Maarantz 8b EL34 Power Amp- Front View
Marantz 8B EL34 Power amp + GE branded Mullard’s that are matched with Xf2 Date Codes
The Good:
- The small signal tubes are matched RCA drivers test very strong and inputs are GE matched and test strong.
- The power supply caps re-formed very nicely the amp has absolutely no hum, this 8b plays fine and sounds amazing.
- It is bone stock and never has been molested under the chassis.
- The meter works perfect as well as the amp bias sets up no problem.
- The front name badge is missing – We are including an aftermarket name sticker for this amp, that is similar to the original.
- Two of the four EL34’s have the broken octal center locators, but it’s easy to put them in correctly we will mark the tubes to make it very easy to get the amp up and running as soon as you get it.
- Some scratches on the chassis
- Some slight corrosion around the meter frame
- Tube cage is available true Marantz
- Bias setting cover caps are missing or were never installed at the factory – some shipped without caps
Sound:
- This amp sounds fantastic, very transparent. The Matched GE branded Mullard’s make this amp really sing. We will carefully pack for safe shipment, shipping and boxing additional
History:
Here is some history of this fantastic amp:
“In 1959, Marantz released the Model 8. With the soon-to-follow 8B, it was the only tube stereo amplifier the company ever produced. Although most regard the Model 8B (introduced in 1962) simply as a modified Model 8, there are significant differences between the two. For one thing, the 8B featured a Sidney Smith-designed transformer, and was more stable and phase-accurate, thanks in part to a negative feedback circuit originally developed for the Model 9 monaural power amplifier…… The power output of both the Model 8 and the 8B was 30 watts per channel.” – click here if you want to continue to read about the history of marantz”
Under the Chassis of the Marantz 8B 100% stock
More of the Underside of the Super Clean Marantz 8B
Marantz 8b – on the Test Bench
Closeup of the Mullard GE branded Mullard el34 tubes on the Marantz 8b
- Marantz 8b Front View of Bias Meter
I own a pair of 8b’s and they were rated @ 35/channel. I have the original owner’s and service manuasl and they both confirm that rating. I have owned them since the late 1960’s. They still sound fantastic and are used to drive a vintage JBL pair of sovereign enclosure S8r systems. They are the high end amps in this bi-amped system. The low end is driven by either Mcintosh or my favorite Marantz 500 amp. A custom electronic xover is fed by the Marantz 7c and 20b tuner. A Thorens TD 124II with all of its bearing surfaces and platter spindle polished with jeweler’s rouge to clean up any possible rumble on an SME plinth with an SME 3009 II arm with the fluid bath damping system and Ortofon MC cartridge or if my mood demands it the latest London Decca moving iron positive scanning cartridge completes the analog portion of the system. The Marantz tube gear has had their power supplies and selenium rectifiers replaced and or upgraded with upgraded caps etc.-wow what a difference that made. The 10b and model 9’s are in storage right now. I thought that the modified 8b’s in strapped mono mode sounded better than the straight 9’s.
The Teac open reel 7030 GLC is currently being gone through so I may use it to play those fantastic open reel master tape copies now being offered.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ON THIS VINTAGE STUFF-NOTHING LIKE OUT THERE TODAY-I KNOW I’M IN THE BUSINESS SINCE 1966 AND I HAVEN’T SEEN OR HEARD ANY NEW STUFF THAT I WOULD RATHER OWN–BEEN TO THE CES AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHOWS AND THEY CONFIRMED MY IMPRESSIONS.
Hello Jerry, very nice collection of fine gear.. thanks for sharing!
I have worked on a few of the strapped 8b’s
Sincerely, Pat~
yes you can please send an email over to [email protected] and let us know what you are interested in, we have a few MC240’s a pair of MC60’s and MC30’s as well as C20 preamp and MX110 preamp – tuner
Please contact me directly as we have many McIntosh components for sale
Pat~