Marantz PM-68 (1995–1998)

Name: Marantz PM-68
Brand: Marantz

The Marantz PM-68 is an integrated amplifier from the mid-1990s. Marantz built it around the idea of "all stages with minimum signal path." It has a two-stage structure - essentially a complete double-circuit preamp and a power amp section in one chassis. The design has a FET input stage and a phono equalizer with switchable MM/MC cascade. Bass and treble controls come with a full tone defeat that bypasses all tone circuitry including loudness, and there is a subsonic filter. A high-grade toroidal transformer feeds the power section.

The PM-68 is rated at 70 watts per channel into 8 ohms, with 90W into 4Ω continuous. Dynamic power is specified at 100W into 8Ω, 145W into 4Ω, and 170W into 2Ω at 1 kHz. THD is cited at 0.02%. Signal-to-noise ratio is around 105-106dB. The damping factor depends on the source, either 60 or 100. Frequency response runs from 5Hz to roughly 100-150kHz, depending on which spec sheet you read. Phono input sensitivity is 2.0 mV for MM and 0.2 mV for MC, with impedances of 47kΩ and 100Ω. It measures 440 × 124 × 368 mm and weighs 9.8 kg.

Period directory listings in HiFI-Stereo (February 1998, p.87) placed the PM-68 among contemporary integrated amplifiers. Detailed review coverage of this specific model is thin. Owners have been generally positive. One forum user called it "one of the better integrated amps Marantz offered in the 90s" and praised the phono stage as "well above average for its price point." The known weak point is the source selector switch, which multiple owners report developing crackling after several years of normal use. Production dates are given as 1995-1996 by one source and 1995-1998 by another.