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Are you looking for a bargain, or specifically a Marantz AV8801 A? At USD 850, this is above the two-listing median of USD 712 and above the 75th-percentile asking price of USD 781, so it is an ambitious ask rather than a clear deal. It would need excellent condition and a complete package to justify paying that premium.
The AV8801 remains a capable home-theater preamp, with substantial connectivity, balanced outputs, room correction, and a musical presentation that can still make sense in a carefully built system. Its appeal is strongest for someone who needs its particular feature set, not merely a preamp on a budget. Confirm HDMI operation, all channels and outputs, Audyssey functionality, the remote, and original accessories; at this price, a clean, fully tested example should be expected, and negotiation toward the low-to-mid USD 700s would be more convincing.
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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