Since 1953, Marantz has had a long and rich history of designing audio components embraced by music lovers and critical listeners around the world. From New York to Japan, their expert Sound Masters have perfected the art of precision to create state-of-the-art, powerful yet refined components that deliver an unparalleled listening experience—time and again.

In the early days of audio recordings, records suffered from inconsistent recording characteristics. In 1952, unhappy with equipment available at the time, music lover, freelance graphic artist, and amateur musician Saul Bernard Marantz, created what was for the time, a revolutionary pre-amplifier. The ‘Audio Consolette’ was equipped with every equalizer curve necessary to handle erratic recording characteristics and immediately struck a chord with his friends. Saul built the very first Audio Consolette at his kitchen table. Impressed with the result, his wife and friends encouraged him to make more. The first 100 units of the Audio Consolette sold quickly, and soon the new pre-amplifier was in high demand. Faced with a large backlog of orders, Saul established the Marantz Company in 1953 and opened a factory in Woodside, Queens, New York.

In 1954, Marantz launched a commercial extension of his Audio Consolette, the Model 1 Mono Preamplifier. The Model 1 was praised for amazing sound dynamics that astounded enthusiasts and critics alike. In fact, its performance is still considered a landmark in music pre-amplification today. The Model 1 would be followed by other soon-to-be iconic components: The Model 7 preamplifier (1958), the Model 9 power amplifier (1960), and the Model 10B FM stereo tuner (1964).

In the ‘70s, Marantz launched a successful advertising campaign based on its reputation for unmatched reliability. The print ad featured a receiver Model 2270 that survived a big fire. While it sustained significant cosmetic damage, the receiver was operational and still met all factory specifications.

Their pursuit of The Most Musical Sound began 70 years ago and still inspires them today. Driven by Saul Marantz’s passion for music, pursuit of sonic fidelity, and unrelenting curiosity, Marantz continues to expand the sensory horizons of discerning audio aficionados. Join in for the next 70 years as Marantz continues to seek, reimagine, and trace the contours of The Most Musical Sound.

Read more about Marantz and their 70 years of history on their website.

NEW: the MODEL 10