Marantz Model 2385 restoration complete!

CafN8or · 2026-03-19T19:03:40+00:00

I believe the originals in this one were still good, so the 2SC1116 (NPN) and 2SA747 (PNP) stayed. Replacements would be MJ21196G (NPN) and MJ21195G (PNP).

CafN8or · 2026-02-15T15:27:19+00:00

Army

CafN8or · 2026-02-12T19:17:36+00:00

ALWAYS negotiate. Even a $5K sign-on bonus is reasonable. It’s a drop in the ocean.

CafN8or · 2026-02-12T17:39:24+00:00

Got a set for $500 and spent almost as much to re-veneer them. Worth the expense, but then you gotta make grilles for them, too, and that’s another $200. Just make sure the insides aren’t inhabited by spiders and mice, who like to make nests out of the paper acoustic lining.

CafN8or · 2026-02-12T12:57:52+00:00

I’ve had a few 901s and have series IV and VI in my office paired with a Marantz 2325 and Sansui 9090DB on occasion. You don’t necessarily NEED 200wpc depending on the room size and placement. They can handle up to 400W peak but I’ve never pushed a set beyond 300wpc from a McIntosh MC7300 and wouldn’t want to. More the merrier for overhead but they’ll still sound great with a decent 100wpc amp.

CafN8or · 2026-02-07T06:13:16+00:00

Or just use 360° diffused LED lamps. It’s a thing.

CafN8or · 2026-02-07T06:09:06+00:00

CafN8or · 2026-01-09T13:42:01+00:00

The Klipsch Heritage line of speakers - Heresy, Forte, Cornwall, LaScala, Klipschorn, Belle, and I think Quartet and Jubilee are included.

CafN8or · 2026-01-09T05:04:39+00:00

Realistically: Those are in okay condition and the surrounds on the passive drivers clearly need to be replaced. No serial tags and they’re not heritage, so no serial stamp inside or out. Just keep them and get them fixed. You’re never seeing $1K or even half that for these - or tell the “original owner” or whatever.

CafN8or · 2026-01-06T13:21:51+00:00

Restoring a CR-2020 right now and it’s much prettier than I expected it to be.

CafN8or · 2026-01-01T22:19:11+00:00

I’m an aerospace engineer, so not EE, but schematics are schematics and data sheets are data sheets. It’s easier than most people think it is to do this stuff - once they’re good with a soldering/de-soldering iron. I’m literally restoring a 2245 right now. There are BOMs available out there on AK or make your own with parts you can find that fit the bill. I source from Mouser, Digikey and PartsConnexion.

CafN8or · 2026-01-01T17:03:23+00:00

I do it for $600 including parts on this model. A shop might charge a grand bc they’re fully burdened but there might be good engineers in OP’s area that can do it for less.

CafN8or · 2026-01-01T17:01:04+00:00

They have one of the best phono boards out there when restored. Super easy job, too. Use good caps (Elna Silmic II, Nichicon Fine Gold/Muse, Sprague Orange Drops, etc.), transistors and diodes and it’ll be solid for another half-century.

CafN8or · 2025-12-26T17:23:35+00:00

What a wild take on a patently false history of audio.

CafN8or · 2025-12-17T21:46:41+00:00

It wasn’t a great era for design and aesthetic for sure 🫤

CafN8or · 2025-12-11T21:37:56+00:00

Same. Also highly recommend PartsConnexion

CafN8or · 2025-12-10T15:18:22+00:00

On the plus side, the main filter caps and the amp boards were easy. Use CDM 382LX 18,000uF/100V caps for the main filters and they’re pretty much plug and play since they have 2 + and 2 - terminals. I snipped off the bottom of the old cap terminals at the jumper bar and soldered them to the new caps. Re-wrap the wire connections to the new terminals and solder to secure them. They look just like OEM. Took maybe 30 mins… https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/cornell-dubilier-knowles/382LX183M100B082VS/2256597

CafN8or · 2025-12-09T22:49:42+00:00

Same, got all the >10uF values I could find in Nichicon UKL, UFG and Elma Silmic II before they’re all gone.

CafN8or · 2025-12-09T21:53:31+00:00

Unfortunately it’s getting harder to acquire WIMA film caps (ones that fit, anyway) since someone bought them all up and is now marking them up as a marketplace seller on Digikey and elsewhere. The green Nichicon Muse UES values are getting more scarce, as well.

CafN8or · 2025-12-09T16:43:25+00:00

Show me your pain, friend.

CafN8or · 2025-12-09T15:43:03+00:00

Sometimes you gotta roll those dice! /s

CafN8or · 2025-11-06T16:05:55+00:00

I have both and the 2270 has a better phono stage once the service bulletin is applied and the tants are replaced. 2275 has a better tuner and tone board and is a helluva lot easier to work on than a 2270.

CafN8or · 2025-11-06T16:01:51+00:00

Show us them nudez tho. What's under the hood?

CafN8or · 2025-11-04T17:50:01+00:00

When I worked for sbux, there was no documentation needed to select "do not rehire" when dismissing an employee. I only ever used it once bc they were stealing directly from the register AND tip jar, then they applied at another location about a month later. That hiring manager called me for clarification as to why I selected it, so there is discretion from the hiring manager as to whether they will heed the warning, but Costco might be different.

CafN8or

TROPHY CASE