2. amps-preamps
  3. 135870-87716

Magical Marantz 22## receivers

Why is it generally accepted that caps in a vintage speaker crossover should be replaced but some how these mid-fi (at best) 70’s vintage receivers seem to get better (and more expensive) with no maintenance. I would love to see someone bench test one of these beauties with the “tube like” sound.
ripkeith
michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio
643 posts
 

I love the sound of the old goodies, just received another 3 of them this week. You have to know which ones are the special sounding ones. And yes they get much better with age. I don’t like the sound of anything complicated and I mechanically tune all of my components after I get them. I think I have had one with a bad cap but that was it.

When I look to make a purchase, if it says recapped I keep my distance. The sound of older solid state parts (with a good design) sound very much like tubes, in some cases even better. I bring in several different models during a years time to find the ones that really perform.

Last year and this year I’m putting these head to head up against HEA’s best and well lets just say a lot of my newer HEA has been up on Audiomart, and I hope to get more of it sold this year. I bet I took about a $60,000.00 bath last year on the amps and DACs I bought. Some horrible sounding stuff, and on Stereophile’s recommended list too.

Michael Green

www.michaelgreenaudio.net

kosst_amojan
2,095 posts
 
You don't like the sound of anything complicated, but you like the sound of those very complicated 70's units? Ok. 
jc4659
172 posts
 
I owned a Marantz 2230 and it was nice.  I liked the flywheel tuner the best.  But when I replaced it with a NAD 3140 my large Advents really came to life.  It was no contest.

michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio
643 posts
 

Hi Kosst

Sorry that I gave the wrong impression. Now that I look back on the OP, I realize he was talking about the Marantz 22..s. The units that I get in are the entry level Pioneer, Technics and such. Very light weight and low mass. For example I work alot with the Pioneer sx-3400. It's a very simple unit to tune and sounds amazing. Of course I'm using my speakers which are extremely easy to drive.

Yep, I don't use the big stuff, as you pointed out, way to complicated.

I apologize for not being more clear.

Michael Green

www.michaelgreenaudio.net

kosst_amojan
2,095 posts
 
Mike, those are the primary candidates for that glue I'm talking about. That stuff is just evil. I'm telling ya, if you care much about those units, you'll get that crap out of there. It's eating your traces. It's eating any leads it's touching. And it's becoming conductive itself. Vintage audio forums are chocked full of horror stories because of that glue. I stick to the Marantz stuff because they never used it and you don't have to get into chemicals and hours of meticulously removing that stuff. It's real easy to identify. It almost has the consistency of that expending foam insulation. Lots of air bubbles. It's very hard and cracks and crumbles instead of having any pliability. 
More to discover