2. misc-audio
  3. 156601-83229

What is to become of Marantz Reference and HIFI as we know it

So I have been in a quiet morning for KI and Marantz as a brand for five months now.... The Marantz brand has been an American Icon in high-end audio and Saul Marantz might very well be the first “Audiophile” ever?

The Marantz brand has been with all of us for soooo very long! And in my family I’ll always remember the glowing blue of the hard earned family receiver...

When Saul knew his time was up and when he sold his company he made sure he had the assurance that someone would have/keep his vision and they sent him Ken Ishiwata, aka KI!
KI kept his end of the deal and more! KI has always had Saul Marantz in mind and his best interest at heart when guiding the Marantz companies References series.... And now sadly KI is gone, no longer with us. I always thought that somehow I would meet him at some trade show or something and shake his hand, thank him for all he did to make an impression on our hobby and in my life... Again sadly that never happened and as someone who loves HIFI I regret it.

But the larger question looms as what happens to Marantz high-end reference series/products now? They have been carefully guided by Saul Marantz and Ken Ishiwata for all these years! And there was no passing of the torch as there was between Saul and Ken...

I fear that the lone fighter for Marantz HIFI is gone now and it will not recover? I hope I am wrong and that someone in the Japan division will take it up but only time will tell...

Here is to you KI for keeping that flame alive all these years 
264win

Showing 2 responses by 264win

264win OP
51 posts
 
Mahler you are reinforcing what I am sadly hoping does not become a norm! 
Now your 7004 was not a Reference unit, never the less that is what happens when a culture is lost and only corporate bean counters control policy!
Now I will say my UD 7007 had two issues on its video side and Marantz was fantastic in its service side! The second time it was out of warranty yet they covered it at no cost and returned it with great results... 
This can be verified by my HIFI place “The Sound Shop” in Colorado Springs..... http://www.the-sound-shop.com/

So for me Marantz has been great on the warranty side but this is getting off the message!

Im worried that the legacy of Saul and KI to continue reference grade products that challenged anything out there is lost?
I hope I am wrong....
 


264win OP
51 posts
 
@mahler123
Was KI really that important to the sound?

The Marantz house sound as we know it and is loved by many IS KI! That sound is his signature and why he was involved in all those tweaks you spoke about.
I read a review a while back on the new KI Ruby equipment. In that review it said that he was not happy with the sound of them at all and he sent them back with the changes he wanted to the Japan team, to change them to get it right and to recapture the sound he was looking for.
The Japan team made the changes and sent the units back to Europe where KI lived and he was still not happy! So KI took those units and he himself made changes to them until he found that Marantz Reference sweet spot, that Marantz/KI house sound....
KI then sent them back with what he had done and the rest is history as the Ruby’s were very well received!
KI was, during his time at Marantz, as important as any head engineer or company owner. Marantz was all to happy to put him out there to promote the brand...
More to discover