Marantz 104

The Marantz 104 is an integrated amplifier. It sits at the top of Marantz's "Compact" series, above the Model 32. It came out while Marantz was shifting from high-end reference components toward more consumer-friendly designs, and it competed directly with the Pioneer SA-8800 and Kenwood KA-5700. It shares its chassis and toroidal transformer with the Model 1035. Electronically it is similar to the Model 1040, though the features are not identical.

The 104 uses a fully complementary, direct-coupled circuit with discrete components throughout. There are no ICs in the amplification path. It delivers 40 watts RMS per channel into 8 ohms from 20 Hz to 20 kHz with less than 0.3% THD, and the damping factor is rated at a very high 500. The built-in phono stage is designed for moving magnet cartridges with 2.0 mV sensitivity. Owners describe the sound as warm and smooth, with a slight roll-off at the extreme highs that keeps it from becoming fatiguing. One owner notes the phono stage is quiet and resolves detail well, better than the preceding 1030.

The cabinet is woodgrain vinyl over MDF, and the rear speaker terminals accept wire up to 12 AWG. A technician on Audio Asylum cautions that the terminals sit close together, which makes banana plugs fiddly. Bare wire is easier. Owners bring up two weak points again and again. The power switch degrades over time and needs cleaning or replacement. The volume potentiometer is a custom dual-gang unit, and no original replacement parts are available. If the unit is more than 20 years old, plan on replacing the main filter capacitors.

Known Specs

Power: 40W RMS/ch into 8Ω, 20 Hz–20 kHz, both channels driven
THD: less than 0.3%
Damping factor: 500
Frequency response: 20 Hz–20 kHz ±0.5 dB
Phono input sensitivity: 2.0 mV (MM)
Dimensions: 17" W × 4-1/2" H × 11" D
Weight: 24 lbs

Recent market prices are modest — one seller listed a fully working unit at $95, and a forum member paid $150 for a serviced example. No original retail price or exact production dates are documented. The 104 doesn't get the attention of Marantz's bigger receivers, but for a compact, honest integrated amp with a good phono stage, it holds up well.