Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Monster Receivers - Marantz 2325


This was the biggest and some say best Marantz receiver with USA roots. At 125 watts per channel, it packed ample power to fill your 1976, bicentennial house party. I traded two large Pioneers for this one, but ended up selling it to a collector in NJ. Why did I sell it? I don't know, and I'm still kicking myself for it.

If you have any photos or stories about your Marantz 2325, please leave a comment or email me.

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22 comments:

  1. Hi,
    As I write this brief note to you. I am listening to a superb piece of Classical Music through my Marantz 2325. The sound quality would leave most modern day Receiver Amplifiers for dead!! I brought this amplifier brand new in the late 1970's, and at that time paid NZ$2000.00 for it. I don't know what they are worth today. I had it serviced for the first time about 4 years ago, by a very competent specialist audio engineer/service technician. He told me when I picked it up that it was very good quality, in excellent condition about from the couple of capacitors and an illimunination lamp he replaced, and to hang onto it which I have, because of its sound reproduction through my JBL loudspeakers. I use a Stanton EEE 81 cartridge, as still play a lot of vinyl. I also still have the original service manualand schematic circuit drawings all in perfect condition. I had the Marantz built into a purpose designed and built Hi Fi Cabinet, that was built by a cabinet maker, who was also an audio expert as well. However, I still have the original wooden housing that the unit slid into, in case I ever sell my Marantz.
    Kind Regards,
    Guy.

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    1. I was recently browsing the net just to get some samples of audiophiles like yourself who really appreciate quality stereo. I purchased brand new both a 2325 and a 2250b Marantz and both units have been completely rebuilt along with the led upgrades. You cannot get better quality sound, especially when played along with JBL speakers. Regretfully, they don't make 'em like they used to. You can find these on e-bay, and I found 2 really excellent audio restoration techs who knew their stuff. Keep the Marantz's and all the best and easy listening to you. Your Marantz friend.
      Regards, crookedhouse

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    2. I also was browsing the net and googled the marantz 2325 as I have one that I am going to have some minor repairs done to. I was suprised to see that so many people think so highly of them. I never met or knew of anyone else that had one but mine was a party animal and would rock the house with great clear sound. I will be looking for some speakers as I bring mine back into focus and start using it again.
      RCasey

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  2. That is one thing that Marantz (and others) did back then was to include the schematic with the owners manual. I have a model 3200 preamp and model 140 power amp. I know they are not as high end, but still wonderful pieces AND working as well. I almost gave the amp to my dad, but when I researched the value of it NO WAY!!!
    Bill in Pomona

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  3. I just grabbed one of these along with a Pioneer 1250 tape deck from a tag sale for......you might want to take a seat....$30.00 yes Thirty Dollars and zero cents! I would love to know anything I can find out about either of these units.

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  4. I have the 2325 and have the fondest memories of my folks playing their corny music and when they went out, my brother would play his Jimi Hendrix or The Doors or whatever loud and proud. Sadly, I no longer have room for it and have a few other wonderful vintage receivers so I am putting it up on ebay today and will bid a fond farewell to my old friend. What a sound......

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  5. I purchased a 2325 and some JBLs312 speakers at an estate sale and am floored by the rich,full sound. The cd player is a 25.00 memorex and this inexpensive system makes the mac,nad,nak, set up I had a little laughable

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  6. I just sold mine after almost 35 years, it was a matter of three factors: needing to life light in retirement; eight pieces of loose metal in my lower back; money to get to retirement. It had been in an LA storage locker for four years before I moved it to Minnesota... when I hooked it up to my Marantz HD77s... it almost made me swoon. The BAD NEWS: although I have been an engineer for 40 years and have learned quite a bit about packing for shipments in the last 16 months (more selling for survival on eBay) when I packed the 2325 I evidently didn't make it FOOLPROOF because it arrived - courtesy of UPS - in miserable condition, nearly non-functional. It would not surprise me at all if UPS tries to blame ME for this act of vandalism. I don't even know if it is repairable. Right before I packed and shipped it I made a video demonstrating the functions (and as much of the sound quality as my camcorder would record) and the UPS pickup was made from the same table as the demo/packing, so it was not me to blame. SO take care IF you ship these amazing systems, because one mover with attitude can ruin 35 years of near perfection.

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  7. Today at a yard sale I picked up a Marantz 2325 receiver (the one with the wood case) for $30. It looks to be in great condition.

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  8. That's a terrific price for a classic! Nice job :)

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  9. I purchased my 2325 for 200.00, I suspected something was wrong because of the cheap price and the left channel intermittenly would cut out. Found out it was the Protection relay, the contact on the left side was very dirty, now she works like a charm

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  10. I also picked up a 2325 from the original owner for 200.00 and needed lamps and deoxit and just put it into my rotation . going to go in for a restore soon ..

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  11. I found my 2325 waiting for curbside pickup on trash day. After an $83 tune-up it beats the pants off what it re-placed - an Adcom GTP-450 preamp and GFA-535 power amp with a Bellari VP130 phono preamp. It's warmer, more responsive, and has more depth. Input is Thorens 146TD and speakers are B&W 686s.

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  12. I have a Marantz model 2325 that I bought while the USCG stationed in Okinawa in the 70's. Still sounds great with Pioneer HPM100 speakers and SG 9500 Graphic equalizer. Has a few dash lights out but still rocks out.

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  13. Matt in La Grande, Or I have owned and used a 2325 since I bought it in October 1977. Used it to blow the house down with 2 AR-10pi speakers. It still works fantasticly but all the disply lights are burnt out. gonna fix that it will run another 40 years. what a beautiful tough piece of quality machinery it is. thank you Marantz
    !!

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  14. I still have my 2325 I bought from a friend when almost new in 1977. Last year I had the knobs cleaned and few lamps fixed and occasionally play it.I wore out the infinity monitor speakers I originally had with it and recently bought a refurbished pair of infinity's not quite as big as the monitor's. I love that amp. It has that classic marantz look to it.

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  15. An elderly lady gave me her 2325 because it sound scratchy and crackly back in 2006. Her cat used to rest on the top of it.
    Cat air cleaned out, De-oxited, warmed up...ahhhh!!
    Had some caps redone and did a major overhaul last summer as one channel was cutting out. Amp boards cleaned and checked over...it now makes me smile every day I move the volume knob up. I have not heard anything yet to match it from the non tube world. The old lady got a Pioneer reciever from me. Had to give her something back...

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  16. I also have a marantz2325 receiver recorder that's been packed away for a long time and I'm wondering if it's okay to turn it back on or will I blow something up and I'm a little rusty on how to hook the components up to it I don't want to hurt nothing so somebody could help me through this I'm pretty sure I would have to sell this I hate it but I'm going to have to I have a lot of hospital bills

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  17. I just bought a 2325 a few weeks ago from the original owner who bought it in 1974. It survived four divorces according to him. He was in tears when I took it. I felt bad but he said he wanted to let it go. I have it being checked now and will do the necessary updates. I never could afford something like this back in the 1970's so I bought one now.

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  18. Marantz 2325 purchased at MusiCraft, Chicago IL. Restored 1988. Beautiful piece of audio gear. KJ Bleus Parsons

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  19. My Father bought the 2325 when I was just 4 years old. When I was a teenager, I use to plug my electric guitar into it because it had the correct size input for my cord.needless to say my dad busted me more than once, he use to say, your gonna burn it up, it's not made for that! Well he was correct. I'm fifty years old now, my Dad passed last year. Going thru his belongings I found the unit tucked away in a garage. I am now going to have it restored and get it going. I have to believe my late Father would be snickering about that.(ps. I own an amplifier for the guitar now)

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  20. I forgot about this post which I am still monitoring from 2014. I did get my 2325 cleaned up(internally) and refreshed a few things at a local repair shop and also was able to buy 2 sets of speakers from them. I also found a "retro looking" stand to place it on. I listen to it every now and again. I will take some photos and post them here in the next few days just to join the discussion.

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