Hello, Can any knowledgeable person advise me whether a new Marantz PM6004 amp would be noticeably superior to my old Pioneer SX-6000 tuner amp which is about 35 years old and has one channel out of action. It's quite a heavy item and is rated at 40 watts per channel and would probably have been in a comparable bracket to the Marantz in it's day. If there would be no discerable difference, then I'll just have it repaired.
New amp versus old
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I would expect the SX-6000 to sound rather "warm and wooly" compared to the Marantz. Personally I don't think it's worth getting fixed.
I would go for the musical sounding Marantz, or with a bigger budget, the Arcam FMJ A18 (not so much of a shock after the Pioneer).
I would go for the musical sounding Marantz, or with a bigger budget, the Arcam FMJ A18 (not so much of a shock after the Pioneer).
You might be surprised regarding the sound of the older receiver. With the Sansui gear I've had, none of it's been warm or woolly. I think that might be down to fading memories of what older hifi is supposed to sound like maybe, but I'd always found it to be quite contemporary in how it made the stereo sound. Depends on cost for the fix and what needs replacing, so it might well be worth buying new anyway if the older amp is too costly to repair and Marantz have always been there or thereabouts with their gear IMO.
the record spot said:
To be fair, I suppose it depends on the model. Some of the Sansui amps (including your carefully chosen ones) have reached legendary status (as have certain Pioneers), but I've never heard much of a stir with this model.
The only way to know for sure, is if the OP goes for a demo of the Marantz and possibly the Arcam.
Yep, fair comment; receivers like the SX-1980 were immense (in size and performance!), this one seems like a smaller piece from the Pioneer range. I'd expect the Marantz to be the better amp too, but the old stuff can still turn in an okay job. Cost of repair is the big thing though, that can rack up to being more than the thing's worth!
the record spot said:
...Exactly my worry.
A quick google mostly shows people wondering how to get them fixed!
plastic penguin
Well-known member
Ewan said:
I used to have the old Pioneer SA-706 which had fabulous clarity. Loved it so much I literally kept it until it dropped (17 years to be precise).
If I was in your position I would look at a replacement amp, whether it's another Pioneer or a newer model, rather than trying to fix something that'll have a limited lifespan. If it's replaced with another oldie make sure you get it from a dealer that specialises in retro equipment. This way, if it does go belly up, you'll have, hopefully, a warranty of some sorts.
chebby
Well-known member
Ewan said:
It was made from 1971 - 1973 so it could be 40 years old.
Okay, 40 year old Quads and Sugdens - for instance - can be repaired and given a new lease of life (because both companies still service all their old gear) but you will struggle to find anyone who will do the same for your Pioneer. (Pioneer certainly won't!)
It might be worth hunting down someone with the expertise, but it is extremely likely that a lot of components (especially capacitors) will need replacing just to make it safe. Good luck if you go this route.
Your Pioneer predates my experience of 1970s hi-fi by up to almost a decade, so I cannot comment on how it would compare to a Marantz PM6004 (even in tip-top condition).
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