Marantz Model 8 Tube Amplifier
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.
Vintage Marantz model 8 tube amplifier. Amp is in very good condition for the age. There are scratches and ding on the chassis. Amp work perfectly with no hum or noise. Tubes are all EH electro harmonix. Come with original cage and upgrade power plug.
About this model
The address says 8B, the seller says Model 8, and the difference matters to collectors. Stereophile describes the 8B as a development of the Model 8 stereo amplifier, which debuted in 1959; the 8B followed in 1961 or 1962 at about $250. Both are stereo amplifiers with four EL34 output tubes. Marantz's own specification for the 8B gives 35 watts per channel in ultra-linear operation, and triode operation at lower power is available by changing two connections inside the chassis.
This example had a scratched chassis, worked without hum, and came with its original cage. Its tubes were all Electro-Harmonix replacements, so anyone buying an amplifier like this for originality should budget for period tubes. The 8B was reissued in 1996 in the Marantz Classic Series, built by Valve Amplification Company of Sarasota, Florida.
The smaller Model 5, Marantz's 1958 mono amplifier rated at 30 watts, is in the archive as a pair.
| Maker | Marantz, New York, USA |
|---|---|
| Model | Model 8 / 8B (stereo power amplifier) |
| Introduced | Model 8: 1959; 8B: 1961 or 1962 |
| Output tubes | 4 × EL34 / 6CA7 |
| Other tubes (8B) | 2 × 6BH6, 2 × 6CG7 |
| Rated output (8B) | 35 W per channel ultra-linear; about 20 W triode |
Questions collectors ask
What is the difference between the Marantz 8 and 8B?
The 8B is a development of the Model 8, which debuted in 1959. Stereophile dates the 8B to 1961 or 1962. Both use four EL34s; check the nameplate to tell them apart.
How powerful is the Marantz 8B?
Marantz rated it at 35 watts per channel in ultra-linear mode, and it can be switched to lower-powered triode operation by changing two internal connections.
Was the Marantz 8B reissued?
Yes, in 1996 as part of the Marantz Classic Series, built by Valve Amplification Company in Sarasota, Florida.
Sources: Stereophile: Listening #111 (Marantz 8B); Radiomuseum: Marantz 8B reissue; Wikipedia: EL34.
