Archive / Classics, 1946 to 1969
Model 9
Power amplifier, Marantz, 1960
A 70-watt monaural EL34 power amplifier with a centred bias meter and a drop-down door over its adjustments, which Marantz says NASA customised for the Apollo programme.
A-17, isometric, same camera for both
- Drawing
- A-17
- Introduced
- 1960
- Produced
- 1960 to 1968
- Made in
- United States
- Designed by
- Saul Marantz
- Launch price
- US$324 (first-year price listed by Radiomuseum)
- Size
- 391 x 210 x 267 mm
- Weight
- 23 kg
Marantz released the Model 9 in 1960 as a monaural power amplifier, so a stereo system needed two. It delivers 70 watts from four EL34 tubes in an ultra-linear parallel push-pull circuit and can be switched to triode operation for roughly 40 watts. Power was raised partly in response to McIntosh amplifiers of the time. Marantz describes mid-century styling that departed from its earlier utilitarian look, with a circular porthole power meter that became a recurring Marantz feature.
Specification
| Item | As published |
|---|---|
| Output | 70 W continuous, 140 W peak; nearly 40 W in triode operation |
| Circuit | Ultra-linear parallel push-pull, EL34 |
| Tubes | 2 x 6DJ8 (ECC88), 1 x 6CG7, 4 x EL34 (6CA7), 1 x NE-2 neon indicator |
| Power supply | 117 V AC |
| Configuration | Monaural; a pair is needed for stereo |
Out of production
Find an original
The Model 9 is out of production. Originals change hands on the marketplaces listed here; buy restored, or budget for recapping and new valves.
The house
- Founded
- 1953
- Founder
- Saul Marantz
- Origin
- Woodside, Queens, New York, United States
- Today
- Owned by Samsung Electronics through Harman, which bought Marantz from Masimo in 2025 after Sound United (2017) and D&M Holdings, per Wikipedia.
Further sheets
Sources
- https://sfcc-prod-marantz.soundunited.com/world-of-marantz/finer-things-model-9.html
- https://www.marantz.com/en-us/world-of-marantz/timeline.html
- https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/marantz_model_9.html
- https://hifi-wiki.com/index.php/Marantz_9
- https://hifihalloffame.com/?p=2023
Notes for the record: Price and years conflict. Radiomuseum lists 1960 to 1968 and US$324 for the first year of sale; hifi-wiki lists 1965 to 1969 and about US$384 (rack kit about US$36 extra). Radiomuseum was used because it ties the price to the first year. Dimensions are Radiomuseum's 15.375 x 8.25 x 10.5 in converted at 25.4 mm per inch (hifi-wiki gives 390 x 210 x 267 mm). Weight is Radiomuseum's 50.66 lb converted to kg. The NASA statement is Marantz's own claim. Marantz Reference Series successors (MA-9S2) are described as discontinued, so still_made is null.