Surfacetension
Well-Known Member
I'm new to marantz and I keep seeing B models , other that the look I'm guessing they are later versions , any difference in sound or build quality?:scratch2:
Newbie ques , B model
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TravAndAlex
Active Member
Yes. And yes. I have a 2215 and a 2215B. The 2215 is much larger and heavier and looks little like the B model inside. It also has a balance knob, rather than slider along with a slimmer dial area (the B has the balance slider up under the dial in the plastic) which changes the look quite a bit. Not saying that one is necessarily better than the other, but the 2215 is much more similar in build to my beloved 2245 than the B model (there were also far fewer made than the B's I believe).
Treker
Super Member
This is a general rule of thumb, but it appears that Marantz had a tenancy to reuse the same or similar model numbers in more than one model generation to designate receivers with similar power output. Thus models such as 2215 and a 2215B were often separated by years. I don't know the exact manufacturing date of these 2 models, but I would guess that the 2215 was made in the early '70's, while the 2215b was made in the mid '70's. The very similar output 2216B was made in the late '70's. But as rules of thumb go, sometime they don't apply, as Lavane pointed out in his comments.
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ChrisMarantz
Super Member
To actually know all of the differences between a non-B and a B model, you will need to look through each service manual and note the differences.
If I were to sum it up somewhat simply, the B models often have fewer circuit boards which combine the separate boards from the non-B models. I think this was probably done to streamline the manufacturing process.
This is not to say that the actual circuit designs of non-B and B models are the same, you will have to look at the schematics to see what the differences are.
Many (or most) B models have all silver face plates instead of having black and silver face plates.
There may be a general belief that non-B models are a higher quality than B models. I believe that one is not necessarily better than the other, they are just different.
From the limited work I have done on receivers, I would say that non-B models may be easier to work on.
If I were to sum it up somewhat simply, the B models often have fewer circuit boards which combine the separate boards from the non-B models. I think this was probably done to streamline the manufacturing process.
This is not to say that the actual circuit designs of non-B and B models are the same, you will have to look at the schematics to see what the differences are.
Many (or most) B models have all silver face plates instead of having black and silver face plates.
There may be a general belief that non-B models are a higher quality than B models. I believe that one is not necessarily better than the other, they are just different.
From the limited work I have done on receivers, I would say that non-B models may be easier to work on.
