Marantz 2385 with hd77 rebuild

[Hughjazz]

I was given a Marantz 2385 as a wedding gift from my father. It came fully rebuilt and ready to go only no speakers to go with it. I was able to find some Cerwin Vega AT 12’s online for $180. They sound good to me but I know they are not up to par with the 2385. After searching online I was able to find some Marantz hd77 speakers that needed a good loving home. Thankfully I found this site with all the information I need to rebuild these speakers. So far I used Howard’s restore a finish which impressed me with the results. I am currently waiting for the new capacitors. I am also building some grills. I will post some more pictures as this project progresses

 

[Steven Tate]

Wow. Great looking receiver! It ought to sound great with those speakers. Congrats on the receiver and the marriage.

 

[voodoocanoe]

Welcome, Congratulations and great set up. I don't see the Vari-Q plugs for the speakers in the pictures, if you don't have them do a search on here for "Vari-Q"

 

[Fairlane]

Man what a great wedding present. Sure beats a mixer in my book!

 

[Hughjazz]

They came with no Vari-Q plugs. My father has a pair of them to go with his DS 920 speakers. I might have to borrow them without him knowing once I have mine completed. It would be a good blind test for him.

 

[The Fuxtor]

How big are the ports on those?? I picked up a pair of HD660 variq plugs thinking they would work on a set of HD770 but I ended up selling the set before the plugs arrived!
I think these are approx 2.5 inches in diameter. They totally match your tweets on that set....

 

[Steven Tate]

You likely can find plumbers plugs at Home Depot that do exactly the same thing. I did this with my JBL L-100's when I followed a guru's plans for a completely new up-to-date crossover build. He recommended the plugs, and in this speaker, it really damped down the bass distortion from the cone moving too wildly at higher volumes.

 

[nolasally]

my 2385 sounds great with either my hd88 or hd880. I prefer the hd88's though..Now all you need is a 6300tt to finish out the setup

 

[Hughjazz]

my 2385 sounds great with either my hd88 or hd880. I prefer the hd88's though..Now all you need is a 6300tt to finish out the setup

I have been looking at the Marantz turntables for while now and they are out of my price range. I have a Sony ps11 with a ortofon red on it. Would rather spend some money on my vinyl collection right now. Here is a picture of a holder I made for my collection.

 

[Hughjazz]

I found enough time today to change the capacitors in one of the speakers. The new ones are a lot smaller. Hopefully I can find some time this week to deoxit the pods and reassemble the speaker to do a side by side test.

 

[Denten]

You just downgraded your crossovers, The old caps are polypropylene and don't need replacing, and they are far superior to those BP electrolytic's you replaced them with.
If it were me I would put the old ones back or get new film caps.
You are gonna love your 2385, she is a beast! I love mine.

 

[Hughjazz]

I reassembled the one speaker today to do a side by side test. I could only hear a difference at high volume or if I turned the treble up. The new capacitors did sound a bit brighter. I had the wife and mother in law listen and they both thought the same. They sure take more power to run than the Cerwin Vegas but sound that much better.

 

[Hughjazz]

I have found time to finish the speaker covers and have them hooked up now. The wife doesn’t like the look of them. But I think they are growing on her I had Lynyrd Skynyrd playing on vinyl and she turned it up. Usually she is turning the music down.

 

[Fairlane]

"Turn it up", said in a southern accent.

Seriously that is a great Marantz combo.

 

[Bigyank]

I have found time to finish the speaker covers and have them hooked up now. The wife doesn’t like the look of them. But I think they are growing on her I had Lynyrd Skynyrd playing on vinyl and she turned it up. Usually she is turning the music down.

I am gearing up for a rebuild of a pair of HD77's. Interesting grill choice. Did you build these? Based on one of your pics it looks like some velcro tabs? Would love to see more pics. Awesome receiver too.