some reason.

I'm looking forward to trying more speakers of course!
 
rotobadger said:
So, I thought I'd share my recent experiences with my ongoing speaker quest.

I know I'm a relative newbie but I've been furiously experimenting with my equipment (ok that sounded weird) including speakers. For reference, this is what I've had/have so far:

Klipsch KG 4 with Crites upgrade
Infinity Qb
Infinity Qa
Boston Acoustics a100
Boston Acoustics a200
KLH Model 5
Marantz Imperial 6

I won't bore you with every detail but I found that I really enjoyed the a100s and will be keeping them. I was searching for a200 and got a pair. Now, I know they likely need a recap AND their placement wasn't ideal but I got a very good taste of what they sound like...and they do sound great.

So, I then picked up a beautiful pair of Marantz Imperial 6 from the original owner. I spent an afternoon A/Bing them with the BA a200s using my Sansui AU555a.

Every single time I switched over to the Imp 6 I said "wow, these sound so GOOD". I really wanted to like the a200 more but, to me, it was undeniable...the Marantz just impressed. I know I have a limited frame of reference but the Marantz, to me, sound far and away better than any of my other speakers. The a100s were a somewhat distant second (I do love those).

I've read similar comments from other people who say, in effect, that these speakers surprised the hell out of them. Not, "well, these are not bad for 2 ways" but more like "holy CRAP where did these come from??"

I really feel like these are incredibly underrated speakers and am going to go out on a limb and say that their value is going to go up as more and more folks hear them.

I (over) paid for them at $150 but love them so much I really don't care.

There are other factors that play into what makes speakers sound good or bad, I get that. But I really encourage you guys to pick up a pair if the price is right. It's definitely worth taking the chance.

So, now I'm gonna try out some BA a150s as originally planned. But the Imperial 6, for now, are my main, here to stay, speakers.

Thanks for letting me gush!

View attachment 1411522
Click to expand...
I was a retail audio salesman during the 1970's, and I remember the Marantz Imperial 6 very well. I preferred its sound over the slightly larger, three-way Imperial 7 speaker. The sevens always had a slightly boxy sound, to my ears.
At the time, Advent speakers were very popular, although I did not sell them. A Sony rep told me to get a pair of the large Advents and demo them side by side with the Marantz Imperial 6. I followed his suggestion, and sales took off for the Imperial 6 ! It was a great speaker !
 
I have a set of Imperial 6s and 5s and really like them both . For how rare the 6s are, the 5s are even more so. They use the same tweeter but smaller 8in woofer. But they almost have the same bass....amazing really.

I also have a self of KLH 6s that have rebuilt woofers and fresh caps. They are incredible and I can't decide which I like better.....probably the Imperials which surprises me. I also have a set of Dynaco A25s and are amazed by them, but the KLHs and Imperials are better. I have some others as well that I really like; Sansui SP75s, Pioneer CS 88s, Realistic Nova 7 etc. None rise to the level of the first three.

So yes, I agree with you, Imperial 6s are indeed that good. Dont be surprised that two way speakers sound as good as they do. I like two ways better, hands down.

KLH 6 and Imp 6

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Imperial 5 and KLH 6

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Imperial 6

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drumbum said:
Can't we at least try to keep these on the down low?

I really would like a third pair CHEAP.
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There has been a pair on Facebook and CL by me for more than a year. They are priced at $180 and the guy wont move. The look ok but they were the G models that came with the awful foam grills. They have now some sort of see through grills that look just ok. And the worst part is that somebody stained them a reddish tint and put poly on them......GAG. I got lucky with my perfect ones; the lady had a toddler and did not want them destroyed so I got mine for $65. Oh and they have punched in dust caps. He is way over market. I wonder why the Marantz 6G models had a different color woofer....mine has the blue woofer.

24862464_10211068835179601_1456471797288792717_n.jpg


24993529_10211068835659613_1665800619412736312_n.jpg


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Please be sure to sell the A200s to someone who will recap them and situate them properly in the room. :)
 
Welcome to the club! They just play everything well. Many here have them. Even if not in rotation, we tend to keep them. I'm using mine right now connected to a 6wpc single ended tube amp. And they still sound nice even at low volume.
 
Bodyblue said:
There has been a pair on Facebook and CL by me for more than a year. They are priced at $180 and the guy wont move. The look ok but they were the G models that came with the awful foam grills. They have now some sort of see through grills that look just ok. And the worst part is that somebody stained them a reddish tint and put poly on them......GAG. I got lucky with my perfect ones; the lady had a toddler and did not want them destroyed so I got mine for $65. Oh and they have punched in dust caps. He is way over market. I wonder why the Marantz 6G models had a different color woofer....mine has the blue woofer.

24862464_10211068835179601_1456471797288792717_n.jpg


24993529_10211068835659613_1665800619412736312_n.jpg


24899992_10211068835379606_7077860922172369583_n.jpg
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Way too much. I keep seeing those too. A guy has a pair of Imperial 7's for $70. I wouldn't pay $5 for a pair of 7's.
 
Lavane said:
Way too much. I keep seeing those too. A guy has a pair of Imperial 7's for $70. I wouldn't pay $5 for a pair of 7's.
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It's so funny that the 7 was their big seller yet no one likes them. I've never heard a pair myself but now I'm curious. I don't think I've ever read a truly positive post about the Imperial 7s.

What about the 8? Those look beastly. Any good?
 
5's are supposed to sound good. The 8's and 9's are pretty big, but do sound good. Some used foam surrounds though and would need new ones. I had a pair of 7's. My son has them now. Being that they stuffed a 12" woofer and a midrange into the cabinet designed for the 6's, they sound very boomy. High end drops out at around 12khz, low end at 80hz. I tried to tame them. Stuffing bundles of straws in the ports, even socks. What helped was getting another set of model 7 woofers and replacing the rubber surrounds with accordion style doped cloth surrounds. But in the end they had to go!
 
Lavane said:
5's are supposed to sound good. The 8's and 9's are pretty big, but do sound good. Some used foam surrounds though and would need new ones. I had a pair of 7's. My son has them now. Being that they stuffed a 12" woofer and a midrange into the cabinet designed for the 6's, they sound very boomy. High end drops out at around 12khz, low end at 80hz. I tried to tame them. Stuffing bundles of straws in the ports, even socks. What helped was getting another set of model 7 woofers and replacing the rubber surrounds with accordion style doped cloth surrounds. But in the end they had to go!
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Yep the 7s just are not in the same class as the 6s, or even the 5s I have. They roll off so hard
They look cool, sound blah.
 
Lavane said:
They lost money on the 6's they sold. Kind of sad.
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Especially since the one that sold a lot more, the Imperial 7 are not even in the same league. I mean its crazy how much better the 6s are than the 7s.......I bet a lot of people back in the day bought the 7s without even hearing the 6s.
 
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