Technical information
A HISTORY OF MILESTONES
1953: e “Audio Consolette”
e rst-ever Marantz-inspired product was indeed a breakthrough moment in audiophile history.
It was also the rst of many.
1958: New quality benchmark
One of the most pivotal moments came with the simultaneous release of three legends: the Model 7 (pre-
amplier), Model 8 (stereo power amp) and the Model 9 (mono power amp), all introduced in 1958.
ese units redened HiFi quality by such a quantum leap, that they remained benchmark models for
11 consecutive years, with the Model 7 selling more than 130,000 units. Soon after in 1963, the Model
10B also redened quality for FM tuners with its in-built oscilloscope that veried power and balance.
1970s: Mega-amp revolution
is era saw Marantz reach new heights with very powerful ampliers and receivers, of which the
Model 500 produced a remarkable 2x 250W / 8 ohm. By the early 80s the Model 2600 2ch receiver was
also gaining popularity, this 32kg unit boasted 300 watts RMS per channel x2 at 8 ohms.
en followed the Esotec Series, which included the 42kg SM1000 stereo power amp with 2x 400W /
8 ohms. e Esotec Series is also currently treasured by audiophiles for its unique TT1000 turntable which
features a glass-aluminium sandwich chassis.
1980s: Compact Disc
Within one year of the CD format being nalized in 1983, Marantz, Philips and Sony were rst to
launch commercial CD-Players. At that time decoders only delivered a 14bit resolution, however with
4x oversampling, the Marantz player CD63 reached a resolution of 16bit and the company immediately
won the deserved reputation as the CD-Specialist.
First Dolby Surround
1985 saw Marantz setting new standards in the AV world, with the revolutionary RV-55 the rst com-
mercially available set with a Dolby Surround processor. is made it possible – for the rst time ever
– to enjoy fantastic cinema. People could experience the ear-cracking Star Wars Trilogy, the thunder of
Ghostbusters and the music of Flashdance – all in their own living room.
1990s: Superior CD players
In 1993 a new CD-63 was developed, although it carried the same name as its predecessor it was light
years from the original CD63 technology of 1983. is player sold more than 160,000 pieces, and was
the inspiration behind the rst ever KI Signature model in 1995.
First audiophile 5-channel AV-Receiver
Later in 1999 the rst audiophile 5-channel AV-Receiver was introduced, the SR-14, for which Marantz
applied its expertise gained made from Premium Audio Reproduction. e result was a completely new
benchmark in AV quality, and not surprisingly the SR-14 won many awards and was installed in many
reviewer listening rooms as the “one to beat”.
2000s: Reference Quality
Since then Marantz, as a CD-Specialist, has continued to work at the forefront, and when the Super
Audio CD (SA-CD) was introduced in 1999, the company launched the reference player SA-1. In 2006
it was time for a new reference Player SA-7S1 which was guided by the preamplier SC-7S1 and the
power mono amp MA-9S1.
2013: e birth of an entirely new era
And now, in the year of its 60th anniversary, Marantz unveils a new era in audiophile sensation. Just as
the rst pre-amp made the very most of LP vinyl records, and the Marantz CD63 dened a new level
CD quality, so too is the next new media being given the Marantz touch of excellence: the new NA-11S1
Network Player and the new Consolette Wireless Streaming Speaker. What a fabulously poetic way to
start the next 60 years!
For more information please visit our dedicated microsite: www.marantz.eu/history
Audio Consolette Model 9 / Model 7 Model 2600 TT1000 CD63 SR-14 ConsoletteSA-1
1953 19831958 19991979 19991979 2013