Marantz Imperial 9's (2024)

These look intriguing. Never seen a pair before. Read up on them a bit and some AKers seem to think highly of them. No affiliation.

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/ele/d/super-rare-marantz-imperial-9/6427064509.html

Maybe I'm crazy -- ok I'm crazy -- but I'd be very, very tempted if they were local to me.

Meanwhile, gear in the bed of a pickup truck, is that a California thing? Ain't the first time I've seen it here.

I had a set of the Imperial 7G. Woofers had cloth surrounds and the cones were a blue color like the mids.
one 3 1/2" mid-range in each and one 12" woofer in each.
Both mids needed to be re-foamed, which I did; those 3 1/2" foams for these were hard to find at the time.
The Imperial 9's in the OP have had all 8 mids done for you already as well as the woofers, and maybe put new binding posts on the back (they don't look original). All that's a big plus.

Initially I really liked the Imperial 7's, but then I got a set of Pioneer CS-A500 which are a sealed acoustic suspension with tighter bass.
The Imperial 7's were on the boomy side, being bass reflex design. I read somewhere that you could get Marantz 'Vari-Q Port Plugs' to tighten up the bass.

My Imperial 7 grills were missing also, a common problem, as they were a geometric cube foam design that disintegrated faster than the mid-range surrounds over the years. I wonder if the Imperial 9's had those foam grills also.

I also read somewhere that the Imperial 7's were marketed as a sort of poor man's JBL L-100 Century, but I don't know if they compare favorably.

JamVal said:

I had a set of the Imperial 7G. Woofers had cloth surrounds and the cones were a blue color like the mids.
one 3 1/2" mid-range in each and one 12" woofer in each.
Both mids needed to be re-foamed, which I did; those 3 1/2" foams for these were hard to find at the time.
The Imperial 9's in the OP have had all 8 mids done for you already as well as the woofers, and maybe put new binding posts on the back (they don't look original). All that's a big plus.

Initially I really liked the Imperial 7's, but then I got a set of Pioneer CS-A500 which are a sealed acoustic suspension with tighter bass.
The Imperial 7's were on the boomy side, being bass reflex design. I read somewhere that you could get Marantz 'Vari-Q Port Plugs' to tighten up the bass.

My Imperial 7 grills were missing also, a common problem, as they were a geometric cube foam design that disintegrated faster than the mid-range surrounds over the years. I wonder if the Imperial 9's had those foam grills also.

I also read somewhere that the Imperial 7's were marketed as a sort of poor man's JBL L-100 Century, but I don't know if they compare favorably.

Click to expand...

Don't let the Imperial 7 color your opinion of the 6, 8, and 9 models, which were designed for ruler-flat accuracy. The 7 was indeed boomy, as the marketing department wanted.

JamVal said:

I had a set of the Imperial 7G. Woofers had cloth surrounds and the cones were a blue color like the mids.
one 3 1/2" mid-range in each and one 12" woofer in each.
Both mids needed to be re-foamed, which I did; those 3 1/2" foams for these were hard to find at the time.
The Imperial 9's in the OP have had all 8 mids done for you already as well as the woofers, and maybe put new binding posts on the back (they don't look original). All that's a big plus.

Initially I really liked the Imperial 7's, but then I got a set of Pioneer CS-A500 which are a sealed acoustic suspension with tighter bass.
The Imperial 7's were on the boomy side, being bass reflex design. I read somewhere that you could get Marantz 'Vari-Q Port Plugs' to tighten up the bass.The Marantz 9 are totl and quite desirable to Marantz people
in my opnion

My Imperial 7 grills were missing also, a common problem, as they were a geometric cube foam design that disintegrated faster than the mid-range surrounds over the years. I wonder if the Imperial 9's had those foam grills also.

I also read somewhere that the Imperial 7's were marketed as a sort of poor man's JBL L-100 Century, but I don't know if they compare favorably.

Click to expand...

In my experience no.The L100s were head and shoulders above the 7.Not saying the L100s are all that but in my experience thats how it was.
I have read good things about the 9s.Just a matter of time before their speakers rise like the receivers like them or not.

It looks like the woofers have been replaced, they should have blue cones.

I sold a set of JBL L100t3 and kept the Marantz Imperial 8's, I like them that much. My .02.

I restored a set. Two of the four 10" woofers were bad. So, I opted for a set of woofers from Imperial 6's as replacements. For me, the iconic blue woofers were a must.

Of course, the crossovers were recapped.

Plus, refoaming all those midrange and tweeters, sucked.

In the end, they went to a new owner with the original shipping boxes.

yesshows77 said:

Thespeakerdude8 loaned me his Imperial 9's for a while and they sounded spectacular in the man cave. I would not hesitate picking up a pair for that price.

Click to expand...

I would myself if I could get away with it.