mr. man

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $110.00 from seattle

Summary:
i have loved listening to music for as long as i can remember. i think it started when i first heard thunder and rain in a song on a family friends high-end stereo. anyway i started my own quest for great sound in college with a polk/techniques set-up for my dorm room with pretty good results. that was all stolen a few years ago but turned out to be a blessing in diguise. I started looking for a replacement system after a few years of only an alarm clock radio to listen to. i fell in love with a pair of alon lil rascals. better than i have ever heard in a bookshelf for under a 1000 dollars. well i was using a free kenwood reciever to power them and the sounded so good, but i knew i wanted something much better. i trolled the forums and read reviews and desided instead of spending a thousand plus on a new reciever, i would look for a vintage marantz. i found one, made sure it worked and took it home. some people say the you need a sub woofer if you have bookshelves to get rich bass. whatever. first song i played there it was, deep and rich and so clean. sparkleing highs, perfect mids, and clean, clean lows. some say as well that there is no difference between any given reciever. again, whatever. it was clear as day. my alons were great with the 1990's kenwood, but now they sing! it's beautiful. i'm done searching for the next peice of equipment. why spend that much when for under 600 total i have such clean, perfect sound? anyway, thats my two cents. if you are looking for great sound and beautiful looks you can't go wrong with a marantz. if you have descent speakers they will sound better, if you have great speakers they with positivily sing. no bones about it.

Strengths:
clean clear bass, sweet delicate highs, looks like a piece of art.

Weaknesses:
kind of big. it is old so some maintainence is probably around the corner.

Similar Products Used:
techniques, kenwood

stratman672001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.80 of 5, 5.00 votes

Price Paid:  $30.00 from Friends

Summary:
I actually have a 2220B that I bought from a customer about 6 years ago. I had it cleaned and had all the bulbs replaced (love that blue). I hooked it up to my Advent sub/sat speakers and was duely impressed. I have an Onkyo "100 watt" receiver and the Marantz trounces it in sound quality can hang with it volume wise as well. I do plan on having a full electronic refurbishment in the near future. This entails replacement of the carbon resistors (which drift over time)with metal film (in the audio section) and RF nuetral (in the RF section) resistors and also putting in fresh filter caps. Anyone thinking of this take note. Do NOT under any circumstance replace the transistors. They were specially matched to each other and if replaced the unit will not perform the up to original specs. This unit is fantastic. Wish someone would build something of this quality and not charge $2000 for it. Marantz was the cream of the crop in the '70's.

Strengths:
Build quality. Sounds great after 25 years. Cool look. Oooooh.. It's blue.

Weaknesses:
Aside from needing new resistors and caps... None.

Similar Products Used:
Onkyo TX V940, Pioneer SX-3700

Price Paid:  $100.00 from 1-2-04

Summary:
I have had all sorts of HIFI equipment in my lifetime from real high end to starter systems. I brought this 2025 off of ebay for $100.00 as a backup receiver for a 2275 that I also brought off ebay, OK If I would have brought the 2025 first I would not have brought the 2275. The 2225 pickes up stations with out an antenna and sound good. The stereo that the 2225 replaceed had 75watts per channal but needed a sub woofer in line to fill out the sound on the bottom end I am going to sell it now it is not needed. FM&AM sound supper as does CD's on the 2225(lots of depth and sparkel)and this thing is 25to30 years old. And it look's cool to and is easy to use. Sometimes new is not better just different. the 2225 is a 5+ by to day standards.

Strengths:
Power, Looks, Sound & reliability.

Weaknesses:
No remote.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I'm a 19 year old college student. My mother (ex-hippie) got this very same 2220 in 1975, given to her by a former boyfriend who bought it in 1973. It has traveled to every house she's lived, and has been in storage for about 5 years (retired from my father's work-room after their divorce). I had been using a Philips/Magnavox bookshelf system, but when my mom offered to give me the living room speakers (1972 Pioneer 3-ways with 12" woofers) I snapped them up like that and dragged out the old Marantz. I brought the setup down to college, hooked it up to the minijack output on my iMac, and promptly put the Philips system on the shelf! I would love to be able to put some really great speakers on this system, but unfortunately I'm on a college student budget. Even with the old Pioneers, it cranks out loud, clear sound. The machine is gorgeous like NO other receiver (brushed aluminum and that beautiful blue glowing face). Reliable (in 30 years, about 3 of the faceplate bulbs have been replaced). The best 20 watts I've ever heard out of a receiver. It outperforms other amps with 60-100 watts/channel, and does it with style! Listened briefly with my friend's newer Pioneer 3-ways (10" woofers) and it sounded a good deal better. I think I will replace the speakers LONG before I even THINK about getting rid of this wonderful machine. Smooth controls, crisp buttons, and Gyro-Touch Tuning. I'm an Industrial Design student. I wouldn't want anything else sitting on my desk. Except maybe a Marantz power-amp for it to sit atop.

Strengths:
Beautiful to look at. Most powerful 20 watts I've ever heard. Works nearly flawlessely after 30 years. Drives speakers that CLAIM to be out of its power range. Inexpensive (find one on eBay for 100-150 dollars American) and free for me!

Weaknesses:
You will NEVER drive a digital 5.1 speaker system with this receiver. It's 30 years old. Probably deserves better speakers than you (and I) am letting it play with. Makes you think twice about dropping 400 dollars on a black plastic box with a digital display.

Similar Products Used:
Denon, Yamaha, Marantz 2250b

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I bought this receiver used in 1973. It has been in near-daily use since then. I personally replaced the panel lights and on/off switch. Have cleaned the volume control and input selector switch several times but the unit has never been in the shop. The pre-amp is exceptionaly clean and I have used it as a pre-amp for years (hooked to a Hafler DH-200 power amp). I now use a Sony ES-series receiver for home theater but it does not sounds nearly as good as the Marantz/Hafler for music.

Strengths:
Bullet-proof reliability, very clean sound, great pre-amp unit, attractive styling.

Weaknesses:
None when used as designed.

Similar Products Used:
Sony STR-DA50ES