Marantz 7C still good today?

tomchaoda · 15th November 2005, 06:20 PM

With so many morden design of pre-amp, is Marantz 7C still a good pre-amp to do diy?

Does it also make sense to make it into balanced mode (as I am using Aleph 5 that can take both unbalanced balanced mode)?

Many thanks,

SY · 15th November 2005, 06:44 PM

A wise man once observed, "There are no classic preamps."

He was right.

tomtt · 15th November 2005, 07:12 PM

Originally posted by tomchaoda
With so many morden design of pre-amp, is Marantz 7C still a good pre-amp to do diy?

Does it also make sense to make it into balanced mode (as I am using Aleph 5 that can take both unbalanced balanced mode)?

Many thanks,

```````````````````````````````````````````````

system interaction,and your ears,should be the ultimate

judge, the parts can always be used for other projects.

an actual 7c will be so vauable, stock,any mod will result

in monitary loss

kevinkr · 15th November 2005, 09:28 PM

I am with SY on this one, I have never heard a vintage pre-amplifier that sounded good by today's standards. Also building a balanced version makes it something else altogether.

Balanced output does make sense with the Aleph, so how about a transformer coupled line stage with balanced output and a 27, 56 or similar as the amplifier tube. Most sources are single ended so I would not necessarily bother with balanced internal topology or inputs.

I would also recommend a stepped attenuator instead of a pot.

There are lots of articles on the web for this sort of thing.

I wrote an article on a 26dht based transformer coupled pre-amplifier for Positive Feedback online a few months back. You might want to check it out.. (Or not..)

I once owned a 7C and found the sound relatively inoffensive, but veiled compared to some other more modern designs.

Kevin

kmtang · 16th November 2005, 01:13 PM

I have just built a Marantz 7C clone line amp. I changed the output tube from 12AX7 to 12AU7.

I found it sounds really good to me. I just love it.

Johnny

TJ · 17th November 2005, 03:10 AM

i found the classic M7 sound 2 old (slow) for my taste !! did anyone encounter this problem ?

kevinkr · 17th November 2005, 03:23 AM

Yes, amongst other things.. I think it is about the best of the lot, but that ain't saying much, unlike tube power amplifiers which achieved really high levels of performance long ago no vintage pre-amplifier even seems to come close to what is possible.

One pre-amplifier that seems to be more of an exception to this rule is the old Citation IV, but it is very sensitive to tube quality/condition. It was more transparent than anything else I tried.

Kevin

kmtang · 17th November 2005, 06:33 AM

The M7C I built is with all the good components - Riken resistors, Jebsen copper-in-oil coupling caps, and Mundorf tubecap for B+ bypass. It just sounds great to me. Smooth as silk and powerful as a horse. Its soundstage is much wider and deeper.

Johnny

15th November 2005, 06:20 PM	#1
tomchaoda diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New Jersey	Marantz 7C still good today? With so many morden design of pre-amp, is Marantz 7C still a good pre-amp to do diy? Does it also make sense to make it into balanced mode (as I am using Aleph 5 that can take both unbalanced balanced mode)? Many thanks,

15th November 2005, 06:44 PM	#2
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicagoland Blog Entries: 1	A wise man once observed, "There are no classic preamps." He was right. __________________ If there's a sucker born every minute, where do the rest of them come from?

15th November 2005, 07:12 PM	#3
tomtt diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: kansas city mo, and on occasion, around the world ... Blog Entries: 15	Re: Marantz 7C still good today? Originally posted by tomchaoda With so many morden design of pre-amp, is Marantz 7C still a good pre-amp to do diy? Does it also make sense to make it into balanced mode (as I am using Aleph 5 that can take both unbalanced balanced mode)? Many thanks, ``````````````````````````````````````````````` system interaction,and your ears,should be the ultimate judge, the parts can always be used for other projects. an actual 7c will be so vauable, stock,any mod will result in monitary loss

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15th November 2005, 09:28 PM	#4
kevinkr diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Blog Entries: 6	I am with SY on this one, I have never heard a vintage pre-amplifier that sounded good by today's standards. Also building a balanced version makes it something else altogether. Balanced output does make sense with the Aleph, so how about a transformer coupled line stage with balanced output and a 27, 56 or similar as the amplifier tube. Most sources are single ended so I would not necessarily bother with balanced internal topology or inputs. I would also recommend a stepped attenuator instead of a pot. There are lots of articles on the web for this sort of thing. I wrote an article on a 26dht based transformer coupled pre-amplifier for Positive Feedback online a few months back. You might want to check it out.. (Or not..) I once owned a 7C and found the sound relatively inoffensive, but veiled compared to some other more modern designs. Kevin

16th November 2005, 01:13 PM	#5
kmtang diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Vancouver	I have just built a Marantz 7C clone line amp. I changed the output tube from 12AX7 to 12AU7. I found it sounds really good to me. I just love it. Johnny

17th November 2005, 03:10 AM	#6
TJ diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: UK	i found the classic M7 sound 2 old (slow) for my taste !! did anyone encounter this problem ?

17th November 2005, 03:23 AM	#7
kevinkr diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Blog Entries: 6	Yes, amongst other things.. I think it is about the best of the lot, but that ain't saying much, unlike tube power amplifiers which achieved really high levels of performance long ago no vintage pre-amplifier even seems to come close to what is possible. One pre-amplifier that seems to be more of an exception to this rule is the old Citation IV, but it is very sensitive to tube quality/condition. It was more transparent than anything else I tried. Kevin

17th November 2005, 06:33 AM	#8
kmtang diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Vancouver	The M7C I built is with all the good components - Riken resistors, Jebsen copper-in-oil coupling caps, and Mundorf tubecap for B+ bypass. It just sounds great to me. Smooth as silk and powerful as a horse. Its soundstage is much wider and deeper. Johnny

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