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Marantz

Is Marantz back into high end audio? Did they ever leave?

This past weekend I was able to see a SA-1 for the first time, this is a beautiful piece. In the current issue of S-phile Marantz has an ad advertising the "first true replacements for the legendary model 7 and model 9"; they are called SC-7s1 and MA-9s1, these too are beautiful looking pieces. It appears they are not available in the US, yet.

They can be viewed at: http://www.marantz.co.jp/ja/marantz/audio/amp.html

Anyone heard these two, or the other products on this web link?
brianmgrarcom
blackie
221 posts
 
There's a good likelyhood that they will never be available in the US as many of their high-end products are for far-east or european markets only. I saw some amps that looked like the MA-9s1 on some website (something about designing the ultimate listening room, don't remember which) except they had 8 or so tubes protruding from the top of the chassis! They really looked like Model 9s from the future, very cool!
jond's avatar
jond
5,754 posts
 
I would think they plan to make these available in the US, if not why the full page ad in Stereophile?
t_bone
1,182 posts
 
I have heard the PM-14SA v2 and the PM-17SA v2 several times and the MA9S1s once (I live in Japan). Given their 'street prices', I think they are eminently respectable choices. Living in Japan, if I were going to spend <$800 on an SS integrated amp, I would undoubtedly choose the PM17 (or Denon's similarly-priced offering which I have not heard but which gets quite good reviews). I have heard the MA-9S1 in what appeared to be a 4-monoblock configuration powering B&W N800 Sigs - a very powerful, clean sound. I was very doubtful on the combination. I do not remember having heard the pre in a system though I have seen it quite often.

I have to admit I love the blue lights.
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