Marantz SC-7S2, MA-9S2, SC-11S1, SM-11S1, PM-11S2 Catalog Guide
...
The ultimate gauge of a fine audio experience ...
the reference series
reference:
re-f-rn(t)s, noun:
“A product or group of products considered to
be superior; a standard-setting achievement that
Components that bring music to life!
others may seek to emulate.”
The audio components you’ll soon encounter in these
pages define both a pursuit and a celebration.
The pursuit, as it has always been for Marantz, is the
recreation of music in the home. The celebration is an
amalgam of science, intuition, and experience in the
service of the music we cherish.
Quite simply, these Reference Series products are the
best we know how to make. From virtually inaudible
nuance to thundering crescendo, each one conveys
more than an artist’s intellectual exploration of his
or her genre. It conveys the emotional underpinnings
as well. And lets you listen through the equipment
into the heart of the creative process.
Marantz Reference. Nothing short of revelatory.
Page 2 Introduction & Table of Contents
Page 3 The Marantz Tradition
Page 4 SC-7S2 Stereo Control Amplifier
Page 5 MA-9S2 Monaural Power Amplifier
Page 6 SC-11S1 Stereo Control Amplifier
Page 7 SM-11S1 Stereo Power Amplifier
Page 8 PM-11S2 Integrated Amplifier
Page 9 PM-15S2 Integrated Amplifier
Page 10 SA-7S1 Super Audio CD Player
Page 11 SA-11S2 Super Audio CD Player
Page 12 SA-15S2 Super Audio CD Player
Page 13 TT-15S1 Vinyl Disc Player
Page 14 Technology Highlights
Page 15 Specifications
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The Marantz Tradition
The name Marantz is, if anything, more prominent today than when Saul B. Marantz founded the company in 1953.
Even in those early days, perhaps no one - and no company - was as recognized for the passionate pursuit of high quality sound reproduction.
If any one thing stood out from the beginning, it was Saul's insistence that good industrial design was as important as superior
performance. Arresting cosmetics, he knew, would play an essential role in bringing electronics out of the garages and basements and into the living rooms of
music lovers everywhere.
Indeed, Saul's early training was in the graphic arts even though his interest in electronics began while he was very young. As it did for many, service in World
War II gave him the opportunity to enlarge his hobbyist's knowledge.
Music, long a part of his life, took on an even more important role after he returned to New York City from the Pacific Theater. Marantz joined the New York Society
of Classical Guitar where he became both a serious student of the instrument and a close friend of guitar maestro Andrés Segovia.
This combination of design sensibility, knowledge of electronics, love for music, and an uncanny ability to envision better ways to
reproduce music in the home eventually led to the development of the "Audio Consolette," a unique preamplifier, and to the founding of the Marantz Company.
Supported by a growing engineering team led by the now-legendary Sidney Smith, and staffed by such luminaries as Dick Sequerra, Mitch Cotter, and many
others, Marantz soon gained an international reputation for outstanding performance and cosmetic sophistication.
Many products, especially the Model 7 preamplifier and the Model 9 monaural power amplifier, were nothing short of revolutionary. In fact, they are icons still,
and their superb performance and timeless elegance continue to influence our most capable designs.
The current Marantz Reference Series is the best contemporary expression of these long-held strengths. If ever the word "inspiration" has meaning, you'll find it
in this Reference collection.
Marantz Reference. The highest reward you can offer your auditory sense... and your aesthetic expectations.
“Great industrial design is as important as superior performance.”
- Saul B. Marantz
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SC-7S2
Stereo Control Amplifier
A singular integration of performance, functionality, and design, the
SC-7S2 thoroughly updates the concept of a stereo preamplifier.
Although it traces its sonic heritage to the distinctive voice of the
original Marantz Model 7, the SC-7S2 is not tied to even the best
of past technology. A significant improvement over the acclaimed
SC-7S1, the S2 version incorporates a full roster of technical
refinements to enhance your perception of even the most complex
musical compositions.
Simultaneously, the SC-7S2 avoids any aura of techno-intimidation.
Instead of an often confusing array of knobs and switches, it spaces
Input Select, Power, and Volume across a finely-finished champagne
front panel. An aluminum-topped remote control adds critical but lessoften-used functions such as input trim and display intensity to
tailor the SC-7S2 to your preferences.
In its quest for musical accuracy, Marantz gifted the SC-7S2
with refinements that define advanced audio circuitry. These include
a sophisticated power supply based on a toroidal transformer
for reduced spurious noise. Further refinements contribute to the
SC-7S2’s extraordinary frequency response and channel separation.
Isolated inputs eliminate unwanted interactions. All signal paths,
including the critical volume control section, are fully balanced to
minimize noise. In fact, the volume control benefits from multiple
microprocessors that eliminate distracting clicks when changing
volume settings.
At the heart of audio perfection...
Together, the microprocessors and an array of HDAM modules form an
incredibly precise attenuation circuit with easily repeatable 0.5 dB
steps throughout its entire range to insure proper channel balance at
any listening level.
Of even greater importance is the inclusion of the SA version
of Marantz’s proprietary HDAM® (Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Module)
circuitry. These modules insure accurate and distortion-free audio
signal transfer from one stage to the next.
Although the SC-7S2 is devoutly two-channel, it acknowledges the
multi-channel world with our Floating Control Bus System (F.C.B.S.)
that lets you control multiple SC-7S2s simultaneously for full
Reference-level performance.
A copper-plated aluminum chassis with a double layered bottom plate,
provides exceptional stability as well as isolation from external noise
sources.
The SC-7S2 Control Amplifier is an enduring testament to the synergy
of today’s technologies, meticulous implementation, and exquisite
cosmetic design. It is a reference in every sense of the word.
“Good design is a renaissance attitude that combines technology,
cognitive science, human need, and beauty to produce something that the
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world didn't know it was missing.” -
Paola Antonelli,Architect and MuseumCurator
subtly nuanced, yet powerfully accurate.
MA-9S2
Monaural Power Amplifier
If the SC-7S2 is the flexible control center for the finest audio systems, the
MA-9S2 power amplifier melds acute sonic responsiveness with brute force
to precisely control even the most difficult loudspeaker.
One specification will make this clear. The MA-9S2 develops an impressive
300 watts continuous output into a typical speaker. Even when coupled to
a high quality, low impedance speaker, one that quickly taxes conventional
amplifiers due to extremely low electrical resistance, power output doubles
to 600 watts! Rather than power for power’s sake, this is simply
the intelligent application of engineering expertise. It insures that you will
enjoy music’s finest details without limitation.
In this, the MA-9S2 conforms to the tradition of the original Model 9 and
the more recent MA-9S1. Both provided a unique combination of high
resolution and high power. The MA-9S2, however, surpasses both to meet
the challenge of today’s most demanding sources.
In mapping the MA-9S2’s development strategy, Marantz engineers focused
on several performance areas: better instantaneous current delivery,
full-scale use of current-feedback design, and fully balanced audio circuitry.
Although these may seem esoteric to non-engineers, they form the platform
for music reproduction beyond conventional expectation.
Connectivity also played an important role. The MA-9S2 features both
single-ended and balanced input connectors and dual sets of precision WBT
speaker terminals to accommodate your choice of speaker cables. There’s a
heavy duty detachable AC cord to help installation in a custom cabinet if you
so desire.
But the MA-9S2’s stunning fascia may well argue against this.
The elegantly smooth front panel is finished in restrained champagne
gold. Highlighting this are four elements, one of them a remarkably
accurate power meter. Thus, the MA-9S2 complements décors
ranging from Italian rococo to Scandinavian. And complements
your sonic expectations with the finest sound available.
Thus, the MA-9S2 is another example of Marantz’s dedication to continual advancement guided by the traditions of its illustrious past.
It is a true reference in every way.
“Without music life would be a mistake.”
- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, Philosopher/Philologist
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SC-11S1
Stereo Control Amplifier
The SC-11S1 stereo control amplifier focuses a wealth of new circuitry
on reproducing music’s finest moments. It is a preamplifier that is
both totally new and classically Marantz.
Today’s musical sources demand ultra-wide frequency response and
superior channel separation for convincing musicality. Although aimed
primarily at stereo reproduction, the SC-11S1’s F.C.B.S (Floating
Control Bus System) allows easy expansion and operation for those
who enjoy the many forms of multi-channel material. At the same time,
the SC-11S1 honors legacy sources like the LP with a phono stage
incorporating a newly developed Marantz-proprietary circuit.
Parts quality reflects our premium-only philosophy. For example, the
SC-11S1 incorporates the newest SA3 version of Marantz’s acclaimed
Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Module (HDAM®). This high speed circuit
defines the SC-11S1’s ability to accurately track rapidly changing
audio signals.
The phono equalizer is yet another example of Marantz innovation.
Conventional designs often impart a different – and disconcerting –
sonic characteristic to low and high frequencies. Marantz engineers
designed a circuit that eliminates those sonic discontinuities. The
result is extremely accurate and convincing phono reproduction with
the cartridge of your choice.
For the sake of music ...
The SC-11S1’s volume control exhibits exceptional accuracy and no
audible “stepping” noises. The controller lets you select exact volume
settings easily and is unaffected by aging or temperature variations.
The SC-11S1’s fully independent headphone output adds a new
measure of clarity to personal listening. The front panel display
provides information on input selection and level among other
parameters. You can turn the display off for distraction-free listening.
The aluminum-faced remote accesses a selectable subsonic filter, tone,
and level trim, and balance adjustments so you can choose the best
combination for your tastes and source materials.
All active circuitry draws on a high-precision linear power supply based
on an aluminum-encased toroidal transformer that far surpasses
conventional noise-free requirements. The chassis itself is also heavyduty and features a new aluminum top plate for resonance control.
There’s a natural fluidity to everything you’ll hear through this
remarkable preamplifier. It adheres to Marantz tradition but sets
new standards in long-term listenability. It is, after all, a Marantz
Reference component.
“The more technology becomes complicated inside, the more it has to
be simple outside.”
McLuhan Program in Culture & Technology at the University of Toronto
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- Derrick De Kerckhove, Author and former director, the
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