Price Paid:  $2000.00 from Sevenoaks

Summary:
Absolutely superb machine, I purchased the KI version which as some fancy up-grades on the passive components - does not impose on the source and has a lovely way of smoothing out imperfections. It does tend to be a bit warm - personally I see that as a real bonus at I love RnB and Jazz. Can listen to it for hours with no sense of fatigue - just continual pleasure. Bass is very good, as well as the sound staging - likes its vocals too - in that hi-end japanese way it brings the vocals to the front of any music where intended. Rest of equipment includes: CD 7, DR 17 from Marantz B&W CDM9 NT Speakers Van den Hul interconnects

Strengths:
Bass, warmth without detracting from the orignal intent, sense of control and low end grunt - does not need to be played at full power for good results - assuming sensitive speakers. Oh yes - it is built like a Sherman tank! Absolutely bomb proof, lovely WBT terminals - with a gorgeous remote and I admit to quite liking the temperature monitor - has that quirky retro feel about it.

Weaknesses:
Had to wait for ages to get one - the German reviewed it well at launch and so struggled to get UK stock. Almost 30kgs worth of amp - does not make for much experimenting with hifi rack positions! Nothing else.

Similar Products Used:
PM 14 non-KI, PM 17, MF A308,

Price Paid:  $1000.00 from second hand

Summary:
Far better than my old amp (Sony 555 es mkII). Soundstage is better. Overall sound is wider, more detailed, it draws you into the music. Build quality is excellent. Remote as well. Besides, it's very stable and the overall sound is more controlled. Excellent value for the money.

Strengths:
see above.

Weaknesses:
none.

Similar Products Used:
Sony TA-F 555 ES mkII.

Summary:
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU TRY THIS AMP OUT IF YOURE AFTER A HIGH QUALITY ONE BOX AMPLIFIER.
REST OF SYSTEM :-
Marantz cd16 CD Player
Kef reference 2 speakers(gorgeous)
Van den hul 102 III hybrid interconnect
Ixos 604 bi wire(soon to be upgraded!)

Strengths:
SMOOTHNESS,REFINEMENT,SOPHISTICATION,CLARITY,SOUNDSTAGING,STEREO EFFECTS, DETAIL AND ER... DETAIL! SPECIALLY IN THE UPPER BASS DEPARTMENT NEVER REALISED BASS COULD BE SO VARIED.I WAS VERY SCEPTICAL ABOUT PAYING £1800 FOR AN INTEGRATED AMP(IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A DISCOUNT!) AND IT IS EASILY THE MOST I HAVE EVER PAID FOR A PIECE HI FI BUT I CAN HONESTLY SAY IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY.THE BUILD QUALITY IS IMMEDIATLEY APPARENT AS YOU LIFT IT FROM THE BOX AND IT WEIGHS VERY VERY HEAVY SO NEEDS SOME SUBSTANTIAL SHELVING TO HOLD IT.IT HAS A BEAUTIFUL HIGH QUALITY REMOTE CONTROL IN SILVER FINISH WITH CUTE GOLD BUTTONS WHICH ARE WELL LAID OUT.THE PERFECT ADDITION FOR ANY DISCERNING COFEEE TABLE WATCHER! IT HAS 2 SETS OF VERY STRONG SPEAKER TERMINALS (GOOD FOR BIWIRING) PLENTY OF IN/OUTPUTS INCLUDING A GOOD SOUNDING MM/MC INPUT 2 TAPE LOOPS AND UPGRADE OPTIONS (I DOUBT THE LATTER WILL BE NEEDED HAS IT SOUNDS SO GOOD ON ITS OWN).IN SHORT IT HAS ALL THE FACILITIES MOST HIFI LISTENERS COULD EVER WANT IN ONE BOX(ALBEIT A BIG HEAVY BOX!)
SOUND:COMPARED WITH MY PREVIOUS AMPS, ARCAM 290/290P, THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE CONTROL OF THE BASS ,BOOM HAD TOTALLY DISAPPEARED REPLACED WITH BASS DETAIL YET STILL RETAINING BASS DEPTH AND POWER.I HAD CONSIDERED THE PM17 WHICH SOUNDS EXCELLENT ALSO BUT MY KEFS HAVE HAVE QUITE A DIFFCULT 4 OHM LOAD SO I DECIDED ON THE EXTRA POWER/CONTROL OF IT'S BIG BROTHER(190W @ 4 OHMS). THE IMMEDIATE IMPRESSION EVEN BEFORE IT HAS BURNED IN IS HOW REFINED IT SOUNDS IT IS JUST SO SMOOTH AND DOESNT MISS A THING AND THE BASS IS JUST SO FAST IT STOPS AND STARTS EXACTLY WHEN ITS SUPPOSED TO DO PERFECT FOR RHYTHMICAL MUSIC LIKE BE BOP, EAST COAST JAZZ ETC.

Weaknesses:
NOTHING AT ALL WITH THE SOUND ITS JUST SO SOPHISTICATED AND HAS THAT ELUSIVE "GOOSE BUMPS QUALITY" WHICH FOR ME IS THE ULTIMATE ACCOLADE FOR ANY PIECE OF HI FI. ONLY MINOR QUIBLES WERE ...I HAD TO WAIT 5 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY COS' OF DEMAND IT IS APPARENTLY VERY POPULAR IN GERMANY.TAKES AT LEAST A WEEK OF BEING CONTINUOUS USE B4 IT GETS ANYWHERE NEAR TO PEAK PERFORMENCE AND EVEN NOW 3 MONTHS LATER USED EVRY DAY IT SEEMS TO GET BETTER EACH DAY SO PLEASE BE PATIENT YOU WILL BE REWARDED.VOLUME NEEDS TO BE AT LEAST AT THE "9 O' CLOCK" SETTING BEFORE IT REALLY SINGS BUT WHEN IT DOES WOW! I WOULD LIKE THE OPTION OF SWITCHING OFF THE TEMPRETURE GAUGE(!) LIGHT AS ITS VERY DISTRACTING WHEN LISTENING IN A DARKENED ROOM.APART FROM THESE MINOR QUIBLES IT IS EASILY THE BEST AMP I'VE HEARD IN ITS PRICE RANGE. SHORT OF A LARGE LOTTERY WIN I CANT SEE ME EVER REPLACING THIS AMPLIFIER.ONE THING (THOUGH IM NOT SURE ITS A WEAKNESS!) IS THAT IT DOES NOT SUFFER FOOLS GLADLY. IF YA PUT CRAP IN IT IT'LL COME OUT CRAP THE OTHER END ONLY MAGNIFIED , SO IT REALLY NEEDS GOOD QUALITY RECORDINGS TO SOUND ITS BEST.NOT REALLY ONE FOR BADLY OVER COMPRESSED ROCK BUT MY FAVE JAZZ TRACKS JUST SOUND PERFECT.

Similar Products Used:
ARCAM 10/P10,MARANTZ PM17,NAIM,

Summary:
Powerful and beautiful. In my setup i find it perfect with much detail and air. In my present search for amp this was the winner. 5 stars.

Summary:
I tried many amps recently, and after reading so many good revues in the magazines i always took the marantz 17 and 14 to compare other amps. Doing so, i found the marantz always rather pleasant, but never the best at it's price.

I agree with the other author on this page that there is a lack in musicality, the sound is very "clean" in the high frequencies, but the bass is not well enough controlled to feed my tannoy D700, it is just not the best.

I would prefer a luxman 505 or 507, a brinkman integre, or even an atol 80 which is much less powerfull.

It's better than my old rotel, beter than the combination of my old quad 34 + end amp combination. that is however, not a reference in these days.
Are the magazines loosing their objectivity due to the advertising of marantz??

Strengths:
solid state, no valves to change after some years ...
tone control that does not harm the stereo image

Weaknesses:
not neutral sounding.