marantz SM8 and sc 8

[HAL9000]

hi everybody,

i'm thinking of buying a marantz sm 8 and a sc8
pics:

http://www.percy.hu/Pictures/Marantz_SC-8/DSC_4367.htm


you can see with the link that the pre will have to be refitted.

the SM power amplifier is a quater A amp.
so it will get pretty hot. 63 degrees celsius
a normal compensator can handle 85 degrees. 20 year and a hot climate.
so the Sm 8 will need some work as well.
the owner says that everything works.
but i always have my doubts :scratch2: :scratch2: :sigh:

i'm going to buy it for 550,- euros +- 620 US dollar.

it's a newer type of marantz/philips. esotec line ofcourse. build between 1984/1988
Sm8 will give 2x120Watt 8 ohm load

quote:

The Quarter A scheme steps in after the first 60W (2x30W) which are thus in Class A.


so buy it or don't

i hope to hear something

 

[marantzbe]

Hello,
I bought the same pair last year around May 2006, in December I found a ST8, so the set is complete.

I was not familiar with the Phillips product but I always like the look of the Esotec serie.

As you said the Sm8 runs very hot, but I never measure a temperature of 63°, mine SM8 ran around the 35-40°, and I found that to hot.
So I put 2 computer fans on the top cover so the temperature is now about 30°.
I'll try to setup a third fan to see if I can reach the 25°.
About the sound, not so opened as the sound coming from a 300DC - SM7 or even a 250.
In the begining, I didn't like the sound, but now it's one my favourite Amp.

I was so happy, that I bought a PM5, a SM6 and a SC6.

The SM6 is in the shop.

I think I paid the SM8-Sc8 combo around 600-650€ so 550 seems for me to be ok


Tony

 

[Arkay]

I don't have those, but I do have the Esotec PM-4, a "junior version", so to speak. It does get quite hot when run in Class A mode, but I put fans blowing across the heat sink and it doesn't heat up as much. A lot of the time I just choose to run it in A/B mode, to be safe.

Sound quality? I like it! It sounds better as a main amp than the ones in either my 2275 or 2285B receivers.

Haven't compared it yet to the 300dc (which needs recapping) and also cannot compare it fairly to the larger models you are considering. Still, if it were me and the price was okay, I wouldn't hesitate to grab any Esotec gear. :thmbsp:

 

[SB Marantz]

Hello,
I bought the same pair last year around May 2006, in December I found a ST8, so the set is complete.

I was not familiar with the Phillips product but I always like the look of the Esotec serie.

As you said the Sm8 runs very hot, but I never measure a temperature of 63°, mine SM8 ran around the 35-40°, and I found that to hot.
So I put 2 computer fans on the top cover so the temperature is now about 30°.
I'll try to setup a third fan to see if I can reach the 25°.
About the sound, not so opened as the sound coming from a 300DC - SM7 or even a 250.
In the begining, I didn't like the sound, but now it's one my favourite Amp.

I was so happy, that I bought a PM5, a SM6 and a SC6.

The SM6 is in the shop.

I think I paid the SM8-Sc8 combo around 600-650€ so 550 seems for me to be ok


Tony

Those Esotec's mentioned are no Philips design but follow-up's of the SC-6/SM-6 and those were still designed in USA and made in Japan.
However at the end of 1980 Philips bought Marantz Japan for 51% that does NOT mean the products made at that time are Philips.

I like my SM-6 amp and build quality is good so is the SM-8.
The pre-amp SC-6 aka SC-8 is a bit el-cheapo build but Marantz was not alone with this at that time.
Designs got better but build quality went down hill:sigh:

 

[HAL9000]

Hello,
I bought the same pair last year around May 2006, in December I found a ST8, so the set is complete.

I was not familiar with the Phillips product but I always like the look of the Esotec serie.

As you said the Sm8 runs very hot, but I never measure a temperature of 63°, mine SM8 ran around the 35-40°, and I found that to hot.
So I put 2 computer fans on the top cover so the temperature is now about 30°.
I'll try to setup a third fan to see if I can reach the 25°.
About the sound, not so opened as the sound coming from a 300DC - SM7 or even a 250.
In the begining, I didn't like the sound, but now it's one my favourite Amp.

I was so happy, that I bought a PM5, a SM6 and a SC6.

The SM6 is in the shop.

I think I paid the SM8-Sc8 combo around 600-650€ so 550 seems for me to be ok


Tony

fantastic to here that the sm8 will not reach the 63 degrees.
40 degrees is hot but acceptable. compensators can handle that much. :thmbsp:

i will buy it this week
expecting it this week or next week.
i will post the problems and sounds difference.


what i meant when i sayed that it is philips equiptment.
the older marantz models 195x to 1977 are of good quality, components and prints; very reliable. makes up that your equiptment is very relaible in totall.
when the end was near 1978 79 80 in the models of
22XXB 1090 1122 1152 1180Dc esotec line
you can see that the components are relaible but some what cheaper, and prints are not so fantastic, compared with the older models.

compare!:
older model 140 (made in japan) with newer model sm6 (made in japan)

i will choose the 140 over the SM6

compare : marantz 250 (made in USA) with 170DC (japan)
i have my second marantz 250 one made in 1975 the other in 1971!!
both are original (one has new compensators) and are playing fine.
i have noticed that the 1975 version does not like fluctuations in power.
the 1971 version is 100% original. even the compansators are still from SUN and nichicon. all work perfectly.

i see a lot of 170Dc in good working condition. so wich to choose??
for sound i think that the 170Dc will fit for most people
but i like the 250 sound
i do not like the 3300 pre. sounds terrible
but my 1200b sounds perfectly!
same pre!! so i don't know

but a marantz model PM94 or a PM 80.. how long do they live??
+- 10 years and there burned out!:thumbsdn: :nono:



the is the picture from the ad. (it's complete)