Various Marantz SACD players...who likes what?

P

Pearce Harrison

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I have an opportunity to acquire a Marantz SA11S1 SACD player...in nice condition. Anyone have any experience with this model...and how it compares with the newer/newest versions today? Other Marantz SACD players? Your favorite?

Also, what would you go with if you had a choice...the Marantz SACD player...or a used Esoteric SA50?

Both are about the same vintage.
 
Pearce Harrison said:
I have an opportunity to acquire a Marantz SA11S1 SACD player...in nice condition. Anyone have any experience with this model...and how it compares with the newer/newest versions today? Other Marantz SACD players? Your favorite?

Also, what would you go with if you had a choice...the Marantz SACD player...or a used Esoteric SA50?

Both are about the same vintage.
Click to expand...

I've got the SA11S2. Its been pretty solid for a few years. I enjoy the sound.
 
I like the Marantz sound a lot. I have not had the chance to compare with the newest SA10 or Ruby. I've also heard some Esoteric but not that model....

My opinion, it depends on what type of sound you want, Esoteric will be very neutral in its presentation where the Marantz adds a touch of warmth. Marantz is still extended in the frequency response.

Welcome to the forum
 
Thanks. I do question the wisdom of acquiring an older unit like this...does anybody know if the transport mechanism is still available? OTOH, it is not a bad price, and seems to work well...for the moment!
 
Pearce Harrison said:
Thanks. I do question the wisdom of acquiring an older unit like this...does anybody know if the transport mechanism is still available? OTOH, it is not a bad price, and seems to work well...for the moment!
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Marantz makes their own transports, so getting one should not be a problem. Of course mine has never ceased working to try that out.
 
PH, welcome to the fold. I too have always enjoyed the Marantz sound, with that being said I'm hearing really good things about the 'Ruby' which I need to give a listen to.
 
CPP said:
Marantz makes their own transports, so getting one should not be a problem. Of course mine has never ceased working to try that out.
Click to expand...

I thought Marantz used modified Sony transports. I could be mis-remembering.
 
FWIW several Marantz 11S_ reviews I recall were generally favorable, praising 11S_ build and SACD sound quality, but CD playback was generally described as somewhat average.
 
Well it looks like the poor old Marantz SA11S1 is about to become a boat anchor, like other SACD's of this vintage. I spoke to the Marantz folks today at their HQ in the US, and sure enough the transport for these units is no longer supplied!! After several hours and various call backs etc ( their customer service is a little odd...although they did call me back when they stated, only to transfer me all over the place) Nobody could give me a definitive, but I did get the fact that Marantz in the US has no way of getting the transport for the SA11 1S or sourcing this part from Japan. Too bad, as several of their techs thought highly of the machine.
So, i am now contemplating whether it is worth the risk to acquire this model with no potential to repair if the transport/laser mechanism should fail.
 
i use the marantz sa8005 , never misses a beat and sounds great for the money . esoteric are good but they are a lot of money .

i do find that their are often special offers on new marantz and i would prefer a new one with a good warrenty
 
I believe the network streamer was also an 11s, maybe NA11s. I loved the sound. You could get one of those if found used and then use something with a digital out as transport, a decent player. Well.... I guess if SACD playback was the goal that may not work unless there's a HDMI input I forgot about.

Some retailers, especially online, alow retuns if not hapy, you might think about the Ruby if it's in your budget.

Pearce Harrison said:
Well it looks like the poor old Marantz SA11S1 is about to become a boat anchor, like other SACD's of this vintage. I spoke to the Marantz folks today at their HQ in the US, and sure enough the transport for these units is no longer supplied!! After several hours and various call backs etc ( their customer service is a little odd...although they did call me back when they stated, only to transfer me all over the place) Nobody could give me a definitive, but I did get the fact that Marantz in the US has no way of getting the transport for the SA11 1S or sourcing this part from Japan. Too bad, as several of their techs thought highly of the machine.
So, i am now contemplating whether it is worth the risk to acquire this model with no potential to repair if the transport/laser mechanism should fail.
Click to expand...
 
Mr Peabody said:
I believe the network streamer was also an 11s, maybe NA11s. I loved the sound. You could get one of those if found used and then use something with a digital out as transport, a decent player. Well.... I guess if SACD playback was the goal that may not work unless there's a HDMI input I forgot about.

Some retailers, especially online, alow retuns if not hapy, you might think about the Ruby if it's in your budget.
Click to expand...

I had a long listening session with the Marantz tonight. This player is a bit of a puzzle to me, on the one hand it certainly is more resolving than my Philips CD80 transport/ EAD 7000 Mk 3 DAC, on the other hand it clearly has more of the Digititis sound than I like.
For example, on piano, the typical digital glare is more evident than my other set up, but along with that glare is more definition of the notes and the inner note silence...very odd.
Perhaps this could be cured with a different ic, but I doubt it...although I will try that next.
 
IC experimenting can sometimes help. Did you listen in your system at home?

I can't remember if Marantz offers choices of ilters, if so, that is worth experimenting with as well.

Pearce Harrison said:
I had a long listening session with the Marantz tonight. This player is a bit of a puzzle to me, on the one hand it certainly is more resolving than my Philips CD80 transport/ EAD 7000 Mk 3 DAC, on the other hand it clearly has more of the Digititis sound than I like.
For example, on piano, the typical digital glare is more evident than my other set up, but along with that glare is more definition of the notes and the inner note silence...very odd.
Perhaps this could be cured with a different ic, but I doubt it...although I will try that next.
Click to expand...
 
Mr Peabody said:
IC experimenting can sometimes help. Did you listen in your system at home?

I can't remember if Marantz offers choices of ilters, if so, that is worth experimenting with as well.
Click to expand...

I listened in my system last night. Have the unit on loan. Changed the filters, some minor benefit, but certainly not removing the 'digititis',which wasn't unexpected. I do question whether the newer Marantz models would sound better....a'phile friend tells me that is the case.
 
Pearce Harrison said:
Do you happen to know the differences between your model, the S2, and the others....S1 and S3?
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I know the S2 was developed with a lot of the SA-7 features which means selective filters.

https://positive-feedback.com/Issue52/marantz.htm

DO you have the S1, have you went through the manual. https://www.us.marantz.com/us/produ...d=referenceseries&subcatid=0&productid=sa11s1, it notes you sold have a filter button.

The S3, no longer in the “champagne”, got a new dac and another input. A different DSP processor . Updated drive transport. THe noise shaping and 3 digital filters are still there. Never heard the 3.
 
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