The Latest HI-FI-FREQ Installment!!!
                                                                       EXPOSED!

                                            MARANTZ 1072 Console STEREO Amplifier

              The post-surgical detail above illustrates just some of the possibilities in the exciting world of the audio triage unit. We dare not call it necromancy for fear of awakening discerning yet sometimes cruel semanticians slumbering lazily over tomorrows philology sermon.  This here integrated amplifier presented with myriad symptoms, most notably incapacitating distortion in both channels which was traced to a demon lodged in it's spleen. Okay, it was actually a resistor that was  out of tolerance.  8.5 thousand times higher than its target value of 220 ohms, to be approximate. Problem Solved.

          As the author has become disenchanted with surgical metaphor, we will continue in a more colloquial vein. (Un-intended pun; I swear).  I have replaced all of the electrolytic capacitors (very much like the flux-capacitor that made it's acting debut in "Back to the Future") with the highly regarded ELNA SILMIC II; after 30 years the original "caps" in these stereos are on their last legs. The sound? For 36 watts per channel, nothing short of stupendous. Some forums assert that new capacitors need 30 hours of playing to break-in. I've listened for about 20 so far and WOW!  Soundstage is wide, tall and deep. Still retains the Marantz character; strong, rhythmic and tuneful bass; liquid midrange and sparkling treble without a trace of glint or glare. Frankly, this 1072 sounds WAY BETTER than I thought possible from a relatively low-powered integrated amplifier. I fixed and re-capped this with an eye toward selling it. It may be awhile...