I'm considering replacing a fine but mediocre-sounding Rotel 930AX integrated amplifier with a vintage Marantz Model 115

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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!

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howard.schumann — 11 years ago(October 04, 2014 08:46 AM)

Thanks for your comments. They have been very helpful.
The greatest thing you'll 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 08:52 AM)

Happy listening!

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ahthewarmthofthesun — 11 years ago(November 08, 2014 07:10 PM)

Love the song "Nature Boy"; the song's message is true.
Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them.

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howard.schumann — 11 years ago(November 08, 2014 08:09 PM)

No doubt about it.
If the truth were to be made known, laughter would abound - Chinese proverb

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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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howard.schumann — 10 years ago(January 03, 2016 08:25 PM)

Thanks but I gave up on buying the Marantz a long time ago.
"All persons living and dead are purely coincidental" Kurt Vonnegut

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dangus — 10 years ago(January 04, 2016 07:21 PM)

70s gear is liable to have noisy pots and intermittent switches, unless it was really good quality or has been expertly serviced.

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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.