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In the simpler days
before the internet, cell phones, surround sound, 1000 watt subwoofers
in cars, back up beepers, big screen TV's, motorcycles without mufflers, and all the other
distractions of modern life, pure high fidelity listening was the scene.
Marantz produced some of the best audio equipment ever to exist on the
planet. They certainly won the design contest with their brushed
aluminum faceplates and blue instrument lighting. |
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Any Marantz built from 1954 - 1980 will produce
noticeably better sound quality than your probably used to hearing.
Even my model 2015 "baby Marantz" can rock at just 15
WPC. If we had to choose the best overall Marantz receiver I think the
2270 would be the one. It has clean good looks and preceded FM Dolby
(which was later dropped because it was not widely demanded by the
public) so it is not cluttered with the extra controls and it has the
beautiful star next to the Stereo indicator reminiscent of the
Sheppard's cross used in the sixties by Ford to promote their Autolite
brand. The 2270 sure seems to have more than the advertised 70 WPC, this
beautiful little puppy rocks.
The mid-seventies to about 1981 period is
particularly interesting because there was an all out quality and high
performance "power war" happening amongst the leading manufacturers.
In an effort to obtain boasting rights for having the best
specifications published in the many audiophile magazines of the time
and to shed favorable light on the remainder of the product line
participating manufacturers pumped their top units with the highest
quality components and increased power output to new levels, it ended
only when the units became so heavy they were physically unmanageable !
Some manufacturers approached 100 lbs or even split the receiver into two
mating halves. The
higher end units coupled with a good set of modern speakers like those
available from Bowers and Wilkins will producing amazing transparent sound,
something hard to find in today's diluted audio products. Add a remote volume control from Placette Audio and you can even stay in your chair
while changing volume or switching inputs. FYI, because these units have
"power" does not necessarily mean they must be played loud ..... experts
say it takes 1000 watts to properly reproduce the sound of scissors
cutting paper. |
