Several months ago, I sold a Marantz SR-9000G Receiver on E-Bay. Why? Because it was not part of the "US Line" and I couldn't find any informatinon about it. I had it benchtested at 150 wpc., but elected to replace it with the SR-8000, which I knew was the top of the US Line beginning in 1979 because I have the Product Line Brochure that confirms this.
However, before I parted with the SR-9000G, I did a write up about it for my Monster Receiver Web Site: http://www.ckopfell.com/MarantzSR9000G.htm.
As far as I can tell, the SR9000G was the most powerful of the first generation digital Receivers, with the possible exception of Yamaha R-2000. However, it was never sold in America, where Marantz TOTL was the SR8000 at 70x2. So, this is a great mystery. Why didn't we get the SR9000G???
In response to this Web Page, I recently received the following e-mail from "Nico" in Germany, which I have added to the page:
"Hi there,
My name is Nico and I am from Germany.
Thank You for running this fantastic webside about monster receivers.
Since lomgtime I am collecting Marantz receivers and amplifiers/ tuners of the years 1980 until 1982 (only the biggest ones) and I got some more detailed information.
Concerning the Marantz model „SR 9000 G“ You are not quite right. Due to the official list of Marantz the first appearence of the SR 9000 G was 1981 and it was not the first digital receiver made by Marantz. The SR 9000 G (130 x 2 watts/ 8 ohms RMS/ harmonic distortion less than 0,01% under full power) was the top receiver of a serial of other great digital receivers like the SR 7100 DC and the SR 8100 DC. I have an original sales brochure of 1981, where You can find all the above mentioned models.
The real first digital Marantz receiver was the „SR 8010 DC“. It came out in the year 1980 and it looked like a twin to the SR 9000 G. The SR 8010 had only 100 x 2 watts/ 8 ohms RMS/ harmonic distortion less than 0,01 % and the scale was champagnegold and not blue. It was the top receiver of a serial of analog receivers like the SR 4010 and the SR 6010.
What these receivers all have in common is that they were developed, designed and produced in Japan and not in the States. It was this time when Japan was famous for longlasting quality and high tec and Philips had not yet takenover Marantz. The model „SR 9000 G“ is a high quality product of this time and the price was 2900,- Deutschmark or about 1450,- Euro when it came out. The frontplate is aluminium like the knobs and buttons and there is no plastic at all.
In the pre-amplifier section MOS FET transistors and in the main-amplifier section selected Japanese EBD transistors are working in a way that the input signal is absolutely the same like the output signal and not only similar. The tuner has a PLL function and the whole audio system is perfectly computerized. All these electronic parts came directly from the NASA laboratories and are until today the non-plus-ultra for audio performing.
In my opinion the SR 9000 G is therefore the best receiver Marantz ever built and not the model 2325 which many people consider to be the best. I compared also like You these two receivers side by side and I think the SR 9000 performs better, because of the fantastic authentic and original sound, the ultimate frequency range and at least the harmonic distortion of less than 0,01 % thanks to the DC amplification which the models before 1980 did not have. The power of the SR 9000 is nearly the same as the power of the 2385 and therefore enough for a hifi freak like me. I do not apreciate the two bigger receivers 2500 (250 x 2 watts) and 2600 (300 x 2 watts) because of the built-in-fan which is not comfortable in daily use at low volume level.
Concerning amplifiers only these are really more outstanding models:
The esoteric line which Marantz brought out also 1980/1981 has a truly fantastic couple, the SC 6 as pre-amplifier and the ultimate SM 1000 as main-amplifier. They both used also the DC amplification (the best and most authentic way) and the SM 1000 had 400 x 2 watts/ 8 ohms RMS both channels driven (peaks upt to 600 x 2 watts) and harmonic distortion less than 0,01%. You cannot do it better and stronger. It means: someone who has this couple, will never give it away. And normaly You cannot buy it on Ebay except for a giant price.
So long, Nico"
Just curious if anyone here can verify any of this information. I am trying to get Nico to scan the German Marantz Product brochure for me. And I wonder why the American Market got the siginifantly less powerful SR8000, rather than the SR9000G.
However, before I parted with the SR-9000G, I did a write up about it for my Monster Receiver Web Site: http://www.ckopfell.com/MarantzSR9000G.htm.
As far as I can tell, the SR9000G was the most powerful of the first generation digital Receivers, with the possible exception of Yamaha R-2000. However, it was never sold in America, where Marantz TOTL was the SR8000 at 70x2. So, this is a great mystery. Why didn't we get the SR9000G???
In response to this Web Page, I recently received the following e-mail from "Nico" in Germany, which I have added to the page:
"Hi there,
My name is Nico and I am from Germany.
Thank You for running this fantastic webside about monster receivers.
Since lomgtime I am collecting Marantz receivers and amplifiers/ tuners of the years 1980 until 1982 (only the biggest ones) and I got some more detailed information.
Concerning the Marantz model „SR 9000 G“ You are not quite right. Due to the official list of Marantz the first appearence of the SR 9000 G was 1981 and it was not the first digital receiver made by Marantz. The SR 9000 G (130 x 2 watts/ 8 ohms RMS/ harmonic distortion less than 0,01% under full power) was the top receiver of a serial of other great digital receivers like the SR 7100 DC and the SR 8100 DC. I have an original sales brochure of 1981, where You can find all the above mentioned models.
The real first digital Marantz receiver was the „SR 8010 DC“. It came out in the year 1980 and it looked like a twin to the SR 9000 G. The SR 8010 had only 100 x 2 watts/ 8 ohms RMS/ harmonic distortion less than 0,01 % and the scale was champagnegold and not blue. It was the top receiver of a serial of analog receivers like the SR 4010 and the SR 6010.
What these receivers all have in common is that they were developed, designed and produced in Japan and not in the States. It was this time when Japan was famous for longlasting quality and high tec and Philips had not yet takenover Marantz. The model „SR 9000 G“ is a high quality product of this time and the price was 2900,- Deutschmark or about 1450,- Euro when it came out. The frontplate is aluminium like the knobs and buttons and there is no plastic at all.
In the pre-amplifier section MOS FET transistors and in the main-amplifier section selected Japanese EBD transistors are working in a way that the input signal is absolutely the same like the output signal and not only similar. The tuner has a PLL function and the whole audio system is perfectly computerized. All these electronic parts came directly from the NASA laboratories and are until today the non-plus-ultra for audio performing.
In my opinion the SR 9000 G is therefore the best receiver Marantz ever built and not the model 2325 which many people consider to be the best. I compared also like You these two receivers side by side and I think the SR 9000 performs better, because of the fantastic authentic and original sound, the ultimate frequency range and at least the harmonic distortion of less than 0,01 % thanks to the DC amplification which the models before 1980 did not have. The power of the SR 9000 is nearly the same as the power of the 2385 and therefore enough for a hifi freak like me. I do not apreciate the two bigger receivers 2500 (250 x 2 watts) and 2600 (300 x 2 watts) because of the built-in-fan which is not comfortable in daily use at low volume level.
Concerning amplifiers only these are really more outstanding models:
The esoteric line which Marantz brought out also 1980/1981 has a truly fantastic couple, the SC 6 as pre-amplifier and the ultimate SM 1000 as main-amplifier. They both used also the DC amplification (the best and most authentic way) and the SM 1000 had 400 x 2 watts/ 8 ohms RMS both channels driven (peaks upt to 600 x 2 watts) and harmonic distortion less than 0,01%. You cannot do it better and stronger. It means: someone who has this couple, will never give it away. And normaly You cannot buy it on Ebay except for a giant price.
So long, Nico"
Just curious if anyone here can verify any of this information. I am trying to get Nico to scan the German Marantz Product brochure for me. And I wonder why the American Market got the siginifantly less powerful SR8000, rather than the SR9000G.
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