Marantz RV253 (c. 1987)
The Marantz RV253 is a compact Dolby Surround processor from around 1987, sold in Japan for ¥24,800. It's a slim unit at 320mm wide, 55mm tall and 260mm deep, and it weighs 3.1kg. It was built to add surround sound to an existing stereo system without taking up much shelf space.
The RV253 packs a lot into that small chassis. It has a built-in power amplifier for the rear speakers, rated at 30W dynamic power into 6Ω, so you didn't need a separate amp for the surround channels. It also has a headphone port for personal surround listening, which helps with late-night viewing. The delay time is adjustable from 15ms to 30ms, so you can tune the surround effect to your room. Other specs are typical of the era: 0.03% THD at 1kHz (20W, 6Ω), a signal-to-noise ratio of 90dB (IHF-A), and input sensitivity of 250mV/68kΩ. The frequency characteristic is listed as 20Hz - 15kHz (-3dB) in Matrix mode and 100Hz - 6kHz (-3dB) in Dolby mode.
Documentation is decent for a model this obscure. An 11-page English service manual exists, with block diagrams, PCB layouts, schematics, and a parts list. Some sources attach the label "35 Golden Years SE" to the model designation, which may hint at a special edition marking Marantz's anniversary, though the connection isn't documented in detail. One Russian listing calls it a "good compact device for powering surround sound speakers."
Beyond that, the record is thin. No user reviews, no production run details, no market context, and no known reliability issues are documented.
Known Specs
- Type: Dolby Surround processor with built-in rear-channel amplifier
- Maximum power output: 30W (Dynamic Power, 6Ω)
- THD: 0.03% (1kHz, 20W, 6Ω)
- Frequency characteristic: Matrix 20Hz–15kHz −3dB; Dolby 100Hz–6kHz −3dB
- Input sensitivity/impedance: 250mV / 68kΩ
- S/N ratio: 90dB (IHF-A); 68dB (Dolby)
- Delay time: 15–30ms (variable)
- Dimensions: 320 × 55 × 260mm (W×H×D)
- Weight: 3.1kg
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