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Classic Vintage Tube Amplification: Marantz and Others

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  • #1

    Classic Vintage Tube Amplification: Marantz and Others

    Is anyone equally interested in vintage tube electronics? I have culled my herd to " just" what is on the rack outside of a Marantz 10b. Now with holidays coming up I usually rotate in some vintage pieces with the ESLs.

    Outside of improvements in material science today , I believe some of the very best specimens of vacuum tube design still came from the likes of Sid Smith & Futterman et al. 50 years ago.


    Click image for larger version Name: rack.jpg Views: 581 Size: 419.6 KB ID: 36095

    Phono: Aesthetix Io Eclipse with 2 Power Supplies and Volume controls
    Custom Slagle Silver Autoformer Volume control
    Brinkmann Balance & RonT Tube Power supply with Kuzma 4-point ,FR64S, .Koetsu Jade Platinum,Etsuro Gold, DaVa FA-1 Goldfinger Statement, KLAUDIO RCM, HRSM3X
    Amps: Custom Direct Drive, Wyetech Topaz, Futterman H3 Quad II,Citation II, Marantz 8b, 5 ,2. Bedini 25/25
    Otari Bx5050II , DeHavlland 222
    Chord DAVE, MScaler, FARAD linear power supply mod, OPTO-DX optical connection
    Pre-Amps:Marantz 7, Marantz Model 1 Consolette Pair
    Speakers: Beveridge Model 3 Direct Drive amps, REL S/2 x 2, Quad ESL pair
    Tags: None
    • Likes 4
  • #2
    nice collection. I heard an SP-3C with all the updates and the sonics were beguiling, I'm now on the lookout for one.
    If you kick off first, just hope your spouse doesn't sell it for what you told her its worth
    • Likes 1

    Comment

    • #3
      A while back at one of the NY Audio shows, Dick Sequerra showed up with a pair of his small speakers and an 8b he had modified. Very sweet sound.
      Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
      Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
      ________________________________________

      -Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
      -Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
      -Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
      -Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
      -VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
      -VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
      -Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, Fuuga Mk. 2, vdh Colibri Master Signature, MutechHayabusa, Phasemation PP-500 cartridges
      -Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
      -Assorted cables including Transparent XL Gen. 6, Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
      -Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.

      Comment

      • #4
        I used to have one of the Harman Kardon Citation II tube amps shown, very nice but not enough power for my maggies.
        Magnepan 1.6 QR Loudspeakers, Amherst A-2000 MOSFET 150 WPC Amp, Conrad Johnson PV-10A Modded Tube Line & Phono Stage, Electrocompaniet MC II Class A Head Amp, Audio Technica AT-OC9XML Cart (Stereo) , Graham Engineering 2.2 Tonearm (Stereo) , VPI Aries-1 Turntable (Stereo) , VPI Clamp, Denon DL-102 Cart, (Mono) , Luxman Tonearm (Mono) , Kenwood KD-500 Turntable (Mono) , Michell Clamp, Marantz 20B Analog FM Tuner, Pioneer SACD, Onkyo DX-6800 CD Transport, DIY 24B/192K DAC, Sennheiser HD-650 Headphones, Headroom Max Balanced Headphone Amp, DIY Silver Interconnects

        Comment

        • #5
          Originally posted by Rob View Post
          nice collection. I heard an SP-3C with all the updates and the sonics were beguiling, I'm now on the lookout for one.
          If you kick off first, just hope your spouse doesn't sell it for what you told her its worth
          The SP 3C seems to garner polar opposite opinions on its sound some love it others not so much. I have never heard one. However , I did completely rebuild the power supply in mine by stuffing new high temp and low esr nichicons in the original cans so it performs like intended but looks stock.

          The 3C has a complete new power supply board with muting delay and new modern MKP couplers. I'd like to hear the difference. I owned an original SP8 for 30 years before I sold it. That was a great preamp for the money. ARC seems to hit the pre-amp mark well in most of their designs.
          Phono: Aesthetix Io Eclipse with 2 Power Supplies and Volume controls
          Custom Slagle Silver Autoformer Volume control
          Brinkmann Balance & RonT Tube Power supply with Kuzma 4-point ,FR64S, .Koetsu Jade Platinum,Etsuro Gold, DaVa FA-1 Goldfinger Statement, KLAUDIO RCM, HRSM3X
          Amps: Custom Direct Drive, Wyetech Topaz, Futterman H3 Quad II,Citation II, Marantz 8b, 5 ,2. Bedini 25/25
          Otari Bx5050II , DeHavlland 222
          Chord DAVE, MScaler, FARAD linear power supply mod, OPTO-DX optical connection
          Pre-Amps:Marantz 7, Marantz Model 1 Consolette Pair
          Speakers: Beveridge Model 3 Direct Drive amps, REL S/2 x 2, Quad ESL pair
          • Likes 1

          Comment

          • #6
            What a wonderful assortment of great pieces- they look like they've been well-kept. I spent a lot of time with a Marantz 7 back in the day and owned an SP3-a-1 in the same time frame-- when it was the new, hot thing. Both preamps were great. I don't know how they'd hold up today--i had the impression that the ARC would sound pretty old fashioned, but may be wrong. A few years ago, I spent some time in an archivist's studio- he had a pair of those early Marantz Consolettes- the system sounded very alive, no euphonic character. Have you been collecting these for a long time? I would imagine so....
            • Likes 2

            Comment

            • #7
              Originally posted by kcin View Post
              Is anyone equally interested in vintage tube electronics? I have culled my herd to " just" what is on the rack outside of a Marantz 10b. Now with holidays coming up I usually rotate in some vintage pieces with the ESLs.

              Outside of improvements in material science today , I believe some of the very best specimens of vacuum tube design still came from the likes of Sid Smith & Futterman et al. 50 years ago.
              Click image for larger version Name: rack.jpg Views: 1 Size: 419.6 KB ID: 36095


              No Sequerra tuner? Thanks for sharing that picture. What a collection of history and classic pieces!!! I like the ARC Xover on the top shelf. Did you know that ARC also at one time in their history made a tape repro?
              Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
              Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
              ________________________________________

              -Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
              -Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
              -Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
              -Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
              -VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
              -VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
              -Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, Fuuga Mk. 2, vdh Colibri Master Signature, MutechHayabusa, Phasemation PP-500 cartridges
              -Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
              -Assorted cables including Transparent XL Gen. 6, Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
              -Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.
              • Likes 1

              Comment

              • Rob
                #7.1
                Rob commented
                12-19-2016, 10:59 PM
                Editing a comment
                I think Rich Brown has ARC's tape preamp but its NAB eq. There's a dearth of info on the net about that piece, apparently they're rare as hens teeth. IIRC McIntosh had a tape repro in one of their vintage preamps.
            • #8
              Originally posted by MylesBAstor View Post

              No Sequerra tuner? Thanks for sharing that picture. What a collection of history and classic pieces!!! I like the ARC Xover on the top shelf. Did you know that ARC also at one time in their history made a tape repro?
              Unfortunately, I have to slum it with the 10b, we still have a great local jazz station here, Jazz FM 91.1- check it out online. I never saw a the tape repro by ARC... the little ARC crossover was used , in its day, for a Magnepan system.

              We had tapes among our group 35 years ago and one of my best friends still has Tandberg stashed away I'd love to get my hands on it. As I remember it was a great unit but had real funky logic circuits for the controls that would sometime have a mind of their own. I should ring him up ! Click image for larger version Name: IMG_0862.JPG Views: 309 Size: 82.9 KB ID: 36319
              Attached Files
              Phono: Aesthetix Io Eclipse with 2 Power Supplies and Volume controls
              Custom Slagle Silver Autoformer Volume control
              Brinkmann Balance & RonT Tube Power supply with Kuzma 4-point ,FR64S, .Koetsu Jade Platinum,Etsuro Gold, DaVa FA-1 Goldfinger Statement, KLAUDIO RCM, HRSM3X
              Amps: Custom Direct Drive, Wyetech Topaz, Futterman H3 Quad II,Citation II, Marantz 8b, 5 ,2. Bedini 25/25
              Otari Bx5050II , DeHavlland 222
              Chord DAVE, MScaler, FARAD linear power supply mod, OPTO-DX optical connection
              Pre-Amps:Marantz 7, Marantz Model 1 Consolette Pair
              Speakers: Beveridge Model 3 Direct Drive amps, REL S/2 x 2, Quad ESL pair
              • Likes 3

              Comment

              • #9
                Originally posted by kcin View Post

                The SP 3C seems to garner polar opposite opinions on its sound some love it others not so much. I have never heard one. However , I did completely rebuild the power supply in mine by stuffing new high temp and low esr nichicons in the original cans so it performs like intended but looks stock.

                The 3C has a complete new power supply board with muting delay and new modern MKP couplers. I'd like to hear the difference. I owned an original SP8 for 30 years before I sold it. That was a great preamp for the money. ARC seems to hit the pre-amp mark well in most of their designs.
                The "C" update is basically a gut job, ARC still offers the update for $2750. you really have to like the SP-3 to do it but, IMHO its transformative and the cool factor (to me) is off the charts. I'm an SP-8 admirer too, the SP-9 never really filled it's shoes. I recall SP-8 owners that 'traded up' to the 9 that thought it was two steps back. The SP-8 was probably William Z's pet because there were something like 7(!) revisions. my buddy has a late SP-8 (rev 7) and it still holds it own.
                • Likes 1

                Comment

                • #10
                  My favorite ARC SP 8 story. An audiobuddy at that time had an SP8 and a D250 Rev (one of fave vintage ARC amps).

                  He had a lamp above his preamp and every time you passed your hand between the lamp and SP 8, presto diggo, immediate hum in the system. No you didn't have have to touch the preamplifier. Go figure.
                  Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
                  Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
                  ________________________________________

                  -Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
                  -Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
                  -Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
                  -Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
                  -VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
                  -VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
                  -Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, Fuuga Mk. 2, vdh Colibri Master Signature, MutechHayabusa, Phasemation PP-500 cartridges
                  -Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
                  -Assorted cables including Transparent XL Gen. 6, Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
                  -Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.

                  Comment

                  • #11
                    Originally posted by Bill Hart View Post
                    What a wonderful assortment of great pieces- they look like they've been well-kept. I spent a lot of time with a Marantz 7 back in the day and owned an SP3-a-1 in the same time frame-- when it was the new, hot thing. Both preamps were great. I don't know how they'd hold up today--i had the impression that the ARC would sound pretty old fashioned, but may be wrong. A few years ago, I spent some time in an archivist's studio- he had a pair of those early Marantz Consolettes- the system sounded very alive, no euphonic character. Have you been collecting these for a long time? I would imagine so....
                    Thank you. This is probably the end of collecting for me. About 25 years of pulling things together. I will tell you that I have a full blown Io with two supplies and the mono Consolettes hold their own in many ways. The SP3 a1 would be competitive with anything today at around $3-4K it really is a nice piece.

                    Cheers,
                    Phono: Aesthetix Io Eclipse with 2 Power Supplies and Volume controls
                    Custom Slagle Silver Autoformer Volume control
                    Brinkmann Balance & RonT Tube Power supply with Kuzma 4-point ,FR64S, .Koetsu Jade Platinum,Etsuro Gold, DaVa FA-1 Goldfinger Statement, KLAUDIO RCM, HRSM3X
                    Amps: Custom Direct Drive, Wyetech Topaz, Futterman H3 Quad II,Citation II, Marantz 8b, 5 ,2. Bedini 25/25
                    Otari Bx5050II , DeHavlland 222
                    Chord DAVE, MScaler, FARAD linear power supply mod, OPTO-DX optical connection
                    Pre-Amps:Marantz 7, Marantz Model 1 Consolette Pair
                    Speakers: Beveridge Model 3 Direct Drive amps, REL S/2 x 2, Quad ESL pair

                    Comment

                    • #12
                      Stunning collection of gear. The coolness factor of the old Marantz gear is just off the charts.
                      Micro Seiki SX-8000 table with flywheel, SME 3012R arm, SME 312S arm, Lyra Etna SL and Dynavector XV-1S cartridges, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 tape deck, Ampex 350 repros, Roon Nucleus Plus server, PS Audio DSJ DAC, ARC Ref 6 pre, ARC Ref 75 amp, Parasound JC5 amp, JBL 4345 speakers, and Def Tech Ref subs.
                      • Likes 2

                      Comment

                      • #13
                        In the early'60s an audiobuddy had Marantz 8b, 7b and Bozaks.
                        Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
                        Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
                        ________________________________________

                        -Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
                        -Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
                        -Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
                        -Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
                        -VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
                        -VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
                        -Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, Fuuga Mk. 2, vdh Colibri Master Signature, MutechHayabusa, Phasemation PP-500 cartridges
                        -Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
                        -Assorted cables including Transparent XL Gen. 6, Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
                        -Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.
                        • Likes 1

                        Comment

                        • #14
                          Impressive Collection. Do the Quads run with the originally KT-66?
                          Pre - McIntosh C22CE; Main - MC275CE; CD - Cary Audio CD303; Turntable - Lenco L75/PTP6; Tonearm - GrooveMaster III 12"; Ortofon SPU Wood A, Meister Silver A, Ae; SUT - Sculpture A Mini Nano, Speakers - Dynamikks12,

                          Comment

                          • #15
                            Hello, yes, the Quad II's run GEC KT66
                            Phono: Aesthetix Io Eclipse with 2 Power Supplies and Volume controls
                            Custom Slagle Silver Autoformer Volume control
                            Brinkmann Balance & RonT Tube Power supply with Kuzma 4-point ,FR64S, .Koetsu Jade Platinum,Etsuro Gold, DaVa FA-1 Goldfinger Statement, KLAUDIO RCM, HRSM3X
                            Amps: Custom Direct Drive, Wyetech Topaz, Futterman H3 Quad II,Citation II, Marantz 8b, 5 ,2. Bedini 25/25
                            Otari Bx5050II , DeHavlland 222
                            Chord DAVE, MScaler, FARAD linear power supply mod, OPTO-DX optical connection
                            Pre-Amps:Marantz 7, Marantz Model 1 Consolette Pair
                            Speakers: Beveridge Model 3 Direct Drive amps, REL S/2 x 2, Quad ESL pair

                            Comment

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