Back to the beginning

[RoA]

Well, maybe not to the beginning but about 30 years back; Whilst looking at some ebay items a Marantz PM66KI Sig popped up on suggested items. I had the non KI version (PM66SE) back then. Like the amplifier a lot but it developed a fault with one channel and I never bothered to have it repaired and moved on to many other brands since then.

There are a lot of KI signature and PM66 SE's around still. I may just get one for a little fun (I have several amplifiers). I don't think they have any parts that can't be replaced and are of relatively simple layout compared to modern ones.

I use period speakers now, Mission 752 Freedom.

What can I expect?

 

[Gray]

What can I expect?

You can expect a great amp.
Everything you say about it is true.
I was lucky enough to get one when they first came out for a trade price of £280.

I only truly appreciated how good it was after it had been stored away - when I demoed it to a buyer 😕
I should've kept it, if only to use as a phono preamp.

The small signal switches aren't the greatest - and a bit too susceptible to contamination (even despite my care to avoid it).
That means, ironically, that the 'source / direct' can cause the sort of issues....that it's there solely to prevent 🤨
Tape monitor switches are the same type.
Switch cleaner works wonders of course - but even so, as the tape inputs get priority (due to the tape monitor function) they're the purest inputs to use (because their signals go through fewer switch contacts).

Mine failed once in use, but I repaired that myself.
Otherwise it was fine - complete with the lovely copper back - that you never really see 🤪

(I've still got a 'champagne gold' CD6000KI with no plans to lose that, even if it gets little use these days).