Finally took the plunge and just bought a Marantz PM8005 for £580 from superfi using the black friday discounts.....had my eye on one for a while, and couldnt resist it at that price... but ive never heard one! Gulp! I know its a risk, however as there is a 14 day returns period, im viewing it as a "home demo" so if i dont like it, its no loss......plus its getting great reviews from people on here so think i should be sound.
New Amp - took a punt
- Thread starter philpot1001
- Start date
Blacksabbath25
Well-known member
its a very good amp and you got it for a good price to well done as they were a £1000 when they first came out . you will need to run it in first before you get it singing nice it had taken me 2-3 weeks before it sounded right .philpot1001 said:
Covenanter
Well-known member
One of the best decisions I ever made and I paid much more than they now go for as I was early in. I remember the surprised look on the salesman's face as it was an amp that they didn't stock and he hadn't heard it before.
It just does the right thing. It amplifies without adding or subtracting from the music and it seems very comfortable driving even my quite large speakers at volumes that are more than loud enough for me.
Chris
It just does the right thing. It amplifies without adding or subtracting from the music and it seems very comfortable driving even my quite large speakers at volumes that are more than loud enough for me.
Chris
Going to give it hard use (not volume, just hours lol 
for 1-2 weeks and make sure its for me, but im pretty certain from what ive heard about it, it should suit.
Welcome to the 21st century for me lol....does mean i may have to sell my Denon, having said that its like an old friend and at 20 years old its done me so proud i may just keep it
for 1-2 weeks and make sure its for me, but im pretty certain from what ive heard about it, it should suit.Welcome to the 21st century for me lol....does mean i may have to sell my Denon, having said that its like an old friend and at 20 years old its done me so proud i may just keep it
Blacksabbath25
Well-known member
i have kept my old amp + cd player just in case anything happens to my setup . i no a lot of people say its rubbish about running in a amp but i felt that the pm8005 opened up after 2 weeks as you will find out with yours . the pm8005 is bulit like a tank lol its heavy well bulit and well worth the money you can not go wrong you took a good risk on it not that i like taking risks myself but i had taken a risk when i got mine but could not find a dealer that had one for a demo where i live . let us no what you think after 2 weeksphilpot1001 said:Going to give it hard use (not volume, just hours lol
Welcome to the 21st century for me lol....does mean i may have to sell my Denon, having said that its like an old friend and at 20 years old its done me so proud i may just keep it
Blacksabbath25 said:i have kept my old amp + cd player just in case anything happens to my setup . i no a lot of people say its rubbish about running in a amp but i felt that the pm8005 opened up after 2 weeks as you will find out with yours . the pm8005 is bulit like a tank lol its heavy well bulit and well worth the money you can not go wrong you took a good risk on it not that i like taking risks myself but i had taken a risk when i got mine but could not find a dealer that had one for a demo where i live . let us no what you think after 2 weeksphilpot1001 said:Going to give it hard use (not volume, just hours lol
Welcome to the 21st century for me lol....does mean i may have to sell my Denon, having said that its like an old friend and at 20 years old its done me so proud i may just keep it
If you like the sound straight up also let us know what you think after a few hours.
OK, got it delivered on Saturday and played about 2-3 hours worth to make sure it was OK for me.
Initial impressions are
PROS
bass is improved - its a little tighter and noticabley deeper. Also the separation is improved, i can hear quite a bit more detail over my Denon, details like peolple breathing that i had not noticed before. The tone controls are a nice touch, and handy for poor masterings, so im glad i opted for them, that said it remains to be seen how much i actually use them.
CONS
i personally find the finish a little plasticky, considering my "budget" Denon had a full metal fascia, its a little dissapointing for what was a £1000 amp to have a plastic fascia. Its also a bit of an ugly brute, but i appreciate thats subjective - im not a fan of all the blue lights etc, i find it a little "busy". Shame as the CD6005 is actually rather pretty, and considering they are based on the same design....?
OVERALL
happy really, i knew about the aesthetics to begin with and i accepted that comprimise due to the functionality of the tone controls and the price point... need to play a lot more music to give anything meanigful regarding sound quality - and as my mrs paid quite a bit towards it as an xmas present she has demanded it go back in the box until xmas now lol. In Jan i will attempt to write some kind of a review. I think its worth the £580 i paid as an upgrade from the Denon, however it was not night and day difference, and i dont think i would have paid the original £1000 asking price... ive long been an advocate of diminishing returns, and again that opinion will be subjective. This will be my last amplifier upgrade i would imagine.
Initial impressions are
PROS
bass is improved - its a little tighter and noticabley deeper. Also the separation is improved, i can hear quite a bit more detail over my Denon, details like peolple breathing that i had not noticed before. The tone controls are a nice touch, and handy for poor masterings, so im glad i opted for them, that said it remains to be seen how much i actually use them.
CONS
i personally find the finish a little plasticky, considering my "budget" Denon had a full metal fascia, its a little dissapointing for what was a £1000 amp to have a plastic fascia. Its also a bit of an ugly brute, but i appreciate thats subjective - im not a fan of all the blue lights etc, i find it a little "busy". Shame as the CD6005 is actually rather pretty, and considering they are based on the same design....?
OVERALL
happy really, i knew about the aesthetics to begin with and i accepted that comprimise due to the functionality of the tone controls and the price point... need to play a lot more music to give anything meanigful regarding sound quality - and as my mrs paid quite a bit towards it as an xmas present she has demanded it go back in the box until xmas now lol. In Jan i will attempt to write some kind of a review. I think its worth the £580 i paid as an upgrade from the Denon, however it was not night and day difference, and i dont think i would have paid the original £1000 asking price... ive long been an advocate of diminishing returns, and again that opinion will be subjective. This will be my last amplifier upgrade i would imagine.
Blacksabbath25
Well-known member
hi the face plate is made of aluminium it's not plastic . Let me no when it's run in a bit more as I found it sounded tight out of the box and opened up after week or too . I run mine on direct mode as I think it sounds a lot better that way . The amp is the same design as the 6005 just deeper that's all and the blue lights are LEDs lights which you can not turn off but this will not effect the sound in anyway . The build is very good quality just look at the 6005 you will see a difference in quality . The pm8005 is a very good work horse and should last yearsphilpot1001 said:
jjbomber
Well-known member
philpot1001 said:
Ignore your 'buyer's remorse' feelings. You've had a great bargain there. Just enjoy the music.
overall im happy with it, certainly i didnt have much to grumble about sound wise .....however i believe in giving a warts n all review of anything i buy, and there are some minor cons in my opinion.....I would buy it again though given the choice as like i say the comprimises are worth it at £580!
Are you sure its Alu? I could be wrong, but had a look yesterday and it seemed plastic to me, ill double check when i get home.
Are you sure its Alu? I could be wrong, but had a look yesterday and it seemed plastic to me, ill double check when i get home.
Blacksabbath25
Well-known member
yes sure it aluminium if you use your nails lightly tap or scratch the surface around the sides and a round the face plate you will seephilpot1001 said:
Blacksabbath25
Well-known member
Cheers Blacksabbath, i stand corrected
PS dont want to sound like im wailing on the marantz as im certainly not, im looking forward to some long listening sessions with it and getting to know it properly!...sounds like a love in now lol.
PS dont want to sound like im wailing on the marantz as im certainly not, im looking forward to some long listening sessions with it and getting to know it properly!...sounds like a love in now lol.
tonky said:
Yep agreed Tonky, hence the purchase. Certainly from what i have heard so far im a happy bunny, cant wait until i can get my teeth into it properly.
I'd rather have an "ugly" amp with a great sound than the other way round. You have a super sounding piece of kit at a bargain price. Enjoy the music! - this amp performs well out of its price bracket (inmho)
cheers tonky
cheers tonky
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