Marantz PM 17SA v PM 8003

Why not see if the seller is willing to bring the amp over so you can make a quick comparison assuming its for sale locally. This would take the speculation out of the equation. Hell give them a couple bucks for gas if need be. To sit here and guess which amp might be better based on specs or what country it was manufactured in seems rather senseless. You will only know from auditioning it for yourself. Even if someone were to chime in that has owned both may still not help you as we all hear things differently.

Your point is clear. It just doesn't make sense. If they're almost identical, then why would they sound different? Also, if they're almost identical, then why would the build quality be different?

Just because their power OUTPUT is almost identical, doesn't mean they can't sound very different because of build quality. Besides, in case you didn't know, these are integrated amps we are talking about. So there is a preamp section that has nothing to do with their power amp section. This can and often will radically change how an amp, given the same power OUTPUT, will sound.

Finally, these are also two different models - one made in Japan and the other made in China. That's why the build quality would be different. So, my point makes perfect sense.

So then you are talking about the performance of the amp by looking at the spec sheet. And now that you've clarified it, you're referring to power output only and not sound quality. That wasn't clear in your other posts. To be honest, though, I never trust specs on an amps power. In this particular case, since they are both SS amps made by the same company, at about the same time, then I guess its possible to get away with looking at the stated power output as accurate, in relation to each other. If you were to measure both amps the same way, they would probably be close enough to make the claim valid. But no guarantees.

So then you are talking about the performance of the amp by looking at the spec sheet. And now that you've clarified it, you're referring to power output only and not sound quality. That wasn't clear in your other posts.

Thanks for finally seeing it my way. I am somewhat surprised by why you couldn't see my point the very first time I posted it. I will repeat my exact quote again and note that I specified Power Amp Section. Further I said almost identical; not exactly.

In fact, I checked the specs and both units are rated at 100 wpc into 4 ohms. So, their power amp sections are almost identical.
And since the PM 17sa is built to a higher standard, why wouldn't it sound better?

Sorry if the above wasn't clear enough. I guess I should learn to write better or run the risk of soliciting your unwanted comments. Hopefully the OP knew what I meant though and from the sound of his last post, I believe he did.
After all, that's the most important part as it was his question that I provided a positive response to.

I have the PM 17mkII here While a few things have changed in the system I would say the PM 8004 I had at one time had a little sharper images with detail more obvious but the 17 has a slightly warmer more fluid sound. The bass is a little more full It sounds more "high end ' for lack of better terms