Amp Recommendations for Marantz 7c

c_cocobean: I haven’t seen an RM-10 for awhile either, and when I have they went fast. Of course there is also the RM-9 Mk.2, itself a great amp (at least as good as a Mac MC75). A quartet of EL34's per channel for 125 watts, plus classic styling that would look great in your application. I got mine from my old pals at Brooks Berdan Ltd. for just under two grand. Money well spent!

@c_cocobean: I have owned and enjoyed the Dynaco Stereo 70, a pair of the Quad 2 mono’s, an early 50w ARC (the Dual 51), and have heard (admittedly briefly) VTL’s, Jadis’, New York Audio Labs Moscodes, Conrad-Johnson’s, a modified (by Robert Fulton) Stereo 70, and numerous other smaller tube amps.

If I was now looking for a small tube amp to buy it would be the Music Reference RM-10 Mk.2. Since it was introduced in the 1990’s and it’s designer/builder is no longer with us, I guess it can be considered a vintage piece ;-). Occasionally available for around $1500, it is a beaut!.

And of course there is no output transformer as good as none, so if you have the $ and the "right" loudspeaker (the higher and most even its’ modulus of impedance the better, and relatively sensitive) and room (small-to-medium), look into Atma-Sphere’s fantastic S-30.

Fred’s Sound Of Music in Portland Oregon has the 7C/8B combo for sale. I don’t know if they’ll separate them, but a call to them will get an answer.

Roger Modjeski of Music Reference/RAM Tubes said he considered the 8B superior to the Model 9, and didn’t much care for the Citation amps at all. But Roger was (R.I.P.) a very opinionated SOB ;-) .

Ya know, for the price of modified/updated Dynaco Stereo 70’s, you can get the wonderful little Music Reference RM-10 Mk.2, a far better amp (I’ve had both). If you do want an ST-70, the redesign Frank Van Alstine did is a good one.