I haven't listened to the Delta speakers (some of Kitchener/Waterloos finest) in a while, and they are sounding magnificent with the GAS/NAD combo and some Oscar Peterson (on vinyl).

I just bought a soldering iron!

There is lots more that I can do now. I should have done this two years ago!

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Keep Warm.

I have another Marantz 2220B

The faceplate is perfect, all corners clean and sharp. This unit was used by a single owner (I am the second) with a transparent protective cover over the faceplate.

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Marantz WC-22 Wood Sleeve

Unlike most manufacturers, Marantz components came standard with metal cases, and the company offered wood sleeves as extra cost options. I very much like the way the standard cases look, even though I can't say why theirs is the only fake woodgrain that looks cool to me. Ok, It's probably because unlike woodgrain applied over particle board, which gives the illusion of 3 dimensionality to the fake wood, it is clear that the Marantz cases are sheet metal, and that the woodgrain is an industrially applied pattern. There is an honesty to it. It surprises me that I prefer the sheet metal over the simulated wood skeeves that Pioneer and Sansui, to name two, used on all but their flagship models. For example, the Sansui 8080 is simulated woodgrain, while the 9090 is real. That's why I redid my 8080 case in teak.
Any Marantz owner could purchase a real wood veneer sleeve for their components. I don't know how much they cost in the seventies, but today (January 28, 2010) on Ebay there are a few for sale. The highest 'buy it now' price is $225, the average around $125. New reproduction cases cost more than many of the receivers they enclose!
They are not my cup of tea. While they are beautifully made, and look luxurious, to me they make the receivers look too bulky, and the way the aluminum front panel sits in the beveled front removes the perception of the faceplate as a 3 dimensional object, making it read as a 'skin'. They also in my opinion make the receivers look older than their seventies vintage...too retro for my taste.
All that being said, I have a beautiful WC-22 that will fit most Marantz 22XX receivers. My opinion is just that.

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Update.

I forgot to mention that the Szabo 831s left on Saturday for the home of a new friend of Seventies Stereo, who I know will enjoy them for a long time. On final listen, they sounded beautiful, with an especially good midrange.

I finally got around to finding and installing gaskets on the Burhoe Blues, which puts the final visual 'dot on the i' on a fantastic and rare speaker.

The latest Marantz 2220B sounds as good as it should, and will probably be leaving this afternoon.


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NAD & GAS

This combination is making me very happy.

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Just arrived: a beautiful Marantz 2220B

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NAD 1020 Preamp Photos

It's amazing how the light changes over a few hours.

As can be seen from the interior picture, the 1020 is built on the same board as the justifiably famous 3020 integrated amp, 2/3 of it (where power amp components would be) empty. I thought that it was exactly the 3020 preamp section minus power amp, but the back panel has 3 selectable phono capacitance settings. The 1020 preamp is all many will need: simple, inexpensive, and beautiful sounding. It's quite a rare beast, unfortunately.

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GAS Son Of Ampzilla

This is one of the best sounding amplifiers I've heard in my home: clean, clear, powerful and transparent in the best sense.

I was using Son of Ampzilla with the preamp that was part of the Technics mini component system and it sounded quite nice, but the Technics gear didn't stay here very long. The idea of using the preamp section of a receiver or integrated amp doesn't appeal to my sense of minimalism (there's another power amp just sitting idle). For most of the week I was simply plugging my DAC into the amps inputs, and controlling the volume from my computer. I found a NAD 1020 preamp that I have pressed into service, and It's sounding really good. I been able to really check out the performance of Son of Ampzilla with vinyl, and I love it.

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Paisley Research 10 inch 2 way photos.

I have a little more fine sanding to do, and there is only one coat of oil applied so far, but I wanted to show these. I don't have a model number (if you do, please e-mail me). They are big, heavy 10 inch 2 way systems, woofer above (Mission style!). I haven't removed the drivers, but am sure that they are from Vifa. They sound great, and look as good as they sound in their new oak veneer (originally woodgrain vinyl).

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Marantz 1040 Integrated Amp.

If you are curious about vintage Marantz, this is an excellent, inexpensive way to start.
Update 4 hours later: People agreed with me, and now it's gone!

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Szabo 831s

These have the same dome tweeter and midrange as the floorstanding 833s, and so far sound every bit as good while looking way cooler. The grills, shown in the bottom photo, are fishnet, like those silly Wharfedale E70s I had. They're a bit ratty, so I may buy a pair of extra large fishnet stockings and redo the grills. The point isn't the stockings. It's that these speakers rock.

Updated Friday:
They have new stockings and look perfect.

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I Guess It's Sony Day at Seventies Stereo.

I got these on Saturday. I was going to veneer the woodgrain side panels on these, as I did with the STR-5800 SD below. The receiver doesn't have metal sides, just a top, whereas the Sony separates of the same vintage have a full metal case, and side panels in addition. I think they look very cool without the wood.

This amp is the model down from my TA-3650, and rated at 50 watts/channel. It sounds amazing. I will check out the tuner soon, and let you know how it sounds.

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New Sony STR-5800 SD Photos

I veneered the fake wood side panels in real teak, as is my habit. This is a beautiful, great sounding receiver, produced from 1976-78. It's a solid 55 watts/channel, and at least as good sounding as the identically rated STR-V4.

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