Marantz

reel to reel tape recorder

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PLEASE NOTE: None of the Vintage Museum items are for sale.

 

 

Manufacturer Profiles

© 2018 Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording  •  Webmaster • All pictures and content on this web site are the property of the Theophilus family,the Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording and reel2reeltexas.com • Photos of items in our collection are available for sale. We do NOT provide copies of ads, nor photos from other sources! All photo work is billed at studio rates and a deposit is required.

This is a list of information we have gathered from a variety of sources on some of the major analog reel to reel tape recorder and related equipment manufacturers. While we have strived to provide the best information available to us, there will be corrections and additions. We include personal stories about the companies when they are provided to us.  We always invite input on corrections and updates. Thank you!

Statistics 20142015  •  News coverage #1  News coverage #2  • view overview video of tape recorder collectionmobile videomore info • See also Multi-Track recording

Go to: • 3MAEG/MagnetophonAIWAAkaiAltecAmplifier CorpAmpexAmproA. R. VetterAstaticAstrocom/MarluxBang & OlufsenlBell & HowellBell LabsBerlant ConcertoneBeyerdynamicBrenellBraun GmbH/ASEBrüel & KjærBrushCetec GaussConcordCraigCrown • DenonDokorderDualEdisonEicoElectro SoundElectro VoiceEMI/GramophoneFairchildFerrographFostexFreemanGEGrundigHeathKitITCJVCKLHLeevers RichLyrecMagnecordMara MachinesMarantzMaxellMCIMitsubishiNagraNakamichiNeumannNewcombNeveOkiOtariPentronPhilipsPioneerPrestoRadio Shack/RealisticRangertoneRCAReeves SoundcraftRevereRobertsRolaSansuiSanyoScullySennheiserShureSolid State LogicSonySoundcraftSpectoneStancil HoffmanStellavoxStephensStuder ReVoxTandbergTape-AthonTapesonicTeac/TascamTechnicsTelefunken • ThorensTolnai ToshibaUher VikingVortexion Ltd UKWebster Chicago/WebcorWebster ElectricWestern Electric/AltecWilcox-GayWollensak

View calendar which lists company creation dates associated with world and recording history

 

 

Marantz

Marantz/Superscope Technologies
1508 Batavia Avenue,
Geneva, IL 60134

 

The company was founded in New York, but is now based in Japan.

Saul B. Marantz was fascinated by electronics from his boyhood days in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York. His passion for music led to his first attempts at building audio components in the 1950's. 1952 Saul Marantz sells his first audio product, the "Consolette" pre-amp.

In 1964, Marantz was acquired by Superscope Inc. In1966 Beginning with the Model 25, and then 22 and 28, Marantz starts manufacturing its products in Japan through a partnership with Standard Radio Corp. In 1975 Standard Radio Corp. changes its name to Marantz Japan Inc.

After the sale to Superscope, Marantz stayed as president until 1968 and then retired -- briefly. Saul B. Marentz in the Reel2ReelTexas.com vintage reel tape recorder recording collection

In 1972, he co-founded the Dahlquist Company, a maker of high-quality loudspeakers, serving as president until his second retirement in 1978.

1974 A Marantz manufacturing plant is opened on the Péronnes-lez-Binche site, Walloon Region, Belgium

Superscope pursued a strategy of marketing Marantz as a premiere brand of quality consumer audio products, and Superscope consumer audio products as its budget line "made by Marantz."

In 1980 Superscope sells the Marantz brand, dealer network, and all overseas assets (except U.S. and Canada) to Philips Electronics.

In 1983 Marantz's audio enhancement technology (Marantz Enhanced Digital Stereo) is introduced

In 1987 the Marantz Company was purchased by Dynascan Corporation (today's Cobra Electronics Corp).

By 1990, Cobra had sold the Marantz brand to Philips Electronics. In 1992 Philips acquires U.S. and Canada trademarks and dealer network.

In 1993, Superscope Technologies, Inc. was formed by acquiring rights to the Superscope brand and distribution rights for Marantz Professional audio products. 

In 1997 Saul Marantz dies aged 85.

In 2001 Marantz Japan Inc. acquires the brand and all overseas sales subsidiaries

In 2002 Marantz Japan and Denon merge to form D&M Holdings, to later be joined by other higher-end audio equipment brands such as Boston Acoustics

In 2008 Philips sells its remaining stake in D&M Holdings, ending a 28-year relationship between Philips and Marantz

In 2014 Marantz Professional acquired by inMusic Brands

Marantz PMD-660 is a portable, solid-state, compact flash audio field recorder. (right)

 


 

 

1976 to 1980

 

Marantz 5420

 

1977 Ad for the Marantz 5420 cassette deck in Reel2ReelTexas.com's vintage reel tape recorder recording collection

1977 Ad for the Marantz 5420 cassette deck in Reel2ReelTexas.com's vintage reel tape recorder recording collection  1977 Ad for the Marantz 5420 cassette deck in Reel2ReelTexas.com's vintage reel tape recorder recording collection  1977 Ad for the Marantz 5420 cassette deck in Reel2ReelTexas.com's vintage reel tape recorder recording collection  1976 Ad for the Marantz 5420 in Reel2ReelTexas.com's vintage reel tape recorder recording collection

 

This is our original Marantz 5420 and was used for cassette masters and also used on location for a mixer (utilized the 4 channel input and "pan" capabilities).

Marantz 5420 cassette recorder used by Phantom Productions, Inc. and onow in the reel2reeltexas.com vintage reel tape recorder recording collection

   

Manual for the Marantz 5420 cassette recorder in Reel2ReelTexas.com's vintage reel tape recorder recording collection  Manual for the Marantz 5420 cassette recorder in Reel2ReelTexas.com's vintage reel tape recorder recording collection  Manual for the Marantz 5420 cassette recorder in Reel2ReelTexas.com's vintage reel tape recorder recording collection 

 

 

  • Freq Response 30-17,000
  • Signal to Noise .60
  • Speed 1.875 ips
  • Motors 1
  • Timing accuracy .07%
  • Weight 20.6 lb
  • Price $399.95

 


It looks as though Marantz was looking to enter the reel to reel market just as it was winding down.

 

Year 1978

$2500.00 (as reported in the
May 1979 Stereo Review)

Maranta 7700 reel to reel tape recorder rev in the Reel2ReelTexas.com vintage reel tape recorder recording collection

Dual-capstan transport Reel to Reel,  Full logic, live switching from any mode to any other mode

Heads - 6, two 4-track record, two 4-track play, two 2-track erase

3 3/4, 7 1/2, and 15 ips

Reel switch Electronic, 7 or 10 inch settings

As this unit appears to be a a one-off production, a Marantz special project, we may never know what the specifications were supposed to be.

The P at the end of the serial number probably means "Prototype". If I learn of any production units (or other prototypes), I will add that information here.

All I know for sure is, it sounds great, and it mates with my other gear perfectly both sonically and visually. The find of a lifetime!

Contributed by Ben
 on February 7th, 2001
- ClassicAudio.com

This is a couple of photos of the Marantz 7700 reel tape recorder built in 1978. It was reviewed in the April 1979 Stereo Review - "...with impressively smooth tape handling, three speeds, and a comprehensive array of controls for bias and equalization, servicing adjustments, and editing.".


Third party photos

We appreciate all photos sent to our museum. We hope to successfully preserve the sound recording history. If we have not credited a photo, we do not know its origin if it was not taken by the contributor. Please let us know if a photo on our site belongs to you and is not credited. We will be happy to give you credit, or remove it if you so choose.

               

 

See also Multi-Track recording

Go to: • 3MAEG/MagnetophonAIWAAkaiAltecAmplifier CorpAmpexAmproA. R. VetterAstaticAstrocom/MarluxBang & OlufsenlBell & HowellBell LabsBerlant ConcertoneBeyerdynamicBrenellBraun GmbH/ASEBrüel & KjærBrushCetec GaussConcordCraigCrown • DenonDokorderDualEdisonEicoElectro SoundElectro VoiceEMI/GramophoneFairchildFerrographFostexFreemanGEGrundigHeathKitITCJVCKLHLeevers RichLyrecMagnecordMara MachinesMarantzMaxellMCIMitsubishiNagraNakamichiNeumannNewcombNeveOkiOtariPentronPhilipsPioneerPrestoRadio Shack/RealisticRangertoneRCAReeves SoundcraftRevereRobertsRolaSansuiSanyoScullySennheiserShureSolid State LogicSonySoundcraftSpectoneStancil HoffmanStellavoxStephensStuder ReVoxTandbergTape-AthonTapesonicTeac/TascamTechnicsTelefunken • ThorensTolnai ToshibaUher VikingVortexion Ltd UKWebster Chicago/WebcorWebster ElectricWestern Electric/AltecWilcox-GayWollensak

 

 

 

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We offer seven hours of 50 video segments via download about our reel to reel tape recorder and microphone collection and the history of magnetic recording available at this link.

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While most content deals with the history and manufacturers of the reel to reel tape recorder, or tape deck, we cover many aspects of magnetic recording.

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© 2018 Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording  •  Webmaster • All pictures and content on this web site are the property of the Theophilus family,the Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording and reel2reeltexas.com • Photos of items in our collection are available for sale. We do NOT provide copies of ads, nor photos from other sources! All photo work is billed at studio rates and a deposit is required.