Marantz PM-17 Integrated Amplifiers
Marantz PM-17 Integrated Amplifiers
USER REVIEWS
[May 31, 2020]
apusista@gmail.com
Strength:
Claims just 60W pc but way out performs that! Very pleasing sound, fabulous in it's class, beautifully finished (mines silver / champagne gold) with a VU meter indicating temperature. Clips when it gets too hot. Huge solid speaker terminals. Built in optional preamp for audiophiles... has bass, treble and balance controls which you can bypass with the touch of a button. Is able to power the Polk Audio Lsim 703 with ease. The remote has to be best designed one in the world with a face of the same finish and heavy, with beautiful buttons as the amp. You will fall in love with it and remain so till it dies. Weakness:
Mine may have a faulty power supply but it tends to overheat occasionally and often trips my fuse. No big deal. Wouldn't let anyone here touch it! Price Paid: 350
Purchased: Used
Model Year: 1997
|
[Jul 10, 2011]
patik
Audio Enthusiast
Great Amp. |
[Jan 16, 2011]
plw
Audio Enthusiast
Bough the PM-17 used to replace my Rotel RA60bx 60W integrated. I didn't think there would be too much difference because the Rotel is a very good amplifier, but wanted the remote control capability the Rotel lacked. Boy was I surprised... the PM-17 was a step above the Rotel without a doubt (to be fair, the Marantz cost more that twice as much as the Rotel when new). Has a more effortless, balanced sound, even at moderate volume levels, and has noticeably more power, control, and detail without being harsh. Reminds me of my old Orion 280gx car stereo amp in how the bass is so tight and controlled. I really liked my Rotel, but the PM-17 has now taken its place. If you find one for $300 or less... definitely a good idea to consider! |
[Dec 24, 2006]
willy Brunet
AudioPhile
Strength:
strong chassis, heavy metal made, little resonance.
Weakness:
not so much capacity, little watts but has not so many weakness, i thinks for the price quality is an excellent amplifier ! very good quality amplifier, i owned for almost 1 years, excellent quality sound with good boxes like Linn Nexus or Tannoy Revoluition R1, this amplifier has only 60 watts but of the best quality, a real Marantz. |
[Feb 08, 2004]
mike28
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Soundstage,tonal balance,build quality,affordable and very musical!
Weakness:
none I was looking for an affordable intergrated amp to drive my nautilus 804. When I first heared the PM17mkII M I was amazed. The soundstage is big, stable and precise, the tonal balance is very natural and vocals sound just superb. On other amp's I've heard the 804's treble becoming a bit harsh, but driven by the PM17 the treble is very smooth, detailed and airy. The bass is full,very well defined and extended in my room. The amp just sings with every kind of music from classic to rock, from easy listening to hardcore! The PM17 seems to be a perfect match for the Nautilus 804 (and in my opinion out performs the PM17 KI-signature by miles!) Similar Products Used: Marantz PM17 MKII M KI-signature, Van Medevoort MA 230, NADC160/C270, Arcam A75+ |
[Jan 03, 2003]
Siegfried
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Looks, musicality, culture
Weakness:
None Every time I visit this site, I enjoy reading a review from another PM17 owner. I have found the ultimate system and are enjoying it for more than two years now, the PM17 being part of that system. I have reviewed the PM17 before and are still so excited with it that I felt talking a second time. My main source is a vinyl front end. Previously I mentioned that the phono stage is not that good, well currently I only use the PM17 phono stage....less trouble and it is capable, especially with a MM input. EVERY time I switch on the amp, prepare an LP and drop the needle, I am totally surprised with just how good and capable this amp is, when you close your eyes the musicians are just there in front of you. Maybe not the ultimate in detail, maybe not the coldest most accurate amp out there, but when one hear the hammer hit the string on a piano or the pletrum sliding over the guitar string, the detail is enough for me. What makes the PM17 something really special is putting together everything just so perfect, in such a realistic way that exploring stereo and what the musicians and recording engineers tried when making some of the excellent recording, is awesome. I made friends with a very interesting "older" salesman in the the audio game and enjoy visiting him, chatting about this amazing hobby and testing older turntables and toys. Well I am at the point of actually removing my PM17 from my set-up, put it in my car, and go and let him hear what something real good sounds like together with vinyl. CD is also exceptional and I still enjoy my CD63 KI with the PM17, also an outstanding product IMHO. Similar Products Used: AudioLab 8000S, not completely in the same class |
[Nov 14, 2002]
halfnelson
AudioPhile
Strength:
- Built to last with high quality components. - Sound quality (see above) - Gorgeous look an feel. - built-in phone stage. - Very refined tone controls which might help with less than perfect source materials. This is anyway a better cost effective solution than desesperately trying to equalise the equipment sound with outrageously priced cables. - Upgradability with one or two SM17 matching amp for passive bi-amping.
Weakness:
none, but two pairs of speakers binding post would have made bi-wiring easier. This review is for Marantz PM17 mk2 : As for many reviewers in this website, I too auditionned many integrated amplifiers in order to find the radical if not definitive upgrade. This came to mind 2 years ago, after replacing my ageing speakers with a pair of ATC A7 which are stunning but demanding mini monitors . I too read many reviews of the PM17 both in french and english magazines and found very opposite statements and too much inconsistency; this, IMHO, simply highlighted the limited reliability & trust we should keep in mind while reading our favourite litterature. With a bellow 1500 $ budget targeted, I auditionned and compared Nait 5, Thule 150B, Roksan Caspian, Densen Beat mk2 and Electrocompaniet ECi2 with my familiar CD’s. For the fun, I even listened to megabuck valve amps of the SE 300B genre, but just felt frustrated by the low powered and highly distorted results, eventhough paired with more sensitive speakers. I found the Nait 5 to be very good if a bit pricey for the wattage, but anyway 30W was simply too short to give my ATC’s (83db) it’s full justice . I then separetely auditionned the PM17 mk2 with great success and found an incredible clearance price offer . I immediatly brought it at home and since then, it’s a love affair. Describing in details the more than subtle improvements over my previous amp is not an easy task: too many areas to mention. Eventhough the PM17 mk2 slightly verges on the warm side of neutral, it really delivers more musical experience and pleasure; a better tonal accuracy, a correct “timbre” which, allied with a metronomic precision, brings a sense of scale and most importantly the life, the” being there” factor; this provided, of course, the source material is good enough. For the design & finishing, the W.A.F., the sturdy construction and the excellent overall sound quality , I’ve nothing special to add: The PM17 mk2 is simply gorgeous. My setup: Pm17mk2 Integrated amplifier / CD 850mk2 + Audio Alchemy Dac In the Box digital source / Thorens TD 160 mk2 turntable + Shure M97 XE and Ortofon MC10 S cartridges / Revox A77 tape recorder, ATC A7 speakers, all cables by QED. Similar Products Used: Naim Nait 5, Thule 150B, Electrocompanier ECi2, Densen Beat mk2, Roksan Caspian, Philips FA 960, Audion Silver Knight and other valve equipments. |
[Apr 15, 2002]
baldywig
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
poise & power
Weakness:
bloody heavy i plugged this in not expecting too much from it but i must admit it has blown me away.i know all systems are different & everyone has different expectations but this is one of the most controlled amps i have heard in a long time, it handles all music genres with ease,it is very tight in the bass & middle sections with excellent timbre at the top,as i said a lot depends on what things are hooked up to but this has slotted in very nicely. Similar Products Used: cyrus,rega,linn |
[Mar 18, 1999]
Charles
an Audio Enthusiast
Yes, the marantz PM 17 is a great amplifier it manage to control music well,am using this with Sonus Faber Concertino (Highly recommend this speaker), with VdH cs122 Hybrid (HR!) and a DVD for CD replay, sounds smooth and good! |
[Sep 01, 2001]
John Dean
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Very accurate. Very detailed mids and highs,deep tight bass.
Weakness:
None I was looking toward replacing my 15 yearold Adcom separates at 100 W/C, since they were sounding a bit harsh. I listened to the Marantz PM-17 and was amazed at the detail and clarity of the mids and highs. It sounds slightly sweet and warm and is quite different from the Adcoms. Teamed with a Marantz 600OSE CD player and PSB Stratus Bronze speakers, there is an in-the-room feeling with vocalists such as Holly Cole, Diana Krall, Eva Cassidy (Songbird), Patrica Barber, Sarah Brightman, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. The mids seem dead-on accurate. The bass is deep and tight as evidenced by the drum and guitar sequence of Hotel California from the Eagles' Hell Freezes Over CD. Similar Products Used: Adcom separates, Marantz SR7000, others. |