Great looker, I have the champagne gold edition. Generally good build inside too. Does not distort much even when the tone controls are used. A powerful 60W much like the Rotel 971 in terms of output, but has a warm smooth sound.

It's also warm literally speaking. Mine heats up beyond comfort when played loud and trips. Needs a speaker that's exceptional on the highs. Sound is a tad too warm. The tone controls are not very effective and it needs treble to be added almost always. The speaker terminals are not as big as they look.

If looks with tone controls are your priority then buy this amp instantly. As far as i'm concerned, it's a bit too warm and not so good on the highs. It plays best at medium volumes (9-11 o'clock position) Beyond that it overheats and Marantz ignore your e-mails. Very smooth sound but certainly not natural. Except for the Rotel RA-971, which is great too, the PM-17 beats most 60 watters in this range. It is particularly strong on the mids. So in it's range (60 watters with tone controls) it is certainly the best. Most other amps distort violently when the tone controls are employed but this one stays smooth. Well almost...if you crank up the treble, it begins to sound distinctly metallic. So...if you have only well mastered CD's and still want bass and treble to play with occasionally, and great styling too then this is the amp for you. Important to know that that you can buy a Rotel 985, big bro of the RA-971 (100 watter with a damping factor of 400 !! ) for less money, but it's ugly of course!
Speakers: B&W P6 (bad match for the PM-17, end result is very poor highs)
CD player: Marantz CD-19
Interconnect: Straightwire Encore II
Speaker Cable: Nordost Super Flatline Mk II Bi-wire.(just about fits!)

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Have heard the Rotel 971, the Nad 317 and a Denon (70 watter)

Be sure to change the power cord, you will be suprised by the effect of a right power cord can offer. The result is a super hi C/P amp which can compare to those so-called hi-end equipment with 5 times or higher price tag. What I have been used is just a 14AWG computer power cable.

Good looking. Nice build. Not a bad price compared with similar priced products. The best in that price range. But I had the chance of comparing it to various other (tube / Valve amps) of a similar price range, and have to say, if sound and detail are what you're after, try out a valve set up. If convenience and looks are important, go for this one.

I've also compared it to the "tweaked" PM-17 KI. Don't waste your money. I could honestly hear no diffence, and I really tried, except the KI sounded a little (very, very, very little) warmer.

In the end, its well packaged, and tries and nearly makes it to sound like a similarly-priced valve. But also you get a remote. Useful. Take your pick, but give both a try. You can't go wrong with this one, but at that price, you can go slightly better at the expence of features.

Transparent, very musical, top drawer design

None that I can think of right off.

Now, I have to qualify something here before I get into the meat of the review. I'm using this right now with headphones (Grado SR-80's; see my review), and not speakers. Why not? I'm saving for a pair of B&W CDM-1NT's, and will have them around Christmas. I'm running an Onkyo Integra 788F into the amp, as well as a Rotel turntable. The interconnect from the cd player to the amp is PBJ. I have listened to the same set-up at Audio Exchange, because the guys there are awesome, through various speakers, so I do have some idea of what the amp will sound like with the B&W's. (Incredible!) Now, for the review: This amp is built like a tank, which is how I like my audio equipment (hence, the Onkyo). It weighs a ton. The speaker outputs are amazing. They belong on something far more expensive. The design is functional, and stays away from the Japanese "Bells and Whistle" design. I'm not sure what the thermometer is supposed to tell you, but it looks cool. (I agree with another reviewer that the light should be a different color, perhaps blue. But this is trivial.) The remote is also heavy, and well constructed. If you have a Marantz CD player, it will operate that as well. In both the listening room at the showroom, and through the headphones, the amp seems to handle most music very, very well. I haven't heard any serious problems in anything I've listened to. I'm not one to listen to music at high volumes, so I didn't even bother to test that, and I likely won't. I'm a musician, and I rather like my ears! The phono stage is excellent. It blows away the Nakamichi that I used to have. The headphone amp is also superior, and I don't think you'd need an outboard heaphone amp for this at all. This is a great amp for someone looking to minimize their system but maximize sound. It's built to last a lifetime, and it is designed to become a classic -- no gimmicks. This is probably not for the audiophile. But this is no slouch. I'm not sure why Stereophile didn't pick up on it, but I really don't care about Stereopile. I have my own ears, thank you very much, and my ears like the Marantz PM-17 very much. It's an honest, no-nonsense, well-built and engineered piece of audio equipment. For the price, it might be the last amp you'll ever buy, unless you're an audiophile hell-bent on finding the "absolute sound" -- hint: get away from your hi-fi and go to the concert hall. I purchased this used and got a great deal on it. It was barely used. One word of advice: If you do purchase this, make sure you switch the voltage setting on the back from the European voltage to the North American voltage. The sound won't be too different, but the meter won't work otherwise.

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SUMO The Nine Plus w/Nakamichi CA-5 Preamp

The review from Boros is Bogus.

sound, design, price

none so far

Simply marvelous...

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H/K

Smooth, very detailed mid's, excellent clarity, superb build

none at this price!

This is one sweet sounding machine, and built to last.It also is a beauty to look at. Fit and finish are 1st rate, and all controls, including the remote, are very solid and responsive.Having listened to many amps, both under and well above the price of the Marantz, this unit is a solid value and a good all around performer that can hold it's own against much more expensive integrated's and seperates. I really believe that some of the negative reviews in the audio press I've read are due to the need for a manufacture to be, shall we say, of "higher pedagree" than the current line of Marantz products. DONT BE FOOLED BY SOME AUDIO PURISTS WITH GOLDEN EARS AND BIASED OPINIONS.Take the time to give this bad boy an audition- you won't be sorry you did!
P.S Just for the record, I have called Marantz with a number of questions, and they have been excellent to deal with.

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Luxman,Proton,Nad,Yamaha

i've owned pm-17 for well over 18mos. and generally, it has been quite a pleasure listening to this beauty. i've used marantz's cd-16D for the source and with tannoy Rev.1 and norh 6.5 speakers. basically the sound is crystal clear and smooth, with nice mid-range warmth. whereas the depth of soundstage is good, i think it might lack width. it sounds best at 10 o'clock, at higer levels, it becomes a tad strenuous, and at lower levels, the dynamics cave in and diminishes. all in all, a great int. amp for those on a budget and prefers clear sound.

Well made, massive looking, heavy weight

sound

First this unit gives very reliability. Massive looking looklikes (black one) american army product. But this was the worst amplifier between the others. If you like tube like smooth sound try audio analogue, if you like more clear, transparent sound try Linn or Nad. Myryad was between Linn and audio analogue. But marantz PM-17 was worst. There is none musicality, there is no transparency no color. Cello sound, violin sound contrabass sound suddenly changes to another flat drowned sound. Especialy if you listen rich music type like jazz, classical this amplifier kill the music. I recommend the reviewers to listen this amplifier at the same time with other products.
With linn sound will change dramaticaly. With audio analogue sound will became more liquid, transparend and colorful. May be with mk II version better and improved.

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Audio analogue, Nad, Myryad, Luxman, Linn

Update to 10/5/00 review. A superb sounding amplifier!

None

Just had to make a comment based on the guy from Istanbul's review,(a lot of Bull, pun intended!).I have owned and listened to a large number of good amplifier's through the years,(Nad,Yamaha,Luxman,Adcom,Accuphase,Rotel,etc), and this unit sounds more detailed,open,smooth,(somewhat like a good tube amp's mids and highs),than any of above's units I have heard. Bottom line: Let your own ears be the judge!!

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See 10/5 review