Retro Amp 70s 80s 90s Shootout: Sansui AU-317 - NAD 3120 - Marantz PM 80 MkII

[record_spot]

Yes, the very thing this forum needs with all its contemporary, height of the 21st Centruy tech - a retro-amp shootout with gear that's older than most of us combined!

Some background - in recent months I acquired a pair of AVI DM5 active speakers which are pretty much old school actives - no preamp, no streaming services, no DAC. You need to do it all outwith the boxes.

So that got me thinking, it might be nice to harness an old NAD amp, given its excellent preamp and phono amp capabilities and so it went from there.

Then I saw a Marantz PM80 Mk II and not long after a Sansui AU-317 (arriving tomorrow) and so it begins: a Wak-A-Mole shootout!

As it stands just now, and not having heard the Sansui (but, having previously owned an AU-217, I've a reasonable idea what to expect), the NAD 3120 is recapped and brought up to a present day spec and waiting to go, the Marantz is being run in for a few days now and no thanks to the f***wits at ParcelFarce, and we'll see what the Sansui brings.

So far, my impressions of the NAD are that it works brilliantly within its' window - stray beyond its remit and you'll be reminded in short order that it is indeed a 20watt amp. Stay within its borders though and you'll have a really great musical experience.

The Marantz is a much smoother performer though - ample power on tap, effortless indeed and a Damping Factor to make other amps weep, it doesn't really mind what it has to do, it'll peel away the layers of a musical onion and pare it all back. Sometimes it feels like a revelation and yet others, it's deeply frustrating - in practice, it's neutral. It'll paint what's there and the speaker gets on with it. It's an amp that doesn't get in the way of the recording, but my God, when it sings, it's breathtaking. This was £400 quid 30 years ago? Bargain. Let's see what tomorrow brings...

 

[Cricketbat70]

Just searched that Marantz on Google. That's a nice looking amp. First few that popped up on eBay still over £400.

 

[davidf]

Used to own a 317.

 

[nopiano]

Used to own a 317.

I remember selling them like hotcakes, especially with the tasty Sansui turntables of the day. Made a nice change from NAD and Dual. Lovely amps for the money!

 

[nopiano]

The Marantz is a much smoother performer though - ample power on tap, effortless indeed and a Damping Factor to make other amps weep, it doesn't really mind what it has to do, it'll peel away the layers of a musical onion and pare it all back. Sometimes it feels like a revelation and yet others, it's deeply frustrating - in practice, it's neutral. It'll paint what's there and the speaker gets on with it. It's an amp that doesn't get in the way of the recording, but my God, when it sings, it's breathtaking.

It’s surely a category above the NAD and Sansui? Is the the model with the class A option? Very nice kit!

There’s a SE model in black, and silver ones suffixed a. A bit rusty on these, but I expect it’s twice as good as my old PM40 that needs a bit of TLC, though probably not much beyond switch cleaner. It dates from c 1993, is that contemporary with your PM80 ll?

 

[record_spot]

Just searched that Marantz on Google. That's a nice looking amp. First few that popped up on eBay still over £400.

Yep, they still go for respectable, but not silly money. Build is pretty decent too.

 

[record_spot]

It’s surely a category above the NAD and Sansui? Is the the model with the class A option? Very nice kit!

There’s a SE model in black, and silver ones suffixed a. A bit rusty on these, but I expect it’s twice as good as my old PM40 that needs a bit of TLC, though probably not much beyond switch cleaner. It dates from c 1993, is that contemporary with your PM80 ll?

It should be, but there's no question it has a very different tonal presentation and some quirks that surprised me during playback. I've a few test tracks that I like to run through and one or two of them came across with some instruments slightly suppressed (which is the best way I can describe it). Happened on a couple of other CDs too. very odd!

That said, I think it might be that it needs a better speaker than the MS10i - no offence Mordaunt-Short fans - but good though they are, I think this amp can handle way more. The Class A thing? That's another story...!