dlb945

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $150.00 from eBay

Summary:
I had a desire to hear how this first solid state amplifier from Marantz sounded with the first Marantz solid state preamplifier, a Model 7T so I bid on an eBay auction and won a decent example of the Model 15 amplifier. The 7T preamplifier had an updated power supply as well as updated signal capacitors and sounded nice with tube amplifiers.

The Model 15 sounded very good with the Model 7T preamplifier but not as good as a pair of rebuilt Dynaco Mark III's. I noticed that the RCA input jacks on the Model 15 were loose so decided to replace them both along with new signal wire to the jacks. I reinstalled the Model 15 into my main system which includes a Harmon Kardon T65C Turntable, Ortofon OM40 Cartridge, the Model 7T Preamplifier and a pair of updated Klipschorns. The change in personality was dramatic and a big surprise to this reviewer. The Model 15 sounded similar to the Dynaco Mark III's with the exception of lower end bass which was tighter and more evident from the Model 15.

I've been running this combination for two years and find the Model 15 never more than warm to the touch, probably because the K-horns require very little power to play loutly. Since the initial listen, I have replaced the Model 15 power capacitors and most of the internal signal wire. The same is true with the Model 7T Preamplifier with more power supply upgrades and a few more signal capacitors. The 3D image produced by this pair is really deep although the K-horns tend to throw some of the image well in front of both speakers.

The combination of Marantz 7T and Marantz 15 produces 'high end' sound for 'low end' dollars. Highly recommeded for those wanting more for less.

Strengths:
Terrific 3D image that is wide, deep and full of pinpoint detail.

Weaknesses:
One always wonders when a capacitor, resistor or transistor will fail in this 40 year old unit. The amplifier produces a slight hiss when an ear is placed within a foot or two from the mid-range or tweeter.

Similar Products Used:
Dynaco Mark III's and Dynaco Stereo 70.

Ben Torre

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Bulk trash pickup

Summary:
The Marantz 15 is essentially two model 14 chassis mounted on a common faceplate. The piece is a true dual-mono design. First commercial complementary-symmetry amplifier.

Strengths:
When working, it can sound fairly good & has a solid bottom end sound. Build quality is impressive, especially considering that this is a solid state amplifier.

Weaknesses:
Early solid state design that blows up if you look at it cross-eyed. Early silicon devices were not well-matched by today's standards and are expensive (assuming you can figure out the modern equivalents - all silicon is house-numbered!) to replace. I figure parts cost of about $250 to replace all in both channels. Current limiting scheme for outputs using Mazda (VW bug) tail lights is ineffective at best, and actually detrimental since they are essentially in the feedback loop. This idea didn't make it to later Marantz designs. The amp itself runs very warm and you best have plenty of ventilation lest you learn the hard way about thermal runaway. Dealers put high price tags on anything Marantz, and unless you want to rebuild it from the ground up because the cosmetics are classics, it just isn't worth the high price.

Similar Products Used:
Plenty. Fixed plenty of them too. Direct coupled transistor amplifiers are all similar in that failure is generally catastrophic. I always felt that the purpose of fuses was to give the silicon something to protect.

Summary:
Beautiful looking, and sounding power. No hiss even when played at near full volume. And talk about power. Don't crank this up unless you know all your neighbors are gone.
Of course it has "that" Marantz sound, when combined with Marantz pre-amps.

For the cost it is a great amp. I use it mainly to drive the center channel of my HT setup.

It does of course generate LOT's of heat. It is two seperate amplifiers combined in one case so it has two transformers, etc.

Built like the proverbial brick house. They weigh about 40 pounds.

But the sound is oh so good. VERY quiet, and very wide soundfield, with great depth, and able to dig all the details out of the music source.

It blew me away when playing Motel California from the Eagles Hell Freezes over Album.

The great sound field, the plucking of the guitar strings, the reverbration in the bass drum after it is struck, all the little details that were lost on lesser amps with greater levels of distortion. Until you sit down and close your eyes and listen to the song, the beginning where you have the accoustical guitar on the right, the crowd all around chiming in as the guitar riff gets good, then the bass drum is struck for the first time, with gut wrenching bass.

Until that song sounds like that you haven't heard it.

Strengths:
Power, Power, Power, did I mention power? Very quiet, musical.

Weaknesses:
Heat, Heat, Heat, did I mention heat?

Similar Products Used:
Scott model 150