Marantz 7 Preamplifier with Sovtek 12AX7s
Archived listing from the original vintage-amplifier.com. Prices, seller details and purchase links have been removed; this page is a reference record, and nothing here is for sale. About this archive.
Marantz 7 Tube PreAmp with wood enclosure from original owner. Very clean. Serial # 7-17912 Early 1960’s unit. All matched Sovtek 12AX7’s. Unit has been bench tested. Sounds & looks beautiful. Works 100%. In original wood cabinet.
About this model
Despite the title, the Marantz 7 is a preamplifier. It debuted in 1958, the year stereo records reached the public, and according to Sound & Vision it sold more than 130,000 units over a run of more than twelve years. Its six 12AX7s are the tubes owners most often change, and this original-owner example, serial 7-17912 from the early 1960s, had a matched set of Sovtek 12AX7s fitted.
It came in its original wooden cabinet. Serial numbers matter on Model 7s, so keep a note of it; collectors use them to date individual units.
| Maker | Marantz, New York, USA |
|---|---|
| Model | Model 7 stereo preamplifier |
| Introduced | 1958 |
| Tubes | 6 × 12AX7 (Sovtek in this unit) |
| Serial | 7-17912, early 1960s (listing) |
| Units sold | More than 130,000 (Sound & Vision) |
Questions collectors ask
Is the Marantz 7 a power amplifier?
No, it is a stereo preamplifier, introduced in 1958.
How many Marantz 7 preamps were made?
Sound & Vision reports more than 130,000 sold over a production run of more than twelve years.
Sources: Sound & Vision: Is This the Holy Grail of Classic American Hi-Fi?.
