Marantz PM66 KI signature system match

[Jonathan Cox]

Hi all, I'm looking to build new stereo set up for small-medium room 3.5 x 3m approx. Recently bought new Marantz CD6004 and loving it, but amplification through a 20 year old Pioneer all in one currently while I save for amp and speakers. Really fancy the Rega Brio-r, but have read great things on here and elsewhere about Marantz PM66 KI sig and can get one mint for £135. Very tempted to get this and then compare with the Rega when I have the money saved. Any thoughts on this idea would be greatly appreciated. If it helps I like to listen to metal, instrumentalists like Joe Satriani and John Pattitucci, Kate Bush, The Police, Led Zeppelin and a lot of live stuff. Detail is great but love to be drawn in to the music emotionally and have hairs on neck rise if you get my drift! Also, love headphone listening and looking to eventually get a record deck. Headphones are Goldring DR 150s.

 

[eggontoast]

The Marantz PM66KI was an excellent amplifier in it's day and still can shame new amplifiers which cost a lot more money today IMO. If you can find a mint one for £130 with the remote it's a steel, I usually sell them between £170-180. With regards to the headphone output it is also excellent, I have listened to one on many occasions and it holds it's own against most dedicated headphone amplifiers costing lots and lots of money.

 

[MajorFubar]

^^^WHS really. Highly recommended. I can't comment on how well it compares to modern budget/mid-price amps, but I'd guess the answer would be 'very favourably'. Go for it!!

 

[Jonathan Cox]

Your comments have really reassured me guys, thanks a lot for the prompt input from you. Was looking at dedicated headphone amps so nice to hear good things about the amp's built in one too. Model I can get hasn't got the remote but really not an issue for me. Don't mind the odd venture from my chair and would think the remote with my CD6004 should operate the amp too. Thanks again, Jon.

 

[Jonathan Cox]

Update, received PM66 today, and it sounds tremendous to my ears. I think my original 20 year old Pioneer speakers are a bit harsh, huge improvement through the headphone amp though. I'm chomping at the bit to get new speakers!! Any suggestions would be appreciated by the way, been reading about Dynaudio 2/6, Rega RS series, Castle Knight 3 and Mon Aud RX1 or BX5. Oh, and the remote for my Marantz CD6004 works fine with the PM66 KI if anyone else needs to know.

 

[MajorFubar]

That's great Jonathan, i'm glad you like it.

I'm sure someone will be along shortly to recommend some speakers for you to short-list. I'm currently using some Mission 794s with my PM66 KIS which I like a lot, but their delivery is not to everyone's taste (going by one or two so-so reviews I have read).

 

[Jonathan Cox]

Update - so finally been and tested a range of speakers for above set up using same cd6004 and the shop's matching pm6004 amp. My impressions were thus i) Castle Knight 2 - so disappointing, dull and lifeless (maybe brighter electronics would help these?)

ii) B and W 685. Much better but just didn't get on with their tone

iii) Monitor Audio BX2. Excellent, at this point thought these would be what I'd end up with, detail and bass quality lovely, liked the overall tone immensly.

iv) Monitor Audio BX5. Again very good but actually preferred BX2, regardless of the extra £250 they cost.

v) Monitor Audio RX1. Altogether different level in my opinion, unsurprisingly similar sound to BX2, but noticed the bass was as thumping but more real sounding, and soundstage a lot bigger especially with vocals. Detail so impressive.

So went back to the BX2 for a second listen, I knew then that I'd be getting the RX1s, definitely felt the extra £200 to be justified. I'm still running them in now playing Pulp Fiction soundtrack, sounds great to me even in my not ideal small room. Next buy for me will be a nice rack so I can move the whole lot downstairs into my larger room, where I hope they'll really open up.

In summary then I'd still definitely recommend BX2 in their price range, but I felt would regret not getting RX1 in the long run, which I definitely still stand by. And my PM66 Ki amp sounds as good as the PM6004, even though speakers have had only a few hours use so far... Hope this helps others, and any comments are welcome. Cheers!

 

[MajorFubar]

How have I missed this!
Glad to hear you found good parners for your Marantz amp.

 

[acoustique]

Update, received PM66 today, and it sounds tremendous to my ears. I think my original 20 year old Pioneer speakers are a bit harsh, huge improvement through the headphone amp though. I'm chomping at the bit to get new speakers!! Any suggestions would be appreciated by the way, been reading about Dynaudio 2/6, Rega RS series, Castle Knight 3 and Mon Aud RX1 or BX5. Oh, and the remote for my Marantz CD6004 works fine with the PM66 KI if anyone else needs to know.

Try it the Focal speakers, the french company, I find it an excellent matching!

 

[acoustique]

Sorry, now i see how old is this topic.*dash1*

 

[Smudger]

Hi, I have a Marantz PM66 ki signature that I have had new since 1999. Is there a Bluetooth box of tricks that I can get in order to play music from my smart phone through the PM66? What would be the best solution? Regards.

 

[CarlDW]

The Arcam Miniblink should do the job nicely. Around £90. Simply connect to your amp and stream from your mobile. The Crystal Acoustics BluDac is slightly cheaper but has good reviews also.

 

[Jonathan Cox]

I can give is an Apple Airport Express. I connect to amp aux output with a Qed J2P lead as amp has no digital output. Hardly any drop in sound quality compared to my CD player. I stream Spotify from iPhone works perfectly sound superb.