Marantz has been at the forefront of high-end amplifier design and manufacturing for more than 65 years, with Ken Ishiwata leading the company for the past 40 years. In honor of his four decades of dedication, we proudly present the PM-KI Ruby, a product meticulously designed and fine-tuned by a team of expert engineers under Ken Ishiwata’s guidance.
The Marantz PM-KI Ruby amplifier is designed with a singular focus on achieving exceptional audio performance. It features a fully discrete two-stage architecture, incorporating separate power supplies for both the preamplifier and power amplifier sections. This model draws inspiration from the flagship PM-10 amplifier, integrating an MM/MC phono section that utilizes Marantz’s Musical Premium Phono EQ technology, along with proprietary HDAM power modules to ensure signal integrity.
The amplifier’s circuitry is engineered to provide the cleanest signal path, delivering 100 watts per channel at 8 ohms and 200 watts per channel at 4 ohms. It also includes high-quality nickel-plated input terminals and high-purity copper speaker posts. The entire unit is constructed on a dual-layer chassis designed to resist vibrations, featuring robust aluminum panels for added strength, and is distinguished by Ken Ishiwata’s engraved signature, highlighting the uniqueness of this exceptional amplifier.
The Marantz PM-KI Ruby power supply unit features a robust toroidal transformer housed within a protective shield. Its amplifier circuit is designed using a dual mono configuration, incorporating carefully selected audiophile-grade components along with proprietary HDAM modules of the S3 version. This design includes three stages: a preamplifier stage followed by two power amplifier stages. The output stage transistors are mounted on substantial cooling radiators within the amplifier chassis, contributing to a clean and streamlined appearance. This configuration effectively reduces the length of the audio signal transmission paths, resulting in a significant decrease in distortion and noise levels.
In addition to standard line inputs, the amplifier boasts an advanced phono preamplifier from Marantz’s Musical Premium Phono EQ, adapted from the flagship PM-10 model, specifically designed for compatibility with vinyl turntables. It supports both moving coil (MC) and moving magnet (MM) cartridges. The integration of current feedback, a newly developed wide-band component base, hyperdynamic HDAM-SA3 amplifier modules, and a new linear volume control in the PM-KI Ruby design ensures powerful, clear, and dynamically rich sound.
The amplifier includes three linear unbalanced inputs, a balanced input, connections for two recording devices, and a preamplifier output. It allows for the connection of a single pair of speakers, and the front panel features a headphone output. Constructed on a copper-plated chassis, the device effectively shields its electronic components from external electrical interference and mechanical vibrations.
Meticulous tuning has always been the key to the exceptional audio quality of Marantz amplifiers. For the PM-KI Ruby, Ken Ishiwata and the engineering team have leveraged their extensive experience and knowledge in both the amplifier’s design and the extensive listening sessions that followed to refine the final sound. As a tribute to a remarkable 40-year career, the PM-KI Ruby stands as a significant milestone and truly reflects the Marantz philosophy: “Because music matters.”
Marantz PM-KI Ruby Specifications
- Output power 2 x 100 W (8 ohms); 2 x 200 W (4 Ohm)
- Frequency response 5 Hz – 50 kHz
- Total harmonic distortion 0.01%
- Damping factor 500
- Signal-to-noise ratio 107 dB (preamplifier, at 2 V input), 88/75 dB (MM/MC cartridges, phono equalizer)
- Input sensitivity/input impedance when using the line inputs of the preamplifier 220 mV/13 kOhm (RCA)
- Input sensitivity/input impedance when using the direct input to the power section 1.1 V/13 kOhm
- Sensitivity/impedance at the phono equalizer input 2.3 mV/39 kOhm (MM), 250 µV/100 Ohm (MC)
- Discrete amplifier modules HDMA SA3, SA2
- Inputs 5 line RCA (including CD input with nickel-plated RCA connectors and 2 inputs for recording monitoring), RCA connectors MM / MC phono preamplifier (nickel-plated), RCA input to the final section
- Outputs 6.3 mm for headphones, 2 RCA for recording
- Other 2 connectors for the D-Bus system bus, 2 connectors for connection via the FCBS bus, ground terminal
- MM / MC phono preamplifier, Marantz Musical Premium Phono EQ Speaker
- output 2 pairs of high-quality Marantz SPKT-100+ screw terminals (highly purified copper)
- Power supply linear for the pre-section (toroidal transformer), pulse for the final section
- Power consumption 130 W, standby: 0.2 W
- Remote control universal RC005PMSA
- Dimensions (WxHxD) 440x127x453 mm
- Weight 15.7 kg
At last, a high end (or even medium end) amp that recognizes there ARE still listeners who use tape machines.
It’s a pity you don’t give any indication of pricing.
Hi Man, price is appox $3999.