Marantz

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Marantz is a company that develops and sells high-fidelity audio electronics products.

The first Marantz audio product was designed and built by Saul B. Marantz in his home in Kew Gardens, New York. The company had significant success with its high fidelity components in the 1970s.

During the 1980s, while owned by Philips, pioneer in compact disc technology, Marantz built some very well received CD players, but other products were not as successful as they were in the 1970s for various reasons which are the subject of many audiophile arguments today. As of the early 1990s, Marantz has focused on higher end components that have been the subject of consistent critical acclaim.

[edit] History

1952 Saul Marantz sells his first audio product, the "Consolette" pre-amp
1964 Marantz Acquired by Superscope
1966 Beginning with the Model 25, and then 22 and 28, Marantz started manufacturing their products in Japan through a partnership with Standard Radio Corp.
1975 Standard Radio Corp. changes its name to Marantz Japan Inc.
1980 Superscope sold the Marantz brand, dealer network, and all overseas assets (except U.S. and Canada) to Philips Electronics
1992 Philips acquires U.S. and Canada trademarks and dealer network
2001 Marantz Japan Inc. acquired the brand and all overseas sales subsidiaries
2002 Marantz Japan and Denon merge to form D&M Holdings, to later be joined by other elite audio equipment brands, most famously McIntosh Labs and Boston Acoustics