Marantz 2230 vs 2270 vs Sansui 990 vs Sansui 5000x?

These are probably my top four solid state receivers/amps from the mid 70s golden age. I currently own a pristine Marantz 2230 and a restored Sansui 6600 (from what I understand has the same innards as the 990).

The 2230 is my favorite tuner and easily my choice if listening to vinyl with headphones or bookshelf speakers. However, I have Magnepan MMGs that require significantly more juice.

The 2270 is probably on the lower end of what can adequately drive the speakers. I find it more clinical sounding than the warm 2230. I would buy one at a bargain but the normal going price is too high for the 2270 in my opinion.

While I like my 6600 Sansui Amp, it needs some maintenance, and I've heard that the 5000x is better sounding. I almost bought one but someone else got to it first. Is the improvement over the 990 or 6600 Sansui worth pursuing? I can't get this receiver out of my head for some reason.

 

You left one out.

 

^The Sansui 990 series and the 6600 are so similar I counted them as the same in the poll. I didn't place the 2230 in the poll simply because it doesn't have enough power to push the Magnepans, even though it's probably my favorite solid state amplifier under $2000.

Plus, I think the AU-6600 is relatively uncommon in North America. But if I have to add another, I'll throw in the Pioneer 1280.

 

IMO none of them had memorably outstanding phono sections. Frankly I can't really think of any classic receivers that had a killer phono section.

 

Magnepans are not recommended with any of the above. This speaker is better driven by good separates, and you need lots of current. Of these receivers, I prefer the Sansui 5000x, but you need an 8 ohm load with it and more efficient speakers, in Marantz, I favor the Model 18 or 19.

 

I have a 9090 brought back up to spec by a Macintosh tech. The amp and line stages sound superb, but I don't love the phono stage, kind of meh sounding.

Edit: the 9090 is the American silver faced 990.

 

The black front Sansuis of the early-'70s (as well as the Model "Eight") are far more nuanced in their proprietary engineering (they and Luxman *were* THE only two, "1a-vs-1b" top notch makes native to Japan...the American-branded stuff OUTSOURCED to there was NEVER as good as what, say, Marantz/Fisher/Harman-Kardon had made in the U.S. in the tube era) than what you get from the majority of the line AFTER, about, 1976 (except; in the cases, where, the "AU"/"BA"/and "G"-prefixed models continued).

One TECH weakness (due to inferior old parts) with them, though, is: the preamps in the SANSUIs had a short-lifespan AF transistor called a Hitachi "2SC458". IT LEAKS ITS SUBSTRATE OUT OF ITS CASE AND DEVELOPS A HIGH NOISE FLOOR. When its terminals turn black, THAT is a sure sign of it being failure prone. However, one is talking like: a .30-cent-each part(!). Changing them out WILL MAKE IT BETTER SOUNDING THAN WHEN THE UNIT WAS NEW(!). A same problem exists with all the Akai tape equipment of the '70s as well.

The Superscope Marantz 2270, on the other hand, is one of the most UNSTABLE and BALL-LESS vintage receivers ever made...*totally* UNdeserving of the Ebay cult getting hosed for them. Try pushing that thing to 70wpc with 4-ohm speakers and the tweeters will IGNITE! The early models (ironically, the "champagne finish" ones coveted!) had a badly designed biasing circuit noted for hard clipping. A 2230, 2235, and 2245 were the best of the moderately-powered bunch; while, the 2285 and 2325 powerhouses have better tone detail than a "monster" 2500/2600.

 

^Nice! Thank you for the highly informative post.

 

I have a 2235B and love it! wonderful receiver.

 

990DB (Black)
Phono1
Phono2