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Digital Drive Upsamplers, DACs, jitter, shakes and analogue withdrawals, this is it. |
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Digital Drive Upsamplers, DACs, jitter, shakes and analogue withdrawals, this is it. |
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In Reply to: RE: Go for Marantz... posted by tinos on February 12, 2008 at 07:33:54:
Hi, Tae,
I'm not quite sure what the description "authorative" means when applied to an audio component, unless it means that it somehow "grabs your attention" or "makes its presence known".
I would not describe my SA-11S1 that way at all. In fact, the most endearing attribute of the player, to me, is just the opposite: I hear the MUSIC on the recording rather than "the sound" of the player or the recording.
Before the Marantz I had never owned or heard a CD player that let me relax and listen without being always conscious of the fact that I'm listening to a recording.
Here is an excerpt of a recent post of mine on the Hi-Rez Highway forum that sums up my feelings about the SA-11S1:
" I have owned a SA-11S1 for a little over two years, and if I were to attempt to describe how I feel about the player my feelings would pretty much parallel Dr. S's review.
" After two years I am still occasionally amazed when I realize that I have listened to an entire CD without having thought for a SECOND about the "sound"!
" The other day I was listening to the SACD release of the Mercury Living Presence Byron Janis piano version of Moussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. I found myself analyzing the tone of the piano and marveling at the subtleties of Janis's technique, when I suddenly came to the realization that I hadn't been thinking about the "recording" at all!
" I am a musician and I also enjoy repairing/setup of stringed instruments as a hobby. During live performances I am usually very aware of the tone of the various instruments as well as appreciating artistic technique, but that kind of relaxed enjoyment of a RECORDING almost NEVER happened for me until I purchased the SA-11S1.
" Needless to say I am very happy with the player. "
I don't mean to sound like a salesman or a "shill" for the Marantz players, but I really am impressed by mine. The thing just lets whatever is on the recording come through without adding any coloration that I can detect. I don't really think the player has a "sound character" of its own.
But most important, the player is completely free of that irritating, edgy "overlay" that I always heard on RedBook digital recordings before I bought the SA-11S1.
I have been purchasing CDs since 1984, and a bunch of the early ones sounded pretty nasty!! I was unable to listen to some of them all the way through without either leaving the room or turning the music off.
With the SA-11S1, when listening to a particularly "rough" early CD I might not be able to quite ignore the sound, but at least I can listen without lunging for the remote!
Over the past 24 years that I have been listening to CDs I have been on a slow but steady path of equipment upgrades and modifications, seeking the relaxed enjoyment that I used to experience before I bought that first CD player. Until recently I just didn't spend much time listening to music at home. Since purchasing the Marantz I have not only found myself spending a lot of time listening, but I have not had the SLIGHTEST urge to upgrade anything in the system!! Pretty impressive, and I have seen the same sentiment expressed by some other Marantz owners over the past few years, at least about the recent generations of players.
The Marantz players might not be the "Holy Grail" of CD players, and might not impress those who crave highlighed or emphasized detail (gotta hear that mouse sneeze!!), but I would encourage anyone who is dissatisfied with digital playback on their system, for any reason, to check them out!
Ken
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- RE: Go for Marantz... - FidPup 02/13/0810:50:35 02/13/08 (0)
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