Classic Marantz and Citation vs modern

Check out the numerous prior posts about “vintage” versus modern equipment.

here is just one thread among many.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/the-allure-of-vintage-audio-gear/post?highlight=Vintage&postid=2728936#2728936

there are two main points that keep arising

(1) “Vintage” is just “old” technology , and most modern equipment choices - even modest budget pricepoint strata choices in comparison - best the vintage options in both features and especially in audio performance.

I had the original classic OEM Marantz 2245 receiver (when it was still original and classic before the inferior Superscope and later iterations) . It gets smoked by current price-point “modern” amp offerings available today.If “price” is what you pay, and “value”  is what you get ….Then from hands-on peronsl experience, IMO the crazy prices some ask today for the “vintage”:defies its performance capabilities by a quantum leap.

(2) “Vintage” is a primary appeal to the fringe cohort of audio nostalgia fans . OK …If that stirs your drink, cool ,,. carry on .,,, enjoy the colours and VU meters visually ….. fine ….. But don’t engender an argument that its old era audio performances equivalence or improvement over current technology and performance.

I would love to have a tube 7 preamp. I remember it from back in the day and at one point tried to buy one, and got ripped off- eventually, I got recompense thanks to the Postmaster General. In terms of how it stacks up, I suspect that with judicious updates and good tubes, it would hold its own. There is a reason why it is highly regarded.

In the mid-70s I bought a then new ARC SP3-a-1, which was highly regarded. A clean example today also fetches real money. I gather there is a late factory upgrade that makes it competitive, but you are still dealing with vintage equipment that has a different sound than more modern gear- less analytical, but not necessarily "tube’ bloated sound. I consider these pieces to be collector’s items that are usable. I run two systems, one is modern state of the art and the other is a vintage system that replicates what I ran in 1975. They are very different in presentation, but each is musically satisfying in its own way.

Part of the strategy is what you are aiming for; the issue with the vintage gear is not only condition, but whether it was "messed with." Getting clean examples and finding somebody who knows how to restore them properly isn’t so easy. I used the late Bill Thalmann to restore the gear in my vintage system. I’m not sure who the "go to" person is for vintage Marantz these days. That outfit that sells vintage McI is pretty well regarded. (Audio Classics). I’m sure other board members can offer more insight. Mixing old tube preamps and solid state amps requires some basic impedance matching, which should not be that difficult.

Part of the beauty of vintage gear is the heritage- like owning a classic car or bike. Sure, it takes more work, but there is a certain satisfaction in getting it right.

Good hunting. I think the 8B was more highly regarded than the 9 but it has been a while.

Which classic Marantz and Citation. 50s, 60s, 70s,?

@russ69 Marantz 7C, 8B, and 9; Citation II.

All those are very nice.I'm sure with everything freshen up they would be very enjoyable. Of course it's not always about the sound but pride of ownership.