On Tuesday, October 20, 1998 at 4:00:00 PM UTC+9, David Anderson wrote:   
   > Hi,   
   >   
   > I don't want to start a price-flame war, but I'm simply curious as to why   
   > Marantz 7 preamps command such high prices compared to other tube preamps   
   > of their era.   
   >   
   > I've looked at a schematic for the Marantz preamp, and it appears to me to   
   > be a well-implemented, but fairly conventional, design.  I have seen one   
   > opened up for service, before, though I've never heard one in operation,   
   > and the only unusual thing I noticed was the placement of the tubes.  In   
   > fact, it doesn't seem to differ too much in terms of circuit design from   
   > the McIntosh C22 preamp, which I've seen offered at somewhat lower prices.   
   >   
   > In fact, for $2-3K, it seems to me that you could build a really good   
   > preamp--one that had far fewer switches in the signal path than the   
   > Marantz 7 and one that had things like a stepped attenuator volume   
   > control.  For that matter, it wouldn't be hard to duplicate the Marantz   
   > design.  Power amps are harder to copy due to the output transformers, but   
   > preamps are generally built from commonly available parts.   
   >   
   > So, are the high prices just due to collectors value--the thrill one gets   
   > from owning something with a certain name and number on it--or is there   
   > something else that I'm missing?   
   >   
   > Regards,   
   > David Anderson   
   >   
   > --   
   > I refuse to accept any unauthorized or unsolicited E-mail   
   > communications.   
   >   
   > The sending of an unsolicited E-mail communication shall   
   > be proof that the sender has agreed, by action, to send $500.00   
   > US/ certified funds to me, prior to any unsolicited or unauthorized   
   > transmission.   
   >   
   > "By US Code Title 47, Sec.227(a)(2)(B), a computer/modem/printer   
   > meets the definition of a telephone fax machine.   
   > By Sec.227(b)(1)(C), it is unlawful to send any unsolicited   
   > advertisement to such equipment.   
   > By Sec.227(b)(3)(C), a violation of the aforementioned Section is   
   > punishable by action to recover actual monetary loss, or $500,   
   > whichever is greater, for each violation."   
      
   When the buyers go crazy, the sellers go crazy to counter... Thats why the 7's   
   are selling like crazy with unreasonably high prices   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)