Marantz MA500 Monoblock Review

[Shicks18]

Just got my MA500 monoblock in today, and I must say that it exceeded my expectations and I am pretty impressed. It is currently pushing a rinky dink center, while waiting for my LSiC to come in. However, this addition really opened up my center a lot!

I can't go into too much depth at the moment until I get my LSiC to match my LSi9's. In the mean time I did notice that this amp might be a little more of a bright sounding amp than the Parasound HCA-1000A driving my LSi9's. Then again, the LSi9s are more laid back than my center.

But when I think that having a brighter sounding amp is okay for a center channel, especially dialogue. Its a cooler running amp as well. Also, to rest the concerns of binding posts, mine are okay. When you unscrew the post there is a screw in the middle, making it difficult to thread wire through there. A banana plug solves that issue. Thats all I got for now. If anyone has any more interest in this amp, I can provide more feedback when the LSiC comes in next week. Thanks for reading!

[jimmydep]

NIce, enjoy it...

[Ron Temple]

It happens that a buddy lent me an MA500 on Friday to put on my center. I was bridging and Audiosource Amp/One A previously, but it failed...went back to the AVR until I find something else. Anyway, I'll confirm that it's a brighter amp. Dialog is very crisp and clear...music vocals are a bit bright for my taste. It lacks the bass punch that 200watts gave the CS400i running large. I'd heard it at my friends and knew what I was getting. I figured it would be brighter than Carver (which is running the rest) and it is. Even so, it's got a nice open presentation with very good detail. I think you'll be pleased with it on the LSiC.