ronniebear
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- Nov 3, 2022
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After using the search tool, I could not find discussion or testing specifically about the 1970s-era Marantz receivers and integrated amplifiers, dating from the era of Superscope ownership. These units sold in very large numbers back in the day, and have become increasingly desirable over the past five years on the second-hand market. No doubt part of the popularity of these units is the styling, including the blue-lit tuning display, Gyro-Touch tuning wheel, solid feel of the control knobs, overall styling and appearance cues, and "snob appeal" for want of a better word. There seems to also be a perception/belief that these units provide better-than-average sound quality than other 1970s-era mass-market audio products and many current-era audio amplifiers.
I still own and use a 1972-vintage Marantz 2230 receiver in my living room. I purchased it fully reconditioned from a used-stereo store in 1998, it has not been refurbished since. My Marantz 2230 has been a pleasure to enjoy, though the tuner's blue lights need replacement and it could doubtless use a bit of intelligent refurbishing after 24 years. I've had other vintage amplification units over the intervening years (i.e. Sansui 881 and Pioneer SX-750 receivers, both of which now need repair, and a fondly-missed NAD 3020 that finally blew up in smoke and was exiled to e-cycling).
How do these sought-after Superscope-era 1970s Marantz receivers and amps measure out today in objective testing?
I still own and use a 1972-vintage Marantz 2230 receiver in my living room. I purchased it fully reconditioned from a used-stereo store in 1998, it has not been refurbished since. My Marantz 2230 has been a pleasure to enjoy, though the tuner's blue lights need replacement and it could doubtless use a bit of intelligent refurbishing after 24 years. I've had other vintage amplification units over the intervening years (i.e. Sansui 881 and Pioneer SX-750 receivers, both of which now need repair, and a fondly-missed NAD 3020 that finally blew up in smoke and was exiled to e-cycling).
How do these sought-after Superscope-era 1970s Marantz receivers and amps measure out today in objective testing?