Marantz Tuner suggestions
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This is a very useful website,
LINK for Marantz 150 Tuner:
http://www.classic-audio.com/marantz/0150.html
or, Marantz 125, BOTH are excellent:
http://www.classic-audio.com/marantz/0125.html
The prior Model 120 was also pretty good, the prior model:
http://www.classic-audio.com/marantz/0120.html
But, the newer Model 112 is a solid performer at a good price, and the next, newer, tuner generation:
http://www.classic-audio.com/marantz/0112.html
I would choose from among these four, the 150 being the most costly, with a nice big tuning scope or the Model 125, with very similar design and performance, but without the scope. I consider the 125 to be the Marantz BEST VALUE Tuner.
I'm a fan of Marantz FM Tuners.
Marantz also made the Rolls Royce of TUBE tuners, (very pricey and sought after by collectors), the wonderful Model 10B. Requires a serious commitment or money to burn, IMHO. Yes, I'd love to have one.
Model 10B LINK:
http://www.classic-audio.com/marantz/0010b.html
Any of these would work well with your 1250 Integrated Amp.
LINK for Marantz 150 Tuner:
http://www.classic-audio.com/marantz/0150.html
or, Marantz 125, BOTH are excellent:
http://www.classic-audio.com/marantz/0125.html
The prior Model 120 was also pretty good, the prior model:
http://www.classic-audio.com/marantz/0120.html
But, the newer Model 112 is a solid performer at a good price, and the next, newer, tuner generation:
http://www.classic-audio.com/marantz/0112.html
I would choose from among these four, the 150 being the most costly, with a nice big tuning scope or the Model 125, with very similar design and performance, but without the scope. I consider the 125 to be the Marantz BEST VALUE Tuner.
I'm a fan of Marantz FM Tuners.
Marantz also made the Rolls Royce of TUBE tuners, (very pricey and sought after by collectors), the wonderful Model 10B. Requires a serious commitment or money to burn, IMHO. Yes, I'd love to have one.
Model 10B LINK:
http://www.classic-audio.com/marantz/0010b.html
Any of these would work well with your 1250 Integrated Amp.
bktheking
Gitter Done!
I've got a 120 which I like, a 150 will be here on Tuesday. The 120 gets a bad rep from reviewers on this site and the FM tuners site. I wanted to move my 120 last week, this bad reputation foiled my sale, people read something and they take it as gospel. The 120 "for the money" is not a bad tuner at all. The person who wanted to acquire it stated "it's got a small scope". Yes it has a small scope, (the 120b is bigger) however, a unit with any scope is worth more IMO. The 18,19 and 20 had a small scope but still made them desireable units. For what I wanted for the unit it wasn't above board, I knew the guy so I was giving him a deal. To me, the antenna makes all the difference in the world. Unless you've got a massive antenna on the roof of your house most tuners will be alike which a small dipole attached. I tried pleading my case but since the 120 has such bad reputation it's still sitting at home. Hopefully I will be able to repost back and say the 150 is soooo much better. You want cadillac, 10b, set you back over 2k but it's tube and some people say tube tuners are a PITA. A 20 or 20B would be a nice tuner as well, they come up for sale on ebay but aren't cheap.
I also like the Model 120, especially adjusted for price. They're a solid performer, although, age is a factor. Worth noting, however, I'd avoid the 120B. The failed design of the 120B may be partly responsible for the overall 'Poor' reputation of the 120. This is a mistake.
That said, Marantz would have been well advised to continue to improve the excellent Models 20 and 20B. I didn't recommend them because of their age, and the virtually imminent need for service/restoration. The same is likely true of the Model 10B.
But then, Marantz definitely got it right with the Models 125 and 150.:yes:
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No, not just the scope. It was the other design changes, "updates", that were unsuccessful in the 120B, from a performance standpoint, and, therefore lead to the quick update to the Model 150/125. Check the relatively short production period of the Model 120B.
Either scope was not an issue in terms of performance. Actually, from a purely cosmetics aspect, I prefer the look of the Model 120 over all the rest. I don't particularly like the larger tuning dial 'window', as in the transition from the 2270 to the 2275 receivers, and 120 to 150 Tuners. Many disagree; but I find the newer Models are too 'busy' looking. The new models lost some of that earlier Marantz elegance in favor of MORE knobs and switches. With the Model 2275, the 'receiver Wars' were on. The new bread of receivers had to be MORE Powerful, with MORE features, and 'LOWER' THD and IM Destortion, at least the marketing dept seemed to think so...
As an example... as good as the Model 150 is (with the larger scope CRT and tuning window), the Models 20 and 20B (both with the smaller, out of production CRT) remain superior tuners, in spite of their age.
Of course, when recommending a first tuner, the age of the 20/20B will frequently present restoration issues.
I'd feel safest recommending the 125 and 112 to a first-time buyer, especially if cost figures into the decision.
I currently have a Model 150 and 20B in regular operation
in the livingroon and my home office/den. Guess which one gets played the most.
I keep a couple Model 125 and 120 as back-ups.
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The one thing I found on three different Model 120 is that many of the push buttons on the face have become problematic. They tend to stick. The aluminum covers come loose. All this can be fixed; but that's why my 120s are all out of rotation in favor of the older 20/20B and newer 125/150 tuners. Otherwise, I found the 120 to be a very good performer, even on difficult stations, with just a cheap dipole antenna.
From a purely sonic point of view, I prefer the Model 20, 20B, 10B, 150, and 125, in that order. These 5 tuners are all top performers.
The Model 120 comes next... still very good in most respects. I like the 120's scope.
Yes, Marantz knows how to make great tuners!:thmbsp:
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Everybody likes the scope. I do, personally.
But, it adds virtually nothing to the performance of the tuner.
O.K... if adjusting a roof antenna to capture a difficult station, the 'Multpath' display can be helpful.
However, the added cost of the beefer power supply (only needed to power the scope), and the risk of issues on the scope driver board are not a plus in an older unit.
Additionally, I like the 'Volume' knob in the front of the 125, absent on the 150. For anyone who wishes to use the 125 with a power amp, and NO preamp... you have the ultimate in a quiet preamp... NONE!
Otherwise, the performance is virtually identical, and the 125 can be had at a serious discount to the 150.
In the end I'm nitpicking... Both are excellent.:yes:
125 is what I'm after to go with my 1250. I'm patient.
bktheking
Gitter Done!
Scope adds pin point precision when it comes to tuning stations, not just multipath but with any antenna.
Yes, while that statement is certainly true; I'd opt to use a Model 20 Tuner with a burned out scope over a lesser tuner with a perfectly functional scope.
Yes, I'm old... my first AM and AM/FM radios cost under $20 and had no tuning aid at all. No biggie. My ears worked just fine as a tuning aid. I can still tune in a station by ear virtually as well as I can with a scope, if necessary.:yes: I said VIRTUALLY...
Yes, a nice scope is very handy, and I like my scoped tuners the best; but not because of the scope, because of the performance of the tuner.
onemug
Super Member
Yah... me too...
Me three.
The 20 and 20b are my favorite ss tuners. I have them both and rarely have the scope on being only 1" diagonal and sitting about 10 feet from it.....why?
That said.......I may have completed my Marantz ss "dream team" for my vintage room consisting of a 7t pre and a 16b amp. I added my 120b and enjoy its big scope when I want to watch it dance. Sometime soon I'll swap out either the 20 or 20b. You can tell they were made to go with the 16/16b.
The 20 and 20B are finding a following, which, by the way, we're not helping, here. So... start your search now. Every now and again, I see one on eBay for only slightly less than an arm and a leg. Just be patient... you may get lucky. The 20 and 20B are the same except for a mod in the 'front end' in the 20B. My understanding is that the 20B has enhanced selectivity/sensitivity, and yet some say that the 20 is somewhat more musical. I have two Model 20 and also a 20B. They both pull in every station I've ever wanted, even my favorite from the Univ. of PA, in Philly (I'm in Harrisburg, PA), and are the best sounding tuners I've ever heard, and that includes the Model 10B. The differences are subtle enough not to matter, making the model 20 the better bargain, even if the 20B will most certainly represent the better collector piece. Do NOT pass up a Model 20 because you would like a Model 20B. That would be foolish; IMO, anyway.
Oh... and either is the perfect match to the Model 7T preamp.
