Looking for new amp to replace trusty Marantz PM-53

[admin_exported]

My trusty Marantz PM-53 has decided to pack up after 17 years. The right hand channel has next to no volume no matter the volume level while the left hand channel works fine.

Is it likely to be worth repairing given its age or should i wave it off tearfully and get something new?

My knowledge of amps is fine up to 1999 but somewhat ropey in recent years as I found looking through eBay every item I was interested in was probably classed as "vintage".

I listen mostly to rock and the current system is Marantz CD48, NAD533 turntable and Tannoy DC6000 Bi-Wired using Nordost Super flatline.

I've narrowed my list of replacements to Yamaha S500, Marantz 6004 if buying new or second hand Arcam Alpha 8 or 9, or is there anything else I should look out for?

Thanks in advance.

 

[stevebrock]

I'd go for the Yamaha if Rock is your mainstay

 

[d_a_n1979]

Be handy to know your budget?!

Arcam Alpha 9 & 10 would work very well; don't bother with the 8; too smooth, mellow, warm etc...

NAD C320BEE, C352 or C355BEE would be very good choices as well.

personally I'd leave the Yamaha amps; too bright/clinical and to me would make for a harsh sound with rock etc...

The Marantz PM6004 is a belter of an amp & would work well; however a 7004 would be a better choice. One on eBay currently too ( and a 6004 come to think of it)!

 

[k77stan]

Be handy to know your budget?!

Arcam Alpha 9 & 10 would work very well; don't bother with the 8; too smooth, mellow, warm etc...

NAD C320BEE, C352 or C355BEE would be very good choices as well.

personally I'd leave the Yamaha amps; too bright/clinical and to me would make for a harsh sound with rock etc...

The Marantz PM6004 is a belter of an amp & would work well; however a 7004 would be a better choice. One on eBay currently too ( and a 6004 come to think of it)!

yep,C352 is what i choose as well as i only listen to metal and rock.. :rockout:

 

[Anonymous]

Cheers for the replies, in terms of budget as daft as it sounds I haven't got as such, other than as cheap as poss! If paying for it outright then I don't want to go too much over £230-250, although I have seen some finance deals available for more expensive amps, the annoying thing is I've just bought a new camera and lenses which is using the money I would have used for the amp.

The Yamaha sounds on paper to be a good buy, but I was struggling to let go of Marantz after being fairly happy with the old amp. My main concern was wther or not the amps I was looking at would be "good enough" for the speakers or should I be looking at the likes of the 7004 and similar?

Had a look at the NADs but am I right in thinking I'd need a seperate phono stage also with these?

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry duplicate post.

 

[d_a_n1979]

With most of the mentioned amps you'll need a phono stage unless one is built in.

Up to £250 will get you a very old amp indeed and personally I'd go 2nd hand as you'll get more bang for your buck that way!

Some of the Arcam Alpha 9s and 10s may have a phono stage built in. The NADs won't but they have a fairly good external phono amp which again can be bought 2nd hand via eBay for not a lot of £££ as well.

 

[MajorFubar]

Sorry to state the obvious but if you really like the PM-53, why not get another? Ok you might have to wait a few weeks for one to appear. Trying to find something as good but new will always be hit n miss unless you've got lots of money to spend.
I would also recommend the PM-66KI that I use. It has a good phono-stage as well.

 

[drummerman]

Its likely to be just some solder dry joints, as on an PM66 I recently had in, or one resistor, R802 on the 66 though it may have the same number on your 53. You should be able to see if it has damage. It is a 1/2w 47ohm metal film which is in line just after the rectifier diode and can over heat..

Many older Marantzes fail there. It is a quick, cheap and easy repair for someone with a little soldering experience or you could point a service agent in the direction to save some money.

regards

 

[Anonymous]

Cheers Drummerman, I'll get that looked at tonight, if it is what you're suggesting(or similar) should be able to get it fixed as one of my colleagues is pretty nifty with the old solder.

I had thought about getting a replacement, there are a couple available for auction at the moment, but its the fact they are going for £80-100, I was (un)lucky enought to work for Currys while at Uni and after leaving and managed to get the display unit for £117, ther is just something about almost paying the same 17 years later.

Whats really annoying me is when I bought the speakers just over 2 years ago (DC3000 not DC6000 my mistake) the guy who I bought them from offered me his NAD325 for £70. I turned it down as the other half put her foot down with having "yet another box" in the living room when she found out it need a phono stage. Kicking myself now.

Thinking I might take a trip to my nearest Hi FI shop and have a look at the Marantz and NAD and just keep an eye on the auction sites to get more of an idea to whats about.

Even if I get it fixed I'm thinking I'll upgrade anyway and put the amp in storage with my Tannoy 631SEs for my wee lad, he's only three but he'll need a good system and it's be a good starting block!! (don't like getting rid of good kit).

Thanks again for the comments guys.

 

[the record spot]

If your Nordost Flatline is made from silver, then you might want to be careful with what you partner against it. Personally, given the amp that the PM53 was, I'd see if you can get a Sansui AU-217 or 317. Fabulous amps, that still comfortably stack up well today. Many are often serviced and ready to go. Failing that, some of the Harman amps, though the bigger models don't often come up in the UK. Lastly, Onkyo's terrific TX8050 might be worth checking out if you can find it on a deal.

 

[ID.]

If your Nordost Flatline is made from silver, then you might want to be careful with what you partner against it.

IIRC the flatline is a copper cable. I have a later version of it and I don't think it is lean or bright, so that shouldn't be an issue. FWIW my current cable is silver with silver banana plugs, and it is slightly brighter than my Nordost and a bit brighter again than my Oyaide Tunami.

 

[Anonymous]

If your Nordost Flatline is made from silver, then you might want to be careful with what you partner against it. Personally, given the amp that the PM53 was, I'd see if you can get a Sansui AU-217 or 317. Fabulous amps, that still comfortably stack up well today. Many are often serviced and ready to go. Failing that, some of the Harman amps, though the bigger models don't often come up in the UK. Lastly, Onkyo's terrific TX8050 might be worth checking out if you can find it on a deal.

Had a look still had the box kicking around and it is copper, there was I remember though a definitate "clarity" in the top end and more open sound when I changed to it from the cable talk 3.1 ( too be fair at that price there should be!) that I had been using. I'll have a look on line at those amps you mentioned not too familiar with the Sansui and HK stuff.

I have noticed a couple of Aura V100 Evolution MKII s on a certain auction site. On paper look good, I know they were built by B&W and the MkII I can finsd is better than the previous version. All I can find on line is a few comments along the lines of "very rare" "snap them up" etc, but no reviews or any thing of substance. Any one heard or tried on of these?