Just a thought....

I have worked for a variety of Manufactures and other large firms..... mostly in engineering roles of some type. I wonder how those Marantz guys from the 60's and 70's feel looking back at what they did.....?

I mean how often does a product reach the status of Marantz? 35 plus years later....you would have to think a lot of these units will still be kicking in another 30 years....

I can think of few other Iconic products that hit home runs..... Chevy small block, the B52 bomber, Ford Mustang,..... things that will last forever because it just struck a note with people....or was a head of its time...or designed/build so well that it is still functional today..... That people decide to make the investment in a vintage product....

The I-pod is great product....but will people still use today's version 35 years from now? I doubt it very much....how about a PC .... toast in 4 or 5 years or less.... TVs.....Hmmmm, 10 years or so.....no one looks on ebay for a vintage TV from the 70's....

I remember as teen in the 70's looking at Ohm F's & Marantz 4400s in stores and just being bowled over by them....just hoping I could afford something "space age" like them....hoping they would still be made when I am older and can afford them....

Well, I a recently scored the 4400 and it still has that "shwing" factor for me.... But what really amazes me is the affect that Marantz equipment from that period still has on people....35 years later.... Even people that never saw the 4400 are taken back by it.... Everyone seems to get back to the "Lets light up and put the Doors on the stereo...." mood.

Its a very rare combination.... Did they have a clue at the time? That people would even care about what they did 35 years later, not just the 4400 but all the products........ I could only hope that people care about what I do today , 35 years later..... the industry I am in, not a prayer... the stuff is history in 7 years or less....

They did good.... any of them on this board? To share what it was like back in the day when they had the chance to do it right and did do it right....

Just a thought....


johnk

or should I say Saul knew and, the rest just followed his design, the funny thing is that I have mine dialed in so well right now, just very lucky I guess! could be better but, that's half or more than the fun!!

And where are those engineers now...............maybe they are 60yo or so only? Maybe someone knows one?

maybe it has to do with the fact that there has been no major improvement in sound technology except making it more compact since 70s

Not to mention pure art. A thing of beauty that puts out beautiful sound.

I think that every engineer jumps for joy when the boss doesn't say "let's see how cheaply we can make it."

Fred Longworth

I think that every engineer jumps for joy when the boss doesn't say "let's see how cheaply we can make it."

Fred Longworth

As an Engineer, I can tell you I've never heard a boss say anything but "lets see how cheaply we can make it" !:no:

:yes: very true

I love my vintage audio gear and vintage cars but I would also love to have a fleet of B-52 bombers with full pay loads.

The 7C, 8B and 10B were statement products (as we say nowadays) from the get-go, and everyone involved knew it.

e.g., Look at the 8B schematic. There was a "trimmer" circuit to tune for the characteristics of the exact output transformers in every 8B.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/mhardy6647/Marantz8Bbefore.jpg

The 7C, 8B and 10B were statement products (as we say nowadays) from the get-go, and everyone involved knew it.

e.g., Look at the 8B schematic. There was a "trimmer" circuit to tune for the characteristics of the exact output transformers in every 8B.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/mhardy6647/Marantz8Bbefore.jpg

Any company that paints the inside of the chassis has to be admired :thmbsp: Nice picture...

Lefty

Here's the "after"... what a beautiful piece of hardware at all levels.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/mhardy6647/Marantz8Bafter.jpg

I'll bet the engineers at the time knew they were producing outstanding stuff, but I'll bet they never knew that in 2007, this stuff would be commanding hundreds, even thousands of dollars on the used market! You mentioned a 4400 as a stunning piece, and it is, but even the little 2015 I just sold is stunning! Virtually every Marantz product from the era was beautiful! When my son was about 12, I placed a modern black Marantz receiver and a 2252B in front of him. I told him to pick one to keep. Without hesitation, he picked the 2252B.....it is absolutely a stunning work of art! Hopefully a former Marantz engineer will someday see this thread, and it will put a smile on his/her face!

I love my vintage audio gear and vintage cars but I would also love to have a fleet of B-52 bombers with full pay loads.

Hehehehehe, I can tell by your ID....and me too......

jk

maybe it has to do with the fact that there has been no major improvement in sound technology except making it more compact since 70s

I also think the sky rocketing inflation of the late 70s" - early 80's and the deep ression of 82.... killed the hi end audio market back then. People were having a hard time paying their mortgages... mortgage interest rates were 18% and inflation was 15% for several months in 1980 .... 78 to 81 the inflation was a killer.

1979 11.3%
1980 13.5
1981 10.3
1982 6.2
1983 3.2

I remember people used to take out personal loans for some of this stuff...I was still in school. But the high interest rates stopped people. These days people just nail the credit card.


I think that also killed the audio market and pushed Marantz into the hands of Philps. The bad economics of around 80 and 81 is the same time of Marantz's fall....

jk