Phono Classic Restored, Marantz PH-1 Phono Stage

Those 4 nondescript looking feet at the bottom are actually made of the same die-cast metal alloy as the side cheeks. It adds to overall weightiness of the unit

Front & back panel of the Marantz PH-1 phono stage, in some countries, Marantz called it the PH-22 phono stage, with a 230V power supply system

In 1991, Marantz introduced the Music Link series of half sized audiophile quality components to the Japan market, in view to accommodate the new lifestyle of coping with smaller, yet ever increasing property prices. The Japanese economy was at it's peak at the time, just before the bubble burst a few years down the road. Some studio apartments or SOHO as they are called these days, in Japan of that era could be only slightly bigger than my 12ft x 10ft audio cave! It was something that most young working adults could afford in the mega expensive cities of Japan. Expensive properties aside, these young working people also wanted high quality music in their daily lifestyle, right?

The Music Link series comprises of a jewel like top loading CD player, phono stage, pre-amp, and mono block amplifiers as shown below. Some Japanese Yuppies even going as far as having 2 pairs of mini mono block amplifiers to bi-amp their bookshelf speakers! As you can see below, Marantz even have an optional, sold separately matching component rack to house the whole system on offer.Obviously, now you're aware that the Marantz Music Link series concept components are JDM only. And possibly some small volumes were sold in Germany where these well built, Champaign gold finished units were well loved.  

Top loading Marantz CD-23, Music Link series CD player, very nice!

The whole Marantz Music Link series, from clockwise: Marantz SC-22 preamp, MA22 mono block power amp, PH-1 phono stage, & Marantz DAC-1, which is self explanatory. There is also a dedicated rack, designed to match the Music Link components.

Now with the introduction of  Marantz Music Link series finished, let's go back to my story. I have been Linn LP12 sick for some time now, and missing it a lot more after listening to a newly acquired unit in a buddies system. The Linn LP12 sound just stuck in my mind and nailed heart for good. The agony went on for days and months. I was kicking myself in the ass every time I thought about that silly decision to let my original LP12 go to a buddy. I knew I would just have to sulk it in and get another Linn LP12 unit one day soon.

Having those thoughts were very dangerous liaisons indeed, as I only have a simple system that consisted of a CD player, turntable, preamp with built phono stage & power amp. How would I connect the eventual Linn LP12 in the system? An extra phono stage was the obvious and only answer........

As soon as those thought crossed in my mind, this dinky Marantz PH-1 popped up on our favorite local hifi classifieds. It was not cheap and had to work with a 100V step down converter(this is a Japan Domestic Model, remember?), but then again, good things no cheap, and cheap things no good either! right? In many ways, I am very much like those Germans who like their hifi finished in matte Champaign gold, hmm..........

A Goggle search reveals this dinky PH-1 phono stage is still a prized collectors item in Japan and that it had a pair of MC step up transformers built in for MC input............. now this is where it really got me interested! Not only that, the MC gain stage is up to 68 db, which is more than enough for even the lowest of MC cartridge outputs. I contacted the seller, but he could not demo the unit, since he had already let gone his turntable, but he assured me money back guarantee if the Marantz PH-1 didn't work, and even threw in the voltage step down tranny that he was using to sweetened the deal. And so I took a chance.....

The over view inside, note the side mounted potted 100V power supply transformer, too bad I can't get an 230V equivalent of the same size!

I went home and proceeded to hook up the PH-1 to my existing Kuzma Stabi turntable since I didn't have a Linn LP12 yet. I connected all the power cord & interconnect , power up and the blue indicator light didn't turn ON! I called the seller and he was surprised when I told him the unit was not working. I told him the indicator light didn't turn ON, he was puzzled and asked "What indicator light?" After a long explanation, he realized what I was going about, and he told me that he never saw any indicator light ON from the very first day he brought the unit back from Japan, but he assured me once I put on an LP and spin it, I should be hearing it! I did just that and it sang.........., the Marantz PH-1 sang!

This tells me 2 things, first the noise floor of the Marantz PH-1 is absolutely non-existent, zero, zilch! It was dead quiet like as if it was never turned ON, but only fact that it was turned ON! I was really impressed. The next issue is not so positive, it means I have a dead LED indicator that needs replacing. 

See the 12V bulb in the housing located behind the front panel?

Time for a little DIY action since I am also a little curious about what's beneath all that very nice matte Champaign gold finish? I took a quick observation on the dismantling points of the copper coated chassis, with die-cast  side cheeks and the 4 feet. The first thing I noticed was the weight of quite a few kilos for such a dinky half sized component. The Marantz PH-1 can be said to be built with pride inside out, as you can see from all the naked pictures here. All parts are either audiophile approved where mattered, or straight industrial standard which are made for long service life. Once the chassis is opened up, we can see the power supply section on the left side which is partitioned by copper coated plate for shielding, the pair of MC step up transformer on the right, and the actual, MM phono gain stage board right in the center of the box. The thru hole PCB board quality is excellent for 90's era audiophile grade product, but will be bettered by today's typical SMD type high end PCB. For DIY-able repairs, I always prefer the 90's type thru hole PCB boards. SMD PCB boards may have some sonic and appearance advantages, but will be almost impossible to DIY repair!

The actual MM gain stage section of the Marantz PH-1

I easily removed the so called LED or what looks like an actual light bulb, located just behind the front panel power ON indicator housing. I went to Jalan Pasar electronics street in search of the replacement, which was identified as a 9V bulb by the spare parts vendor, who ask me if I am repairing an old TV or radio? He said "this bulbs have been obsolete about 15 years ago, I only have a few pieces left. Once I sold them, they are gone forever!" After I hearing that, I bought 2 extra bulbs to spare. They cost 3 times the price of a 5V LED. No wonder these bulbs are obsolete! 

Upon return I tried to power up the bulb with a 12V battery, the ones you used to power your Smart Tags! The bulbs light up with a warn yellow glow of a regular house hold bulb, but 1 or the 3 pieces blew up in smoke as soon as it lighted........ And so I begin to solder the bulb's connecting wires to the power supply PCB, test power ON, and perfect! And I still have a spare working bulb, just in case for the future. With that I closed the chassis and it was time to hook the Marantz PH-1 to my system again.

The pair of nicely potted MC step up transformer as seen from top! 

The MC gain set to L(only 2 settings available, L or H) and played around with the Equalizer setting I to IV by playing an LP on my Kuzma Stabi turntable. The gain was enough for the 0.4mv output of the Benz LP cartridge and the equalizer setting I seems to sound the best of the four.

After days of playing with the Marantz PH-1, I am again reminded of the late Ken Ishiwata's signature voicing here. The highs are lush, very laid back with just enough mid range lift to maintain the magical female vocal presence in play. The bass is soft in texture, but yet each note clearly defined. On the whole a very relaxing kind of sound that is typical of JDM hifi product tuning. However, I am still mesmerized by that total absence of noise, be it hiss or any other form. The softly polite sound of the Marantz PH-1 stands in total contrast to the built in tube phono board of the Aesthetix Janus preamp, which is big scaled, bold and very hard driving, which made it perfect for rock, blues & club music in general.

Now with the Marantz PH-1 ready and waiting, it's only a matter of time the Linn LP12 joins the party. Stay tuned, while I take my time to warm up the Marantz PH-1 phono stage.

Today's version of the Marantz Music Link series which is simplified to consist of a CD player, and an integrated amplifier with head amp built in. It's called the Marantz HD-CD 1