Marantz sm-5

Power amplifier version of the PM-15... built to even more exacting standards.


Same copper-plated diecast aluminium chassis, same heatsinks and shielded 600VA transformer topped by a copper foil, same four pairs of 200W "oversized LAPT ultra-high frequency multi-emitter" Sanken transistors, same three CCNE noise killer circuits (one for each transformer winding).

Same visual family, too, albeit clearly flat chested and less like a '57 Cadillac and its two protruding... bumpers.

The real differences lie in the six HDAM of the "New" kind, the improved and reinforced structure of the power boards, New HDAM addition to the latter, the BTL possibility, the BIGGER speaker terminals and the addition of a second regulation on the control winding.

Power output is, unlike the non-protruding input level knobs, not flat chested : 2x 200W into 4 Ohm.
Weight is also proeminent, like the chromes of a '59 Cadillac : 33kg, one more than the PM-15.

The sm-5 can be fed by regular AC current or by the bb-5 battery supply of the sc-5 preamplifier.

New HDAM differ from the 1991 originals by being 4-layer with shielding separations between power supplies and signal treatment and having a better slew rate and S/N ratio.

Updated in 1997 as sm-5 version II with, but for a 2cm gain in height, unvisible difference : reinforced power-supply, more CCNE noise killers and, seemingly, the ability to be powered by two of the bb-5's DC outputs, to feed the input buffers and 1st stage of the power-amp separately instead of all-together.
Specifications between the two versions remain absolutely identical.


The sm-5 was launched during Japan's 43rd Audio Fair (oct. 10 - 13, 1994) but despite winning the Components of the Year Award from Stereo Sound, it seems to have sold very poorly.
The Stereo Sound 2003 book from the enthusiastic D&M takeover doesn't pretend the sm-5 didn't exist but remains quite mute about it and its sc-5 / bb-5 companions.

I have no idea if this was due to pricing, final sound or distribution problems.

Or if the PM-15 was, after all, just as good :)


The images on this page come from the cover of a french 1996/1997 catalog and a japanese 1994 catalog for the details.