Amp Recommendations for Marantz 7c

I recently acquired a Marantz 7 with intentions in setting up a second system that would be more or less a vintage set up.

@c_cocobean I hope the work you are having done is having the power supply rebuilt in that preamp (or it was recently done prior to purchase). If it is stock and still working, it won't be for long and when it fails it can take out the power transformer which would be tragic. It also will not sound right if the power supply is compromised!

It will work fine with any vintage amp. One of the best vintage amps is the Harmon Kardon Citation 2. If you have one that is properly refurbished, and if your preamp is also, you may find the 'vintage' sound to be quite excellent. Have fun!

@atmasphere yes, power supply is being addressed. @yakbob I have had that same set up. Once ran a restored st70 (not BL Mod) with a marantz 7t. Sounded great, that is why I thought to look into an ST70/ST120 Bob Latino mod. I am also considering vintage quad ii monos- Eico HT-87-Pilot sa-260. 

Fred’s Sound Of Music in Portland Oregon has the 7C/8B combo for sale. I don’t know if they’ll separate them, but a call to them will get an answer.

Roger Modjeski of Music Reference/RAM Tubes said he considered the 8B superior to the Model 9, and didn’t much care for the Citation amps at all. But Roger was (R.I.P.) a very opinionated SOB ;-) .

Ya know, for the price of modified/updated Dynaco Stereo 70’s, you can get the wonderful little Music Reference RM-10 Mk.2, a far better amp (I’ve had both). If you do want an ST-70, the redesign Frank Van Alstine did is a good one.

Roger Modjeski of Music Reference/RAM Tubes said he considered the 8B superior to the Model 9, and didn’t much care for the Citation amps at all.

I think the 8b was a better amp than the model 9 as well. But the Citation 2 was better than either; one way that it was better was better output transformers. I do prefer some of the construction of the Marantz power amps but the Citation is no slouch in that regard- most of its circuitry is built up on turret boards.

And of course there is no output transformer as good as none, so if you have the $ and the "right" loudspeaker (the higher and most even its’ modulus of impedance the better, and relatively sensitive) and room (small-to-medium), look into Atma-Sphere’s fantastic S-30.