• 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 Imperial 6 are GREAT Speakers!

onwardjames said:
For anyone caring, I bought the reproduction tweeters, installed, then later removed and reinstalled stock.

There was a difference with my ears back then (2012 or so?) but not sure I'd hear it today.
Click to expand...
I did notice one difference in the specs between the re-pop and original CTS tweeters. The originals were rated for 3khz-18khz, the re-pop's are 3khz-15khz.
Not a huge difference, and I can't hear anything above 14khz these days so probably wouldn't hear a difference myself these days. There isn't much above 12khz, but even I can hear a difference between some horns I have that only go to 12khz and a tweeter rated for 18khz-20khz. Things like symbols loose there sizzle with those horns. There isn't much below 40hz either unless your into pipe organ music, but with some speakers I have that can dig down to 29hz I definitely can hear and feel a difference between them and speakers rated for 40-50hz or even higher.
I'm surprised the 6's didn't work out stacked MTM style though. I've done this with some of my other various speakers with good results.
 
onwardjames said:
For anyone caring, I bought the reproduction tweeters, installed, then later removed and reinstalled stock.

There was a difference with my ears back then (2012 or so?) but not sure I'd hear it today.
Click to expand...
I did the same a few years ago, I did not hear a difference so back in when the stock ones.

Sometimes a product just comes together and just works and works well. The Imperial 6 (and 5s) are like that.
 
Lavane said:
I did notice one difference in the specs between the re-pop and original CTS tweeters. The originals were rated for 3khz-18khz, the re-pop's are 3khz-15khz.
Not a huge difference, and I can't hear anything above 14khz these days so probably wouldn't hear a difference myself these days. There isn't much above 12khz, but even I can hear a difference between some horns I have that only go to 12khz and a tweeter rated for 18khz-20khz. Things like symbols loose there sizzle with those horns. There isn't much below 40hz either unless your into pipe organ music, but with some speakers I have that can dig down to 29hz I definitely can hear and feel a difference between them and speakers rated for 40-50hz or even higher.
I'm surprised the 6's didn't work out stacked MTM style though. I've done this with some of my other various speakers with good results.
Click to expand...
I was surprised at the 4.2s for how much high end I can hear from them....Much over 12khz I am done.
 
onwardjames said:
Sadly, I had 2 pair, and stacked.

The magic disappeared. I do not recommend, and I've championed these for 18 years or so on this website.

Still miss my own pair.
Click to expand...
I have found, for my listening, that less is more. My ears seem to like two 8 or 10 in two way speakers (but I do like the 12 in Nova 8Bs) for two channel music. I have nice Marantz NR1608 HT system but never listen to music over it. I also have several SACD players but only use them for 2 channel. I still have a nice set of recapped and rebuilt OLAs that I rotate in and out of the bedroom systems. Right now I have my ADS L620s that are right there with the Imperials in most respects.
 
IMG_9442.jpeg
I had the Imperial 7s with the thick, brown rooftop-patterned grills. Bought them, gently used (trade-ins at a local stereo store), on a whim for $125, in 1978 (MSRP was $200 in 1975). They also had a used pair of 6s for $100. Gifted the 7s to my parents a year and a half later when I got Bose 901s. I really liked the 3-way 7s. Were the 2-way 6s perhaps even better?
 
Bushikan said:
View attachment 3783637
I had the Imperial 7s with the thick, brown rooftop-patterned grills. Bought them, gently used (trade-ins at a local stereo store), on a whim for $125, in 1978 (MSRP was $200 in 1975). They also had a used pair of 6s for $100. Gifted the 7s to my parents a year and a half later when I got Bose 901s. I really liked the 3-way 7s. Were the 2-way 6s perhaps even better?
Click to expand...
I think the 6's are better than the 7's personally. I had a pair of 7's, they didn't hang around long after getting the pair of 6's. The 7's are pretty good party speakers though. Below is a link that explains how the 6's and 7's came to be.
www.audioholics.com

Loudspeakers: When is Good Enough, Enough? Part 1

Initially, the Audioholics topic that impressed most was their multi-part series on cables . After reading that series just about anyone who…
www.audioholics.com www.audioholics.com
 
Lavane said:
I'm surprised the 6's didn't work out stacked MTM style though. I've done this with some of my other various speakers with good results.
Click to expand...

It has been at least 15 years or so, but what I remember was very muddy low end, and a disconnected image. Almost like too much of a good thing.

Or something.
 
There has already been a lot of discussion about the bass performance of the Imperial 6s at low volumes; Bodyblue mentioned comparing them to the Polk 10s—he preferred the Polks, but noted that the Imperials still had better bass. I’ve owned the Polks, and they are fantastic speakers, but they were eventually dethroned by my current pair: the Acoustic Research AR3as. These AR3as sound absolutely glorious at any volume, and they outperform the Polks when it comes to bass. Has anyone had the chance to compare the Imperial 6s with the AR3as? Thanks.
 
danixmen01 said:
There has already been a lot of discussion about the bass performance of the Imperial 6s at low volumes; Bodyblue mentioned comparing them to the Polk 10s—he preferred the Polks, but noted that the Imperials still had better bass. I’ve owned the Polks, and they are fantastic speakers, but they were eventually dethroned by my current pair: the Acoustic Research AR3as. These AR3as sound absolutely glorious at any volume, and they outperform the Polks when it comes to bass. Has anyone had the chance to compare the Imperial 6s with the AR3as? Thanks.
Click to expand...
The like for the Polk 10s faded fast and they are long gone. Flat out top volume bass, the Polks will go louder and a bit deeper......but I never listen at top volume. The Imperials blow them away at low volumes.

I have found the AR3s dont have a huge dynamic range and far prefer the Imperials. I completely disagree that the AR3s have better bass than the Polk 10s.
 
Taste is subjective—there’s no point in arguing about it. I compared them side-by-side using a switcher, and I personally preferred the bass of the AR3a—both in terms of quantity (at any volume level) and quality. It’s true that the AR3a’s high-frequency response isn’t particularly extended, but I bypassed the treble potentiometer, which made a significant improvement; the highs are now spot-on. I should also mention that the AR3a units have been restored, whereas the Polk speakers were in their original, unrestored condition.
I’m curious to hear the Imperial 6s; I have friends who have listened to them, and they describe them as just average speakers.
 
danixmen01 said:
Taste is subjective—there’s no point in arguing about it. I compared them side-by-side using a switcher, and I personally preferred the bass of the AR3a—both in terms of quantity (at any volume level) and quality. It’s true that the AR3a’s high-frequency response isn’t particularly extended, but I bypassed the treble potentiometer, which made a significant improvement; the highs are now spot-on. I should also mention that the AR3a units have been restored, whereas the Polk speakers were in their original, unrestored condition.
I’m curious to hear the Imperial 6s; I have friends who have listened to them, and they describe them as just average speakers.
Click to expand...
What's nice about the 6's and why I keep them around is they play everything well and have worked great with SS or tubes. I even tried a small 5wpc tube amp I have with the 6's. While it couldn't push the 6's really loud, they got loud enough and sounded great with decent bass at low volumes. My main tube preamp before it died didn't have tone controls and I rarely felt a need for them with the 6's, even at low volumes.
They're very easy to listen to without getting any ear fatigue.
I have Polk Monitor 10's that have had the caps replaced and precision wire wound resistors installed. I do like the tighter, better controled bass with those passive radiators. Supposedly the Monitor 11's are better having addressed some combing effect of the two midbass drivers the 10's have. Something about the two midbass drivers being tunes a little differently from each other in the 11's?
 
I never really got all the negative views on the Imperial 7, in my limited listening they sound punchy, not bloated. I am currently waiting on parts to refresh pairs of the 5’s, 6’s and 7’s.
I really am excited to switch between them and hear the differences. With all using the same tweeter, bass and mid’s should be where the differences lie.
 
blademan13 said:
I never really got all the negative views on the Imperial 7, in my limited listening they sound punchy, not bloated. I am currently waiting on parts to refresh pairs of the 5’s, 6’s and 7’s.
I really am excited to switch between them and hear the differences. With all using the same tweeter, bass and mid’s should be where the differences lie.
Click to expand...
Exactly right. The 7s sound fat then roll off. The 6s are smooth all the way down.
 
Bodyblue said:
Exactly right. The 7s sound fat then roll off. The 6s are smooth all the way down.
Click to expand...
Thats what I found. Extended listening showed the flaws in the 7's responce.
I kept the 6's. My son likes the 7's though. I've tried numerous times to set him up with better speakers, but he's happy with the 7's. He's heard my Imperial 6's, Polk Monitor 7's and 10's, those BA A-100's you gave me, etc. But he still likes the Imperial 7's.
I set him up with a nice set of restored Marantz seperates. At the time the Imperial 7's were all I had for extra speakers to give him. I will admit replacing tye original woofers in the 7's with another original pair of woofers with doped cloth accordion surrounds did make them sound better. It tamed that boomy mid bass some.
 
Lavane said:
Thats what I found. Extended listening showed the flaws in the 7's responce.
I kept the 6's. My son likes the 7's though. I've tried numerous times to set him up with better speakers, but he's happy with the 7's. He's heard my Imperial 6's, Polk Monitor 7's and 10's, those BA A-100's you gave me, etc. But he still likes the Imperial 7's.
I set him up with a nice set of restored Marantz seperates. At the time the Imperial 7's were all I had for extra speakers to give him. I will admit replacing tye original woofers in the 7's with another original pair of woofers with doped cloth accordion surrounds did make them sound better. It tamed that boomy mid bass some.
Click to expand...
I forgot about the A-100s! They were pretty fun......I like the funky Optimus 27s better but not by much.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom