Just bought this...

[AudioDoctor]

a vintage Marantz 2230 receiver. I used to have one, was dumb and young and got rid of it. This will go into my office after being refurbished. So far it sounds pretty amazing!

 

 

Going to get this connected to a DAC here shortly, and plug one of my turntables into it as well. With some decent bookshelf speakers it will be a sweet little system!

 

[esldude]

Pretty neat. I lusted after just that model when a student. Alas, I just never had the spare cash. Someone I knew had the largest version in that line up. Excellent feeling controls, and looked nice. Have no idea how the sound would stack up today, but at the time my friend had it driving some BIC speakers with famous or infamous Venturi Port. It would play loud rather effortlessly and sounded good compared to stuff like Bose or JBL that other folks had.

 

[AudioDoctor]

was given to me by my Dad to take to college, at the time I was less than enthused. In hindsight I should have been more excited about it than I was...

 

I am glad to have another one that works and is in pretty darned good shape!

 

[realhifi]

Had one hooked up to some Utah speakers back in the day then JBLs. Be interesting to hear it compared to modern receivers.

 

[AudioDoctor]

to compare it to, but I do know that I do not like the sound of any modern ones I have heard, which admittedly is not too many.

 

[realhifi]

"I don't have any other modern receivers to compare it to, but I do know that I do not like the sound of any modern ones I have heard, which admittedly is not too many."

 

 

You need to hear their new ones then. The little NR1402 and NR1602 are terrific little boxes. Listening to Pandora networked through one right now. Surprising sound for the money.

 

[AudioDoctor]

I have not heard those.

 

[jerico]

Is that tubed?

 

[AudioDoctor]

no tubes inside it at all.

 

[jerico]

Quite cool though! Where/how did you score it?

 

[AudioDoctor]

after trying to get ahold of the seller for about a week I had given up, he finally called me back this morning. So I went to look at it. For being built in 1972 this thing is in amazing shape. One lamp is out, and that seems to be about it. Very strong FM reception, all inputs and outputs work. All the dials and knobs work and are smooth, no dust accumulations, etc... It has been very well taken care of. So anyway, I brought it home. I semi-regularly cruise craigslist for audio stuff. All sorts of interesting stuff comes up on there, mostly vintage turntables, but this was a treat to find.

 

[AlainGr]

I remember when my father bought all his components at the time: Dual 1229 with Grace F8E, Marantz 2270 (same facing), Sony reel to reel tape, Pioneer cassette deck and a pair of Altec Santana speakers...

 

We for sure had a lot of parties then !

 

I would be proud to have such a beauty today...

 

[wgscott]

I bought the 1402 about six months ago. I just saw you can get it for $300 from AudioAdvisor. I was quite surprised by just how good it is. I use it for movies, etc.

 

[AudioDoctor]

try an old Marantz from the early-mid 70s. You will be quite amazed at the sound quality.

 

[wdomeika]

I bought the exact receiver and a pair of Klipsch Heresy speakers waaaaay back when I was in my 20's. I really wanted the model with the crazy built-in oscilloscope but I didn't have the scratch. I still remember the silky fine machined feel of the tuning wheel. And the sound. Connected them to a Denon direct drive turntable.

 

How come when we were young we were also stupid and didn't pack things up and make a promise to ourselves to open them in 30 years?

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

Bill

 

[AudioDoctor]

I have a Denon DP-60 being refurbed right now that will get connected to this thing. I expect good things from the combo.

 

The reason we were young and stupid is that true wisdom can only come from experience. Something our younger selves did not have.

 

This whole thing just screams quality, from back when that meant something.

 

[crisnee]

"This whole thing just screams quality, from back when that meant something."

 

Quality still means something; in fact it means as much or more than ever.

 

-Chris

 

[One and a half]

It went for years, until the lamps got too hot and started to melt the meter housings.

That was the dark side

It also developed a fault in the output stage, a transistor shot, so it wasn't the same again, plus the humidity killed the Gyroscope Tuning strings.

Mind you it had to go, but that was after 25 years of good service though, good luck with yours Doc!

 

[AudioDoctor]

one of the favorite modifications to these is to replace the bulbs with LEDs so they run cooler and eliminate the chances of melting the face! Probably a good idea. I am going to have it refurbished so hopefully it will work for a very long time!

 

[MarkB]

Nice.

 

I used to sell them back in the seventies and like a dummy I never bought one.

 

I hope to find one that I can have restored to use in a second system.

 

Very nice!

 

Mark

 

[James1776]

I would love to snag one in as good condition...Most I have seen are pretty beat up.

 

[wgscott]

This thing seems so familiar, I wonder if it is what my sister has?

 

Are they worth a lot now?

 

[AudioDoctor]

I paid $200 for this one, and thats about what a good condition non-refurbed one sells for. A refurbished one can go for a lot more.

 

[AudioDoctor]

some pretty beat up examples through the years that I passed on.

 

[wgscott]

I think we must have had this in the family room when I was a kid. It comes back to me now. It is hard to forget what that big horizontal dial feels like.