Marantz 7 Questions

the 7 is the classic tube design...it was also brought back by the good folks at audioclassics and vac for a limited run as the 7 seriesII. the 7c is a solid state design. the 7 has been with me for longer than any other component(18 years)and although i have purchased several fine preamps over two decades of this hobby , the marantz is indeed graced with that intangible 'something' that makes every recording (new,old,rock,jazz,classical,cd,vinyl)sound absolutely natural....it commands that high price in the used marketplace because it is still indeed a reference product. the re-issue was also outstanding...the 7c however has been ecplipsed by other designs, though it is still more versitle than most....by the way, the 8b is a power amp.

I think the 7C is the tube preamp and the 7T is solid state.

you are correct.

So is there a different between 7 and 7C?
Is there a 7B?

There is only one model, the 7, which is erroneously called the 7C. 7C refers to the optional wood enclosure ("C"ase).
The 7T was the transistor model.

i believe the actual model designation of the tubed version is Model 7. The "7C" is the 7 with the wooden cabinet. Hence the "C."

Atranz:

The "7" is SS (medicore even in it's time) and the "7C" is a tubed unit (stellar in it's time) but now surpassed, both line and phono sections, by current standards when compared to decent modern designs - some of these being even low cost/budget offerings.

Sorry if this upsets anyone. My opinions are based upon using these units long prior to them having any vintage distinction and since thrn using a restored 7C in my setup in order to compare it to more modern designs.

This is not to say that a refurbished/stock 7C does not sound nice and musical (it does), but most of its value is of a historic nature, IMO.

On a sound quality only basis many dumped their 7C's in the mid/late 70's (in my area anyway) and replaced them with the preamp/phono sections of the then new Advent 300 SS receiver (probably spent the proceeds on herb:-).

So, does one run out an pick up an Advent 300 for better sound quality? Well, probably not w/o having it rebuilt/refurbished (same thing for a 7C) as with any vintage piece the caps and other time dated parts are well past their prime.

Never heard of a 7B.

Ess & anonymous:

Yes, that is what the "C" refers to. Many of the early 7's were installed in larger floor standing and/or wall cabinets (the case was an option).

As far as sound quality goes, I will add that a local friend had the volume pot of his 7C upgraded (think that Hovland, the tube preamp/amp guy, did the work) and his is one of the nicer sounding preamps I have ever heard.

He said that this was the only mod, but when I was checking out the work I also noticed a couple of small cast metal rectangular boxes, near the power supply that did not seem stock to me (but maybe they are).

This made me wonder what my old Pilot 690A (preamp/tuner) would sound like with a nice/budget stepped volume pot, or perhaps one of my vintage integrated amps?

The custom hand built stepped pot in the 7C was expensive, but screening/matching the resistors for each stereo step alone would be a lot of work (plus putting it together and retesting/replacing anything that ended up being out of wack).

One obstacle with some vintage tube units (in regard to volume pot replacement) is that they have a combo on/off-volume pot. Not certain if simply separating the on/off switch will work.

The Marantz 7 is a Marantz 7 some claim that the 7C was the Re-Issue model of the original Model 7 some say the 7C was with the optional woodern cabinet.They are both of the same design with the Re-Issue more modean parts capacitors & resistors etc.Many people have claim that the modean newer Pre-Amps beat them Marantz 7 in sonic and design. I dis-agree.
Why you may ask, the basic design of the newer still followers the old concept accept e.g Audio Research which users Hybrid componets in the power supply stage.
Sonicly the old Vintage equipment still beats the newer Solid States ones hands down.
Sonicly it is very difficult to judge as onces ears are not the same as another and final chain like speakers changers once concept when listening, it might be to bright or too dull with all the words to discribe musical re-production.
But look around and see why do the vintage equipment like Marantz,Mcintosh,Western Electric have been sent to the junk yard in the States with happy Japanese, Koreans and other Asian countries wanting them and paying high prices for them.
They know that out there the vintage equipment is like fine Wine in the bottle.
And sonicaly they are the best. Most still like the Vintage to have unmodified parts and pay high prices for the old stock parts inside it.
And we try to squzee the last juice out of the componets like capacitors,resistors and transformers before it's changed into modern components.

Brian was right on the money when he said "There is only one model, the 7, which is erroneously called the 7C. 7C refers to the optional wood enclosure ("C"ase).
The 7T was the transistor model."

I recently traded a Marantz 8 and 7T to a local Metrology Lab aka "Calibration Lab" for test equipment. They want to start restoring these units and offering calibration to OEM specs for these units, hence their desire to own and become intimately familiar with each of the various models that Marantz offered. Given that the owner of the Lab already owns hordes of vintage Marantz gear, he wanted these for his personal collection. You can believe me when i say that i came out quite well in our "trade" : ) Sean
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The 7 had several designations and added letters to distinguish variations. The most substantial difference in design was the tube/solid state models 7,7c,7p (all tube models) 7t (solid state) There were some used commerically that had a set of rack handles (oem - not after market handles) they were designated 7cr and 7tr. The 7p is the rarest of all.I have only seen one,and I don't know why the p was added,or what the difference was about the design to give it a "P" designation----anyone know more about the 7p?
Olenorge