Marantz Model 7 MKII (1977–1980)
The model name causes real confusion here. The "Model 7" in Marantz lore is the tube preamplifier built from 1958-1965. Along with the Model 8 amplifier, it is considered among the finest tube components ever made, and original units now command astronomical prices. The Model 7 MKII documented here is something else: a loudspeaker, not a preamp, produced in Japan from 1977 to 1980 as part of Marantz's "MK II" speaker series. The shared name is coincidence. The two are separated by nearly two decades and sit in different product categories.
What little is recorded about this speaker comes from European and Ukrainian listings. It was a brown-finished floor-standing (or large bookshelf) cabinet measuring 648 x 375 x 292 mm (HxWxD) and weighing roughly 20 kg. The original price was approximately 160 US dollars in 1977, or 600 Deutsche Mark per speaker, which suggests a mid-tier offering rather than a flagship. A woofer is confirmed by replacement foam surround kits marketed specifically for this model. The kits include two foam surrounds, glue, and installation instructions. Like most speakers of this era, the surrounds have likely deteriorated and need attention.
Beyond those basics - dimensions, weight, price, country of origin, and the fact that it is a two-way-or-larger speaker with a woofer - almost nothing is documented. No frequency response, impedance, sensitivity, or power handling figures have surfaced. No period reviews have been located, and no detailed circuit or crossover information is available. A single undated Ukrainian listing described a pair as "vintage top speakers" at 18,000 hryvnias. That tells us only that someone values them, not what the market generally bears.
The name invites confusion with the legendary tube preamp. The hardware itself appears to be a competent Japanese-made speaker of the period, likely sharing DNA with other Marantz MK II series models. The record is thin.
Known specifications:
- Product type: Loudspeaker (with woofer)
- Production: 1977–1980, made in Japan
- Dimensions: 648 x 375 x 292 mm (HxWxD)
- Weight: approx. 20 kg
- Original price: approx. $160 USD (1977) / 600 DM per speaker
- Finish: Brown
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