Marantz Imperial speakers

[sweetlaraine]

Does anyone have any info on Marantz Imperial speakers. These are like the Imperial 9's in size, but no number designation. 1 12 inch woofer, 2 4? inch mids and 2 tweeters. Anyone own or have experience with these?

 

[stickman]

These are an earlier series than the later (blue cone) Imperial 7's and 9's we are used to here on the AK Speaker forum. I see these early Imperial's turn up on ebay on occasion and there is not much interest. If they were made in Japan I wouldn't have very high of expectations for the sound quality. How do they sound hooked up to that classic Marantz receiver? I'd forget about the speakers and buy the receiver instead.......

 

[walkandtalk]

If I saw those in a shop, it'd be pretty hard to walk away from them. I'm a big fan of my Imperial 6s and 5s, and these sort of make me think "Bozak", which is pleasant...

 

[jonman]

I have a set of the six's, but newer looking with just cloth grills. They sound pretty good for what the are

 

[kfa888]

I have Imp 9's running off a Fisher tube amp, sounds sweet and very versatile. :thmbsp:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=153987&highlight=imperial

 

[Blue Shadow]

A couple sources of info:

http://www.classic-audio.com/marantz/mindex.html

http://telefunken.te.funpic.de/marantz.html

You may find them in the second link. Might not understand the description, but the numbers are the same in english and whatever language the brochure is in.

 

[Glassman]

Congratulations! You have found the Marantz Imperial I or II. The only difference is the grills. I had the Imperial with the cloth grill but sold them a few months back. The biggest problem you may encounter is the pots. They seemed to want to cut out and not let a clear signal through. I tore into the crossovers on mine a few times to spray the pots with both contact cleaner and later ProGold, the ProGold lasting the longest. They were beautiful looking speakers but I simply was not using them. They are incorrectly listed on some sites as Imperial V, Early Version but they are actually from around 1968 and listed for around $500 each brand new.

Jay

 

[Susurus]

kfa888 I can't bear to look. Your 9's must be mirrored before my mind turns to mush.

:sigh:

 

[Aldo]

Yes, I was thinking the same thing...mirror those puppies please....

 

[kfa888]

kfa888 I can't bear to look. Your 9's must be mirrored before my mind turns to mush.

:sigh:

Here's the quick story. I refoamed all those drivers the night before an AK gig. i only had them there for a second to test they even worked before i took them to the gig. The gig was the first day I had really listened to them at all and surprisingly they were very well received. I know have them as my mains in the living room, mirror imaged and tube powered. Sound wonderful.

You can now rest EZ.

the full story if you care - http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=153987

 

[Susurus]

:yes: For Aldo and me...and Detective Monk... 60-sec flip selection...well okay Monk would want the 2 hour Photoshop trapezed in there properly and with the lighting angle corrected...

or did you go Tweeters Outside?

 

[Aldo]

Yes, we need/must know...tweeters inside or on the outside (please let it be outside).....