Marantz SA-7S1 - new purchase

Posted by Keilic on May 14, 2008 at 23:23:21

I just bought a unit and had it delivered Tuesday this week (13 May 2008).

BACKGROUND

I have been reading threads on AudioAsylum for quite a few months. While I spotted some negative comments about this CDP, the overwhelming positive comments and external "professional" reviews essentially convinced me to buy it. I did demo the unit 2 times (once I thought convincing while the other less so).

I'm relatively new to hi-fi. Got hooked on 5.1 digital HT back in 1999 and never looked beyond that until end of 2006 when I bought my first "true" hi-fi gears:

Arcam ARV350 receiver (basic Kimber cables to speakers)
Cambridge 840C CDP (Transparent Link Plus cables to receiver)
B&W805S speakers

Since then, I have on the one hand really enjoyed the sound of music this system has produced, while on the other wondered how much better it could get. This wondering/wandering has lead me to read a lot of reviews/threads (a good deal of which I have not been able to fully understand), bought some cheap Vibrapods to dampen vibrations and finally fork out a lot of cash to buy the SA-7S1 thinking that this could be the only upgrade I might have to make for digital source. An equally enthusiastic friend has helped spiral this interest into something not insignificant in my daily life.

IMPRESSION

I'm setting out brief notes for now since this is my lunch hour in the office. I have intended to contribute back into this site given how much I have benefited from other people's submissions.

1. First night. We (girlfriend and I) thought how awesome the unit sounded straight out of box. We marveled at how we were hearing things that we probably did not hear before. We enjoyed many discs left domant for months. Listened about 4/5 hours straight until bed time.

2. Second night. We thought the sound was still great, but decided to really put it to the test. We made 2 copies of Rosanne (good recoding jazz/vocal). Put 1 in Cambridge 840C (Monster m1000i cables) and 1 in Sa-7S1 (Transparent Link Plus). We compared with and without blindfold. I guessed half right, half wrong as to which was which. Kae (girlfriend) guessed around 60-40 right-wrong.

So far, I must say I'm disturbed and confused. There are certainly differences between the cd players but it's hard to tell. 840C seems to be more laid back and gentle, while SA-7S1 more punchy and forward. But obviously the differences are so slight that I could not guess more correctly than someone who was deaf!

TO BE CONTINUED

I will continue to listen and see if burn-in time makes any difference. I certainly hope so.

I know my amp is weak (just a receiver), but I would have thought Arcam AVR350 is at least decent.

COMMENTS WELCOME

Please let me know if you have comments about my experience and what I could do to fine tune my set up. I will continue to share my experience as I progress over this and next week.

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Topic - Marantz SA-7S1 - new purchase - Keilic 23:23:21 05/14/08 (27)

RE: Marantz SA-7S1 - new purchase - chris.redmond2@bushinternet.com 12:52:35 05/16/08 (4)

RE: Marantz SA-7S1 - new purchase - Keilic 20:01:59 05/20/08 (3)

Your Arcam is no slouch... - Harmonia 22:52:52 05/20/08 (2)

Thanks - and final update before replacement - Keilic 10:41:37 05/22/08 (1)

RE: Thanks - and final update before replacement - KW13 22:36:08 05/26/08 (0)

Exactly my experience using multi-kilobuck equipment - Pinkus 10:13:54 05/16/08 (0)

You just learned an important lesson - madisonears 16:52:16 05/15/08 (4)

Actually, the Arcam AVR350 is rather a nice sounding piece. - Harmonia 22:18:04 05/20/08 (1)

I'd second that - as good as many mid-price dedicated stereo amps. [nt] - chris.redmond2@bushinternet.com 09:43:19 05/21/08 (0)

RE: You just learned an important lesson - SETdude 00:17:00 05/18/08 (1)

RE: You just learned an important lesson - Keilic 10:44:18 05/22/08 (0)

Need to give it some time.... - thezaks 13:42:54 05/15/08 (1)

RE: Need to give it some time.... - Keilic 10:50:10 05/22/08 (0)

Is there a big price difference? - Frihed89 12:16:51 05/15/08 (1)

Woops - a lot more expensive - Frihed89 13:45:54 05/16/08 (0)

Couple of suggestions - carcass93 09:54:50 05/15/08 (1)

RE: Couple of suggestions - Keilic 10:58:38 05/22/08 (0)

RE: Marantz SA-7S1 - new purchase - srdavis2000 08:40:07 05/15/08 (2)

RE: Marantz SA-7S1 - new purchase - Keilic 03:53:31 05/23/08 (0)

RE: Marantz SA-7S1 - new purchase - Markgar 15:21:43 05/15/08 (0)

A - B testing - mcondo 06:32:59 05/15/08 (1)

RE: A - B testing - Keilic 03:56:42 05/23/08 (0)

RE: Marantz SA-7S1 - new purchase - PlanarHead 05:13:32 05/15/08 (4)

RE: Marantz SA-7S1 - new purchase - audiophilect 09:40:46 05/15/08 (3)

RE: Marantz SA-7S1 - new purchase - Markgar 15:26:56 05/15/08 (2)

RE: Marantz SA-7S1 - new purchase - Keilic 03:58:37 05/23/08 (1)

RE: Marantz SA-7S1 - new purchase - radioheadokplayer 13:21:28 06/7/08 (0)

Marantz SA-7S1 - new purchase

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