I'm considering replacing a fine but mediocre-sounding Rotel 930AX integrated amplifier with a vintage Marantz Model 115
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Audio Equipment and Home Theater Audio
howard.schumann — 11 years ago(May 10, 2014 09:30 AM)
I'm considering replacing a fine but mediocre-sounding Rotel 930AX integrated amplifier with a vintage Marantz Model 1150 from the 1970s but I have a lot of considerations.
Although it has 75 watts per channel as opposed to the 30 watts from the Rotel and most likely would sound much better, being that it is so old (but in very good condition) and the parts may be very expensive if repairs are needed or it may fail all together, would you play it safe or go for it?
My plan is to trade in the Rotel for it so I would not have any backup if the thing dies.
Many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices WJ -
Speed_Daemon — 11 years ago(September 22, 2014 04:10 PM)
First of all, circa 1970s isn't quite vintage for Marantz. By that time the brand was only fair. The really hip and cool collectible stuff was made before the company was purchased by Superscope in 1964, and still made in the US. You'll have to pay top dollar for one of those old relics, and you'll be disappointed by sound quality that's only so-so by today's standards.
If you want a good integrated amp from the '70s, I recommend the Harman-Kardon A402. The engineering was solid, sound quality was superb, and the LED display still looks cool. Needless to say, you'll need to replace each and every capacitor to get the original sound quality. While transistors seldom fail, caps do dry out eventually. My Citation 19 (with the same LED display as the 402) is going in for an overhaul for just that reason! -
howard.schumann — 11 years ago(September 28, 2014 08:52 PM)
Thanks for the suggestion. I know Harmon-Kardon was good because I used to own one. I've decided, however, to stay with my Rotel. I had some technician rewire the sub-woofer so it sounds much better (it was out of phase).
The greatest thing youll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return- Nature Boy
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Speed_Daemon — 11 years ago(October 04, 2014 07:58 AM)
Rotel has had a solid reputation as a good mid-range hi-fi manufacturer.
Good call on rewiring the sub. IME proper loudspeaker hookup and placement makes a larger difference in the sound than buying new electronics. Cheers! -
ronaldseto — 10 years ago(January 03, 2016 01:21 PM)
I would suggest a McIntosh or an older tube type receiver. Fisher and Marantz are good choices. Dynaco made a name for itself in being the most inexpensive components sold which could be tweaked for a few dollars to mimic high end components costing 5 and 10 times more.
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Speed_Daemon — 10 years ago(January 28, 2016 05:27 AM)
Don't forget all those caps that are likely to be dried out. One thing that any keeper of vintage electronics should be in the habit of doing is replacing at least the electrolytic capacitors and other components that degrade over time and/or with use. My c. '70s H-K Citation 19 is going to the shop RSN to get an overhaul again, so it will keep running well for another 10-20 years.
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Speed_Daemon — 10 years ago(January 20, 2016 12:01 AM)
Dynaco made a name for itself in being the most inexpensive components sold which could be tweaked for a few dollars to mimic high end components costing 5 and 10 times more.
Actually Dynaco made some very solid vacuum tube gear back in the '50s and '60s, just like Marantz. And just like Saul Marantz, David Hafler was the engineer who made the company, and whose absence left the brand considerably less valuable.
OTOH Dynaco was among the first to produce a high power (>100W/ch.) transistor power amp in the early '70s, the Stereo 400, rated at 200W/ch. (Note that doubling power produces a barely noticeable 3dB increase in loudness.) The Stereo 400 was often modded (as were many high power transistor amps of the day that weren't as stable as the Crown DC-300A), and also available via Heathkit as a "Dynakit" build-it-yourself kit. That was a separate era from the Dynaco tube years though.