Hi,

Recently i aquired a s/hand Marantz PM17 (retail 1k) but to be honest it sounds awful.Nowhere near as good as my old Pioneer A400 which it was supposed to replace.
Do integrated amps deteriorate over time,is there anything that might be "on the way out",can you get it checked out.
I'm just really dissapointed....

 

Stop playing Girls Aloud ?

 

Any technically minded folks?

 

Personally I would say it is unlikely that it would deteriorate over time. Not modern solid state electronics anyway, a valve amp might. Usually they just break completely.

It possible that some subsystem within it is broken and effecting the sound quality I suppose. Maybe worth getting an expert to check it out, should be able to check the frequency and amplitude response with a signal generator and spectrum analyser. That should show up any major issues with it.

 

Dirty plugs/sockets? Far more likely than deteriorating IC's. They usually work or they don't

Graz has a point with a subsystem, could be a filter or pre-amp device thingy.

 

ICS can deteriorate, but as said they usually just stop working rather than sound worse

 

Caps can also fail with time and they are quite an important element of an amplifier. In saying that you usually get hum as they fail as a good indication that one has died.

In exactly what way does it sound faulty? Most amps sound faulty to me, but many people prefer that sound so it is hard to judge from your comments.

 

Transformers and/or power supply capacitors can fail, but as hedgehog says they'd tend to hum. Output capacitor failing would likely give better sound on one side than the other.

Check that you haven't got any dodgy phasing on the connections, make sure that there is nothing loose, make sure there aren't e.g. variable impedance switches on the back of the amp, etc.

You might also find if you're using cables etc that suited the A-400, they won't suit the PM-17. You will find that the Marantz is a bit more of a laid-back warmer, more subtle type of sound than the old Pioneer. I thought the last A-400 I heard sounds forward and electronic (artificial), whilst some (non KI signature) Marantz stuff can be warm and a little over-relaxed. I don't mean to say either amp is a bad purchase (OK, I didn't like the A-400 but I know a lot of people do) my point is that the two are different types of sounds, one will suit different speakers / source / cables than the other, etc. If you enjoy the presentation of the A-400, and it suits your supporting gear, you might find the Marantz sounds a bit slow and fuzzy - it won't be "the same only better"

 

There's no hum or buzz.Basically it sounds dull and there's a lot of bass whereas the A400 was very revealling.
The A400 was £300 15 yrs ago,the PM17 £900 7 yrs ago,surely it should sound better.