Marantz PM-64AV (1989)
The Marantz PM-64AV is a CDV-compatible integrated amplifier from 1989, originally priced at ¥60,700. It came out when audio companies were trying to figure out what to do with video. CDV (CD video) was the format of the moment, and Marantz built an amplifier that treated video signals with nearly the same seriousness as audio.
The amplifier was rated at 110W + 110W into 4Ω and 90W + 90W into 6Ω (20 Hz-20 kHz), with 0.015% THD and frequency response from 18 Hz to 70 kHz. It weighed 10 kg and measured 416 × 136 × 366 mm. The front panel is a champagne gold aluminum chassis, and power draw is rated at 150W on 100V mains.
The video handling is what sets the PM-64AV apart. The video amplifier section is fully discrete, on an independent board separated from the audio circuitry, with its own power supply. Marantz used a paper polyester board for its high-frequency characteristics. A "newly developed video short circuit" connects the video amp board to the input/output terminals at minimal distance to reduce crosstalk in the 3-4 MHz range. Video inputs are rated at 1Vp-p/75Ω with a video S/N ratio of 75 dB or better. The unit accepts nine audio systems and four video systems, with gold-plated terminals on the CD-1/2 and phono inputs (phono supports both MM and MC).
There are a few useful extras. An AV Sound switch has two positions: one enhances the ultra-low frequency range of 50 Hz or higher for live material, and the other boosts the 200-300 Hz mid-bass for movie playback. A CD Direct switch routes the CD-1 signal through the shortest path from volume to power amp. There is one-touch tape dubbing (1→2), and a rear-panel selector switches the VCR2 audio between stereo and mono. The main wiring uses OFC copper, and even the screws are copper-plated. A speaker selector lets you run outputs 1 and 2 independently.
The record on this model is thin. No production end date is documented, and no period reviews from major audio publications have surfaced in the archive's sources. One Russian seller described the sound as "excellent, warm analog," and a Japanese auction listing in mid-2024 closed at ¥3,135, but these are individual listings, not critical consensus. The PM-64 MK2 is a different, earlier model (1987), and its specifications should not be confused with this one.
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