Marantz 1 (1958–1962)

Name: Marantz 1
Brand: Marantz

The Marantz 1 was the first product Saul Marantz released. It was introduced in 1958 at $107. Preamplifiers were typically built into integrated amplifiers then, and the Model 1 was one of the first separate components in the industry - a standalone control unit designed to pair with the Marantz Model 2 power amplifier. It was tube-driven, used no solid-state devices at all, and was considered the quintessential preamp of its era, with competing products regarded as lesser quality.

Several design details stand out. The Model 1 used separate left/right volume controls, bass and treble controls, and a unique phono preamp circuit developed for Teldec by Friedrich Herzfeld. That circuit went through several versions during production, and early iterations were notoriously difficult to service. The unit had no power switch of its own, and its record amplifier output could be internally set to either a high or low level. The tone control circuit and general layout were reportedly inspired by the H.H. Scott 21-C, though implemented with greater sophistication. The right panel housed a 6X4 rectifier tube and a 0A2 regulator tube. The audio stages used a 6DJ8 in the first stage and a 12AX7 in the second (some sources simply list two ECC83s).

It was a substantial piece: 15 9/16" wide, 4 9/16" high, 8 1/8" deep, weighing 12 lbs and drawing 25 watts. Inputs covered Mag 1, Mag 2, Tape head, Tuner, and Aux, with Tape out and Main out on the output side. Input sensitivity was rated at 1 mV, maximum output at 5 V, and distortion at 0.5%. The sources conflict on the phono input. The original version was designed for low-output moving-coil cartridges, yet another note claims the primary phono input was meant for high-output cartridges and can't be used with modern sources. The truth likely depends on which production run you have.

The Model 1 was offered through 1962, when it was replaced by the Marantz 7C. Audio (June 1970, p.38) later ran Marantz's own advertising about how the company had expanded beyond the $750-plus tuners of its early years. The Model 1's $107 price point was part of a broader shift toward more accessible Marantz components.