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PM-94 PM-94 Oak Finish PM-94 Digital PM-84 PM-74/64 Marantz History Trivia Contact Links What's New
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Quarter-A
Marantz introduced the PM-94 and PM-84 integrated
amplifiers that featured its patented Quarter-A circuitry in the late 1980s.
These amplifiers operated in Class A mode up to one-quarter of their rated
output before switching to Class AB. Class A circuitry was the domain of
many high-end amplifiers having relatively low power, usually less than
50 watts.
The Marantz PM-94 and PM-84 integrated amplifiers were the finest that
the company had ever built, up to that time. They featured a level of design
sophistication and striking good looks that reflected the legendary Marantz
quality the company had long been known for.
Marantz started work on the Quarter-A series of amplifiers in the mid-1980s.
The PM-94, PM-84 and PM-74 were introduced to the American market in 1988.
The top-of-line, the PM-94, received rave reviews from all the audio magazines
that tested it, including Stereophile. Interestingly, Stereo Review
chose to test the PM-74, as it was more in keeping with its mid-fi readership,
but the article did mention the PM-94 and PM-84. Although operating in Quarter-A
mode and similar in exterior appearance, inside each amplifier was distinctly
different, as you will find out at this website.
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Marantz
7T Preamplifier
Design Influences
Marantz drew upon several of its legendary components when doing the
control layout for the PM-94 and PM-84 integrated amps. Both the 7T Pre-amplifier
and the 1200B Integrated Amplifier can be seen to have influenced the design
of the new PM series integrated amplifiers Marantz planned to market in
the late 1980s.
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Marantz 1200B Integrated AmplifierInterestingly, the control
layout on the PM-94 and PM-84 were a mirror image of the control layout
on the 7T preamp and 1200B integrated amp. On the PM-94 and PM-84, the left
and right channel bass and treble controls are on left of the front panel,
with selection and volume control knobs on the right; it is just the reverse
on the 7T preamp. On the 1200B, there were no knobs for bass and treble,
but sliding controls in the center of the panel.
Clearly, with the PM-94 and PM-84, Marantz wanted to revive the classic
Marantz look, coupled with sonic performance the rivaled any other integrated
amplifier on the market. In this, Marantz certainly succeeded. Check the
rest of the website and learn more about what in all probability is the
finest integrated amplifier Marantz ever built.
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Anthony Young
Webmaster
Note: The Quarter-A Reference Site is for information
purposes only.
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Article:
Classic Cars, Classic Audio
and the State of Things Today
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Anthony Young
Books quick list. |
| All good vintage audio fans also love classic American muscle cars and
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