Marantz Model 1152 (circa 1977–1980)
The Marantz Model 1152 is a DC-configuration stereo pre-main (integrated) amplifier of Low TIM design. It is essentially a slightly lower-output sibling to the Model 1180, without that model's peak indicator. It was built in Japan during the late 1970s, and sources place it between roughly 1977 and 1980. The Japanese-market version was priced at ¥99,800 and ran on 100V. Export units carried a rear plate reading "AC 110/120/220/240V 50Hz" and "Designed in U.S.A." next to the Japan production mark.
The 1152 has a DC/AC amplifier changeover switch, so the owner can run it as a true DC amplifier or switch to AC coupling. The phono stage uses a specially selected low-noise transistor in a three-stage direct-coupled differential circuit. Marantz claimed the 40 dB closed-loop gain was the first since the Model 7, and said it was enough to use directly with higher-output MC cartridges. The front panel carries Marantz's "Tritone" controls: linear slide-type bass, mid, and treble adjustments with turnover switching, plus a continuously variable loudness contour and a tone defeat. A Bessel filter gives steep 18 dB/octave roll-offs at 15 Hz and 9 kHz. An ESP protection circuit guards the outputs.
Rated output is 80W + 80W into 8 ohms and 100W + 100W into 4 ohms (20 Hz to 20 kHz, both channels driven), with THD specified at 0.03%. The unit weighs 14 kg and measures 416 × 146 × 316 mm. The optional WC-110 walnut cabinet (¥7,000) and the WC-110N mahogany version (¥12,000) were sold separately.
The record on the 1152 is thin. No independent period magazine review has surfaced in the archive's sources, and production-year specifics remain approximate. What exists comes largely from the Japanese spec database audio-database.com and from owner reports. One owner on a Russian forum described the rear panel as "full of connectors," with four pairs of speaker outputs, two microphone inputs, and a headphone jack. The same owner, who has an export version, called it "excellent quality even though it is an export item" and said he was told it "will outdo most new equipment." More recently, the 1152 has become a candidate for recap and repair work. YouTube channels have documented phono-stage rebuilds and full recaps, and Reverb listings have asked around $995. Current value, as one forum member put it, "depends on luck."
Known Specifications
- Rated output: 80W + 80W (8 Ω), 100W + 100W (4 Ω), 20 Hz – 20 kHz, both channels driven
- THD: 0.03%
- Frequency response (20 Hz – 20 kHz): +0 / −0.2 dB
- Damping factor: 60
- Phono MM input: 1.8 mV / 47 kΩ; RIAA deviation ±0.2 dB; input equivalent noise 0.32 μV
- High-level input: 180 mV / 25 kΩ; main amp input: 1.5 V / 30 kΩ
- Tone controls: Bass ±10 dB (100 Hz), Mid ±6 dB (700 Hz), Treble ±10 dB (10 kHz), with turnover switching
- Filters: 15 Hz and 9 kHz, 18 dB/oct.
- Dimensions: 416 × 146 × 316 mm; weight: 14 kg
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