Looking back, it was over 10 years ago when I bought a Marantz 2220B off of eBay. I guess it is time to discuss it and how I have modernized the experience.
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page and website.
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page and website.
The Marantz 2220B
I chose this particular receiver after researching for a while. I wanted a warmer sound since a lot of what I was listening to was compressed audio files at the time. However, I would be lying if I denied the fact that I really liked how it looked. It is more understated than many of the receivers I was considering and I actually like the fact that it has just a few buttons and knobs. The beautiful blue light was also a major selling point. Whether we want to discuss it or not, many of us actually care what the equipment looks like.
The Marantz has an AM/FM tuner, 20 watts per channel, and a frequency respond between 10Hz and 50 Hz. It has 2 tape in and outs, an aux in, and a phono input.
The Marantz has an AM/FM tuner, 20 watts per channel, and a frequency respond between 10Hz and 50 Hz. It has 2 tape in and outs, an aux in, and a phono input.
Streaming Shortfalls
Just about every modern receiver has some sort of streaming built in. That is typically Bluetooth, Airplay, DLNA, and possibly some third party music services.
However, when you buy a vintage receiver, you are stuck with only its tuner and maybe a few analog inputs. However, those inputs are what make it easy to modernize.
It is easy to complain about the lack of streaming options, but that really isn’t a major shortfall. Many people are streaming using third party devices anyway. With analog inputs, you can add a third part streamer, a DAC, etc.
For my own use, I went with an all in one solution, but you can connect an Amazon Dot to one of the Aux inputs, add a Chomecast Audio device, an Airport Express, etc. There are a bunch of streaming products that have analog out that make it plug and play.
However, when you buy a vintage receiver, you are stuck with only its tuner and maybe a few analog inputs. However, those inputs are what make it easy to modernize.
It is easy to complain about the lack of streaming options, but that really isn’t a major shortfall. Many people are streaming using third party devices anyway. With analog inputs, you can add a third part streamer, a DAC, etc.
For my own use, I went with an all in one solution, but you can connect an Amazon Dot to one of the Aux inputs, add a Chomecast Audio device, an Airport Express, etc. There are a bunch of streaming products that have analog out that make it plug and play.
My Solutions
I added a Yamaha WXC-50 (reviewed here) to my Marantz setup (as a side note, it also feeds a separate headphone amp). This one device has added so many options without the need for a separate DAC.
Airplay, DLNA, Bluetooth, Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM (for now), Napster, Tidal, and Deezer. If you are concerned about Hi Res audio, it can handle up to 24/192 files or DSD up to 5.6 MHz. Via the preamp outputs, you can also control the volume of your vintage receiver. I find this more convenient than getting up and changing the volume most of the time, but you can use the volume in the app or on the receiver. If you prefer controlling volume via the knob on the receiver, you can use the aux output on the Yamaha rather than the preamp outs.
The Yamaha WXC-50 is also small and can be put on its side or placed horizontally in its normal stance. I decided to stand it up on the side since it means it only takes 2 inches of shelf space.
Below is a more recent pic (the gray device to the right of the Marantz is the Yamaha):
The Yamaha WXC-50 is also small and can be put on its side or placed horizontally in its normal stance. I decided to stand it up on the side since it means it only takes 2 inches of shelf space.
Below is a more recent pic (the gray device to the right of the Marantz is the Yamaha):
Bluetooth
I want to discuss this separately because this is a more compressed form of audio and if you can listen to Airplay or one of the many other ways to play lossless audio, I would go that route.
However, for me, Bluetooth is ultra-convenient. Since the Yamaha has Bluetooth built in, I simply paired it with an Amazon Dot and can now play music without any effort at all. Just say “Alexa connect to stereo” and it pairs to the Yamaha that feeds the Marantz. I can do this from anywhere within earshot of the Dot, so it can be done when I am just cleaning up the living room or lounging without the need to fire up the main system.
However, for me, Bluetooth is ultra-convenient. Since the Yamaha has Bluetooth built in, I simply paired it with an Amazon Dot and can now play music without any effort at all. Just say “Alexa connect to stereo” and it pairs to the Yamaha that feeds the Marantz. I can do this from anywhere within earshot of the Dot, so it can be done when I am just cleaning up the living room or lounging without the need to fire up the main system.
Amazon Dot
As I mentioned, it is easy to control what is playing, but that would depend on what you have access to. I use Apple Music as my main source on the Amazon Dot. This works great for me. It is just like using the service with the HomePod. That being said, I also like to access my own library and installing the Plex skill makes that easy to do. You have to tell Alexa something like “Ask Plex to play Bob Dylan” and it will start playing back via Bluetooth on my Marantz. Of course, Plex requires a device to run the app continuously. I run it on a Mac mini.
One of the amazing things about the Dot is the price for the performance. I won’t go into the privacy issues, but I would definitely recommend researching that if it is a concern. I buy so much from Amazon that it really didn’t bug me to have them in my living room, but I definitely prefer Apple’s take on privacy (though it hasn’t been perfect). However, they don’t make anything similar device right now. The HomePod does not have Aux or Bluetooth outputs. You can use it with an Airplay 2 device, but the Yamaha uses Airplay 1. You could pick up something like the Bluesound Note 2i if you don’t mind spending the extra bucks or try to locate a compatible Airport Express device that got updated with Airplay 2.
For me, if I use the Dot, it is for casual listening. However, Yamaha does have something called “compressed music enhancer” that I believe makes Bluetooth sound a lot better.
One of the amazing things about the Dot is the price for the performance. I won’t go into the privacy issues, but I would definitely recommend researching that if it is a concern. I buy so much from Amazon that it really didn’t bug me to have them in my living room, but I definitely prefer Apple’s take on privacy (though it hasn’t been perfect). However, they don’t make anything similar device right now. The HomePod does not have Aux or Bluetooth outputs. You can use it with an Airplay 2 device, but the Yamaha uses Airplay 1. You could pick up something like the Bluesound Note 2i if you don’t mind spending the extra bucks or try to locate a compatible Airport Express device that got updated with Airplay 2.
For me, if I use the Dot, it is for casual listening. However, Yamaha does have something called “compressed music enhancer” that I believe makes Bluetooth sound a lot better.
Remote for turning on the Marantz?
I have the Marantz connected to a smart plug (iHome). It has a nifty little remote I keep by my favorite spot on the couch. Just hit the button and the Marantz is on.
However, if you just want to control it by voice, you can install the skill onto the Amazon Dot and just tell Alexa to “turn on receiver” and you are up and running.
However, if you just want to control it by voice, you can install the skill onto the Amazon Dot and just tell Alexa to “turn on receiver” and you are up and running.
My Favorite way to use the Marantz
My favorite app for music is Audirvana. It works with the DLNA feature on the Yamaha. It allows Hi Rez options like Tidal or Qobuz to be streamed directly to the Yamaha/Marantz. It sounds fantastic and you really couldn’t ask for much more. The main thing that is lacking is MQA support (if you use Tidal), but it will still play files at 24/96. No such issue with Qobuz. Personally, I prefer Roon, but the person that runs that company doesn’t like DLNA. He claims that everyone has issues with DLNA. From my experience, with the Yamaha WXC-50, I haven’t had any issues. However, depending on your network, your milage may differ. I should mention that many say that DLNA does not support gapless playback. I have tested that on the WXC-50 with Audirvana and it is indeed gapless.
It is also quite useful and convenient with Apple Music since it has Airplay built in.
It is also quite useful and convenient with Apple Music since it has Airplay built in.
To Wrap up
When I first moved the Marantz to my living room, it was more of an art piece. My dad made the beautiful wood case for it and it simply looks gorgeous IMO. At first, I was using it just for its tuner with headphones. It worked great, but recently I added NHT SB2 bookshelf speakers to it (I love these speakers) which pushed the sound quality up several notches. For headphones, I have a pair of ATH-AD700s. Out of all my headphones, these are the most comfy and they have a wider sound stage (“head stage”) than most headphones.
All in all, I am very happy with my modernized vintage receiver. It plays any digital file I throw at it and the Dot gets around always needing to turn it on manually. Also, knowing that the product goes back to the 1970s brings back a bit of nostalgia. It would be interesting to add a turntable down the road, but that is probably overkill for this secondary living room setup.
All in all, I am very happy with my modernized vintage receiver. It plays any digital file I throw at it and the Dot gets around always needing to turn it on manually. Also, knowing that the product goes back to the 1970s brings back a bit of nostalgia. It would be interesting to add a turntable down the road, but that is probably overkill for this secondary living room setup.
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