New member - first post. So my first venture into Hi-Fi was back in the mid seventies with a second hand Kenwood receiver, an RP-3000 and a pair of Graphyx SP10's LOL. Life got in the way and in the mid 90's I moved to Singapore and got the hankering for a new system. I bought a Bose system, brought it home, set it up and promptly packed it up and returned it. The sales guy freaked out until I bought some discreet components. (at that time I was single). Moved around a bit and always enjoyed my system. In 2005 we (married now) ended up in Versailles and the wife did not want any parts of my stereo system in her living room. Around 2014 we were making plans to move back stateside. To her strenuous objections I set up the system - after all honey - if someone is going to buy it they will want to hear it right? Well it did not take long for her to realize how good music could actually sound. Sold the system to a couple who were both musicians. And again life gets in the way and a few years ago my wife bought me a set of drivers for Jeff Bagby's Spirit Winds which I promptly built a set of cabinets. My plans were to build an amp and preamp. I even built a little music server running Daphile. But still no amp and pre-amp. So I did what is turning out to be a highly motivational move for me to complete these two projects - I bought a Marantz 2215 and a pair of Minimus 7s for bench testing. They are cranking as I write this and I have an ear to ear smile - and that is with just a phone as the source LOL. Even my wife was really pleasantly surprised. So the little Marantz is going to need a good complete going over - if someone can point me to a list of replacement caps and transistors I would be most appreciative. I think I have issues with the tuner as it does not seem to be pulling in any stations on FM and like 1 station on AM and its really full of static. Need to check the phono stage as well. So I either need to get an amp and preamp built - or get another receiver before I dive into this little Marantz - I am not going to live without my music again! Much thanks to all and great to meet you.
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- Thread starter rsaumure
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LOL and here I thought I just joined - like I said life gets in the way sometimes.
gizzyman47
Addicted Member
Welcome and congrats on your first post!
icko30
Super Member
2215 is a gem. Sonicaly similar to 2230. Both cap coupled. Share amp boards with 1030 amp. Easy to work on, since I doubt that there is a BOM somwhere. However there is service manual on AK.
It is a quite rare beast.
Here you have a restoration from web, which I think is nice one. https://www.olegvintageaudio.com/2023/04/marantz-2215-receiver-restoration.html
I have some troubles with mine also. On my case you can find replacing output transistors (TO-220 instead of TO-66) in case you need them.
Digikey or Mouser are your stores even if you are in EU.
It is a quite rare beast.
Here you have a restoration from web, which I think is nice one. https://www.olegvintageaudio.com/2023/04/marantz-2215-receiver-restoration.html
I have some troubles with mine also. On my case you can find replacing output transistors (TO-220 instead of TO-66) in case you need them.
Digikey or Mouser are your stores even if you are in EU.
Paul Malloy
Active Member
First thing you need to do is build a Dim Bulb Tester (DBT). It’s easy to build, and it will save your butt and equipment:
Service Manuals (SM) and schematics can be found at akdatabase.org. This should take you to the Marantz 2215 (looks like it has a SM and Schematics-Download both) page:
https://akdatabase.org/AKview/thumbnails.php?album=1&page=3
Search is your friend here. Lots of people are willing to help out, but do a search first.
I found a rebuild thread for a 2215 with a parts lists (remember, parts do become obsolete, so sometimes you need to do a search (or post) for current replacements. Also, there are known components that are noisy or failure-prone (transistors, diodes, capacitors etc.). (Some components are unobtainable-people here can help figure out those problems)
I went through the list, looks good:
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/marantz-2215-restoration.927667/
I would suggest printing the parts list out, crack open your 2215 and make sure the parts list matches your 2215 components.
Service Manuals (SM) and schematics can be found at akdatabase.org. This should take you to the Marantz 2215 (looks like it has a SM and Schematics-Download both) page:
https://akdatabase.org/AKview/thumbnails.php?album=1&page=3
Search is your friend here. Lots of people are willing to help out, but do a search first.
I found a rebuild thread for a 2215 with a parts lists (remember, parts do become obsolete, so sometimes you need to do a search (or post) for current replacements. Also, there are known components that are noisy or failure-prone (transistors, diodes, capacitors etc.). (Some components are unobtainable-people here can help figure out those problems)
I went through the list, looks good:
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/marantz-2215-restoration.927667/
I would suggest printing the parts list out, crack open your 2215 and make sure the parts list matches your 2215 components.
Paul Malloy
Active Member
Do you have a solder station, desolder equipment, etc. to work on your 2215?
I would suggest staying away from eBay for new solid state components (transistors, capacitors, diodes, etc.).
These are the usually suppliers for new solid state components:
Mouser: https://www.mouser.com/
Digikey: https://www.digikey.com/
I would suggest staying away from eBay for new solid state components (transistors, capacitors, diodes, etc.).
These are the usually suppliers for new solid state components:
Mouser: https://www.mouser.com/
Digikey: https://www.digikey.com/
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I am pretty familiar with Digikey, Mouser, Newark etc. Going through some of the threads I also saw a UK company called Littlediode which I was not familiar with. I was able to grab a copy of the service manual - thanks! It appears to have been copied a few times but still readable - LOL. I did see Olegs video and was able to grab a lot of the replacement parts from his description. Thanks for your help.
Thanks, I do have a dim bulb tester and funny thing is I knew right where to find it! The local lumberyard closed down a few years back and is now an electronics recycling center. Made an appointment with the guy who runs the business for Monday to look for something I can use to build an isolation transformer and check out his stereo stuff. In this part of the country I doubt I will find much but who knows!
Thanks! I do have a Hako soldering station and just acquired a Hako solder sucker. Assembling new components is one thing but you can go through a lot of solder wick in a disassembly process. I get what you mean about buying stuff on ebay - caveat emptor!
So I started cleaning up the innards of the 2215 by wiping up the larger areas. Then setting the receiver on its sides with the hope that by spraying it with some 99.9% IPA some of the dust and dirt could be flushed out - some of it came out but that was not really effective - guess q-tips are going to be my friend here. I replaced the little panel on the back of the 2215 where the antenna connects and actually found one of those thin wire FM antennas in one of my boxes that contains a bunch of "save this - you might need it some day" stuff. So I am getting some FM reception now. However my stereo light is not coming on. While I was cleaning I had a look at the area behind the stereo light and it appears that someone has been in here before me. There were a couple of white wires that went nowhere. I will still check the bulbs but was wondering if anyone might be able to figure out whether someone started a repair and did not finish it or simply wired up some test leads and left them there? I also noticed a small crack in one of the chassis capacitors - does it need to be replaced pronto of can I listen to this for a couple of months before really getting into it?
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icko30
Super Member
I see tthat you have yellow anodizated chassis. I am 90% positive that you have an etched (engraved) champagne version of 2215. That it realy rare bird and collectible value also. Top.
As for cleaning and capacitors: You figure it out that q tips are the way. Sometimes I use old toothbrush and acetone for the boards. Old capacitor glue is PITA. Crack in cap could mean nothing but I would replace them anyway. Complete cap material is cheap. There is also sticky of problematic transistors and you could check it out. I usualy do only power, amp, and tone board. Others remain original since I dont use tuner or phono. If you have troubles with recap you are in the right place here are just great guys and some of the best tech on the planet also. Keep posting.
As for cleaning and capacitors: You figure it out that q tips are the way. Sometimes I use old toothbrush and acetone for the boards. Old capacitor glue is PITA. Crack in cap could mean nothing but I would replace them anyway. Complete cap material is cheap. There is also sticky of problematic transistors and you could check it out. I usualy do only power, amp, and tone board. Others remain original since I dont use tuner or phono. If you have troubles with recap you are in the right place here are just great guys and some of the best tech on the planet also. Keep posting.
I am with you on the power amp and tone board as I really do no see myself using the tuner, and vinyl takes up a lot of space and I don't think that would sit well with the wife. I will get a turntable at some point and probably keep it on the bench - I do want to try playing an old limited edition set of Glenn Miller (RCA Victor) that belonged to my parents and I can't seem to let go.
Paul Malloy
Active Member
I would check to see if you can play those records on a modern turntable. I think old records have an abrasive material that will damage a modern stylus and the record grooves are deeper.
I did not know that - thanks for the advice. I did pull a couple of turntables out of the recycling bin to play around with. Nothing to write home about - Technics SL-BD22 and B92 and a Beogram 3404. Hopefully between them I can get one working. There was also a Garard fully automatic but I passed on it figuring dealing with the more complicated electro mechanical stuff would not be worth it.