Marantz PM66 Special Edition Ken Ishiwata amplifier

To put a bit of scope, let us speak first of the three ages of Marantz. The first age, definitely a golden one on the hands of Saul Marantz, as seen the brand being a major actor of the revolution of High Fidelity at home and the "Hi-Fi wars". The second age, in the eighties, saw the joint venture with Philips. By some injustice, the products, while aligned with their age (remember the eighties, the golden boys and so on?) were a bit disregarded. This tend to be softened these days with PM- range products that are still performing after 40 years, as a proof of their built quality. Keeping going along the years and change of controlling companies, Marantz managed to sail through the years, and is still here, as an appreciated brand but introduced some separation between their regular ranges and the audiophile segment.

Introduced in the nineties at Marantz, this policy led to special series, based on simple concept: when a product is considered as a good starting point, it passes in the expert hands of the Ken Ishiwata led engineering team. The modified - read improved - series is then branded as "Special Edition (SE)". And when the objective is considered a masterpiece, here we are, we go one step up with the certification of the legend himself, as a Ken Ishiwita (KI) signature device. 

Visually, you will immediately notice the Special Edition - Ken Ishiwata modifications: golden plate, copper tone screws and a full copper chassis, extending to the back panel, that is as you can see on our photos rendering very weird. The reality is way different, the back panel is so gorgeous you wonder why it is not actually… the front one.

The rework for this amplifier is massive: complete rework of the phono stage, removal of all the tone control board, direct linking, a new and beefed up power stage with large toroidal transformer, upgraded rate components like transistors, single direct circuit speakers linkage to the power stage.

May you doubt on here and there opinions found on the web; here is one: this model was elected "one of the 19 best amplifier of all the What Hifi Magazine lifetime". That does not mean nothing, especially among contenders costing several thousands of euros. Other magazines praise it as well, for the same, good reasons.

All these specifications make this "modern vintage" amplifier almost an ideal audiophile choice for those who want the bare minimum route between their CD's / DAC and speakers, but also for using it as a non-brutal power amp below a mixing deck. In fact, all of a head of the class student.

Regarding our session we found a very fluid and musical device. And yes: it's warm, comfy on relaxed genres. Present in every detail, the scene has a total control of space, each individual instrument and performer are clinically defined. Also energetic and dynamic without fatigue when we switch to more muscular music, the CD entry is particularly fast and agile, while the phono is relaxed, delicate and warm.

A good surprise for a "modern", Made in UK (the Marantz special series were modded there) amplifier issued in 1997. Yet collector, certainly will be even more coveted tomorrow. Grab this one.