Marantz Sm-11

Replacement to the Sm 1000 and Sm 800 / Sm 700 siblings and inaugurating (among others) the fully 100% japanese Marantz. With some Philips in it :)

Contrarily to what the large openings à la Luxman M-05 atop the enclosure and the excellent specs might lead to believe, the Sm-11 isn't a Class A design, nor a Quarter-A... but a "Best Product" in Japan in 1984 just the same.

"This amplifier has been designed for the most stringent audiophile. It has been tested and re-tested in laboratory and in listening room until it was close to what we think is perfection. Nothing has been spared - the finest materials, the latest technology.
The output circuitry is using high-linearity transistors (4 in parallel) and 3 stages Darlington configuration to obtain the best linearity and reliability.

The power supply is of the high regulation type with specially developped custom audio electrolytic capacitors equipped with computer grade attaching screws.

Every detail has been analysed for its effect on sound quality. Listening tests have led MARANTZ to use copper plated chassis and screws, gold phono connectors and we have eliminated the speaker switching control to provide free signal path directly to the speaker terminal."


Thanks to Martin, owner of a European Sm-11/Sc-11 combo in the US :
"There is a bold-faced caution in the Sm-11 manual that urges the owner to place the Sc-11 and Sm-11 sided by side, not stacked one on top of the other, to "prevent audible hum which may occur by leakage flux from the large capacity power transformer of [the] Sm-11."


A real Sm-11 here.