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Marantz SR870 Power Amplifier This Marantz amp is my pet project. About 10 years ago the control circuit failed and the amp is dead. I revived it by bypassing the entire control and preamp section and made it a 5 channel power amp. The remote still works for volume and input selection. I used a digital volume control chip (forgot the model) which also works on the front panel volume knob. I also used rely to select input. However, now the 2 main channel developed a fault. The distortion is too high and becomes unusable. The center and 2 surround channels still work fine. Which means the
This is an older Marantz era piece, so the value is mostly about condition and whether you want a classic late-90s/early-2000s AV receiver rather than modern HDMI convenience. At A$10, the asking price is a bargain versus any realistic used-market benchmark; even allowing for age, it sits so far below original retail that it is essentially a low-risk punt if it powers up cleanly.
What makes it worth grabbing is the old-school Marantz build and the likelihood of solid, listenable two-channel performance wrapped in a capable surround receiver for a vintage setup. At this price, the main upside is simple: if it’s complete and functioning, you’re buying a well-regarded name and a usable classic for pocket change; just confirm it turns on, all channels work, and the remote or essential inputs aren’t missing.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Marantz originated in the United States, founded in 1953 by Saul Bernard Marantz, a music enthusiast and amateur musician born in Brooklyn in 1911. Dissatisfied with the audio equipment of the era, he crafted the groundbreaking Audio Consolette preamplifier in 1952 from his New York home, selling the first 100 units rapidly and prompting the formal establishment of the company in Woodside, Queens. Though production later shifted to Japan in partnership with manufacturers like Standard Radio in 1966, and the brand evolved through ownership changes including Superscope and eventual integration into larger groups, its heritage remains rooted in American ingenuity and a relentless pursuit of musical fidelity.
The brand excels in high-end audio components, particularly amplifiers, preamplifiers, and integrated systems that defined its golden era. Iconic models like the Model 7 preamplifier (1958), Model 9 power amplifier (1960), and Model 10B tuner (1964) set benchmarks for performance, while later offerings expanded to tuners, receivers, and CD players. Marantz briefly ventured into speakers under designer Ed May in the 1970s but focused primarily on electronics rather than turntables, headphones, DACs, or cables, emphasizing separates renowned for their "Most Musical Sound."
Marantz commands a premium position in the hi-fi market, revered as a high-end pioneer that shaped the audiophile landscape through the 1970s zenith. Today, it blends vintage allure with modern elegance, appealing to discerning buyers who value durability, innovation, and warm, detailed sound signatures over mass-market accessibility.
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