Marantz 4400

Marantz 4400

The Marantz 4400 is a classic quadraphonic 4 channel receiver into which Marantz pretty much threw everything they had. Offered from about 1974 until 1978, it pushed out 125 watts RMS per channel into 8 ohms in 2 channel mode and 50 watts per channel into 4 channels which was pretty powerful for a quad receiver. It did this with under 0.15% total harmonic distortion from 20 Hz to 20 KHz. A buyer could all this for the retail price of $1250.00.

Marantz also not only incorporated built in Dolby Noise Reduction into the 4400 but gave it six different controls.

Marantz 4400 Scope

The tuning section of the 4400 utilized Phase Lock Loop FM Multiplex Demodulation which is a complicated way of saying that it could effectively lock onto an FM channel and hold it.

If you bought the Marantz 4400 quadraphonic receiver but really only had 2 channell recordings theyou didn’;t have to worry because the 4400 has what is called Vari-Matrix Synthesis which “synthesizes” 4-channel sound from 2-channel material.

Marantz 4400 Case

Probably the most iconic aspect of the 4400 and some other Marantz receivers is the built in oscilloscope. The scope, located at the top left corner of the front of the receiver has 3 basic functions. First, it acts as a tuning meter and graphically represents channel separation. Second, you can see the signal source and third you can see the effect of antenna position in order to reduce distortion. The oscilloscope utilized a Hitachi 50TB31 tube for the display.

Marantz 4400 Back

Marantz added separate balance controls for the front/front and rear/rear speakers as well as a separate control for balance between the front and rear speakers. Marantz offered as an option the WC-43 wood case which really adds to the look of the 4400.

Another interesting feature was the built in interchangeable matrix decoder socket. You could purchase different decoders and plug them into the socket. That way you would be sure that the 4400 would be able to decode your specific qhadraphonic material. At the time they had SQA-1, SQ/QS-1, SQA-2, QS-3 and CD-4 decoders.

Marantz 4400 SQ Adaptor

For an extra $39.95 a buyer could add the RC-4 remote control unit and be able to adjust volume, balance and loudness from as far as the remote cable would reach.

Marantz 4400 RC-4 Remote

Marantz collectors salivate over the 4400 and prices reflect that demand. The decoders are also difficult to find and fetch high prices.

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14 thoughts on “Marantz 4400

  1. Tengo marantz 4400 intacto.. original… suena de maravilla y lo uso muy poco.. pues tengo otros como sansui 9900 z… original… diehard.. quien quiere ofrecer 3138756475 están disponibles..viva colombia

    1. Probably the best way to determine value is to look at units that have sold on eBay. You can search for Marantz 4400 and then click on the SOLD LISTINGS box to see actual sales. Here is a link as an example:
      Marantz 440 Sold’s

  2. hola tengo un marantz 4400 con ecualizador EQ 130 y su cassetera estoy en mexico info a elseviertbg at gmail.com

  3. Tengo un Marantz 4400 en excelentes condiciones en Mexico, buscar en letthemusicplay en facebook

  4. Recently purchased a Marantz 4430.

    Want to add the wood cabinet.

    Do you know which model number cabinet I need? Thx

    JP

  5. probably the crown jewel in the recever collection of my family, and worth the rebuild, never under estimate marantz, nor quad

  6. I own four marantz 4400. One is getting rebuilt the other two need r
    Rebuilt. The fourth one is fine it has a blue scope.

    1. Kevin, do you know where the blue scope was sourced from or who rebuilt your 4400 so that I can contact that person to find out where the blue scope was sourced? I have a 4400 that was completely rebuilt except for the scope, which is impossible to get. Many Thanks, Ed

  7. Bought my 4400 while stationed in Germany back in ’75…simply fell in love with it the first time I saw it displayed in it’s own room…boy seeing that display glowing and that scope working, it had me hooked…bought the CD-400 Demodulator, wood case and the remote control too…all for around $1500. Which was a lot of money for an E-4 at the time.

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