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In response to a thread about which DAC Marantz uses in the SA-14S1, I posted the following.
Since it doesn't seem to be very visible, I'm trying again:
I just spoke to Marantz USA technical service today. After a long wait on hold, in which they checked carefully, I was told that the SA-14S1 does indeed have the Burr-Brown 1792 chip.
I am trying to determine the differences among the following:
SA-8005
SA-14S1
SA-11S3
The first two will do DSD, but not the last, although it is by far the most expensive. Many people praise the sound if the SA-8005 and the SA11S3, but I have read some fairly negative comments about the 14S1. Does anyone care to comment? In particular, the SA-11S3 has more shielding,
a metal disc drawer, balanced outputs..what else? A different DSP filter than the one in th eSA-14S1?
Also, there have been complaints about USB driver issues with the SA-11S3 and recent Mac OS updates. Does anyone have more information about those, or about issues with the SA-14S1?
Thanks.
Follow Ups:
I'm late to this party but in one of your posts you mentioned a Marantz USB compatibility issue with Mac. A couple things to consider - which I don't actually know the answers:
1) Does Marantz require and supply a proprietary USB driver for Mac ? Very few DAC makers do as Mac OS (and Linux) have excellent built-in drivers.... up until Mac OS 10.11.
2) I have read reports of USB compatibility issues with audio devices in the latest Mac OS 10.11 "El Capitan".
I'm on an older Mac OS so I have no direct experience with this myself but you might want to look into it.
Thanks for your reply. I have not heard anything definitive yet. However with regard to your specific questions:
"1) Does Marantz require and supply a proprietary USB driver for Mac ? Very few DAC makers do as Mac OS (and Linux) have excellent built-in drivers.... up until Mac OS 10.11."
Yes, it does have specific drives for the SA-11S3, which is the unit supposedly having had issues.
(But I haven't seen any recent posts about this, so I don't know if the issues are resolved. The SA-14S1, a newer model but farther down in the lineup, does not have Marantz supplied drivers. I decided to order this one.
"2) I have read reports of USB compatibility issues with audio devices in the latest Mac OS 10.11 "El Capitan".
I have read that about many of the more recent Mac OS operating systems. Some people also say that the most recent El Capitan update has resolved some of them. All I know for sure is that I have had no issues with my own USB-connected Eclipse speakers (which have their own DAC).
I will see when the units arrive. Probably I will use the TOSlink mostly, at least at first, connected via an Airport Express (hope it works). USB latter: I'd have to set up a Mac Mini or something.
Thanks for the additional info. Since my wife has the latest Mac OS 10.11.x "El Capitan" on her MacBook Pro 13", I might try it with my DAC just to see if there are any issues. My main setup is still on Mac OS 10.8.5 and it has been very stable with no USB audio problems.
Thanks. I'd be most grateful. Which Marantz are you using?
I may have led you to misunderstand. I do not have a Marantz DAC. I have read that Mac OS 10.11 "El Capitan" has had some reported issues with USB audio in general, with various DACs. I tried my wife's MacBook Pro running "El Capitan" with my PS Audio DAC and found no problems.
Thank you. There have been complaints about El Capitan with many other USB DACs as well, and I'm glad to hear yours doesn't have this problem.
Not what their official web site says.
"In order to handle the widest range of disc and audio file types, the SA-14S1 incorporates the reference class CS4398 digital-to-analog converter, which provides up to 192 kHz/24 bit resolution, along with DSD decoding with Super Audio CDs."
Link below:
The website is wrong. This was confirmed to me in my conversation with tech support at Marantz, and also by several photographs on the innards I have seen.
Not that the CS4398 is a bad choice. In fact, it it's good enough for the Marantz SA-KI-Pearl and the Esoteric SA-60, how bad can it be?
Plus my Marantz DV-9600 multi-disk spinner, so there's that. ;-)
I am interested in this as well. Marantz has a confusing catalog of SACD players...
"New for the SA-11S3 is the inclusion of the top-line Burr-Brown DSD1792A D/A converter chip, which features both PCM and DSD decoding, and provides a high current output that is substantially larger (7X more) than the DAC chip used in previous models, for greater dynamic range and improved signal to noise characteristics."
And
"Featuring the reference-class high current CS4398 D/A converter, the SA8005 can accept a wide range of digital audio source types, including Super Audio CD Direct Stream Digital content at 2.8 and 5.6 MHz, along with linear PCM up to 24 bits and 192 kHz."
And see my post above with link regarding the SA-14S1
I have finally found a fairly in-depth review of the SA-14S1 that answers some of the questions.
However it is from the far east, and google has only done a fair job of translation, so some points aren't clear.
I think:
the SA-14S1 has a thinner top plate than the SA-11S3.
both use the Burr-Brown 1729A DAC.
The SA-14S1 uses a different DSP module than the SA-11S3.
The SA-14S1 can decode DSD (without PCM conversion), the SA-11S3 can't handle DSD at all
The SA-11S3 has balanced outputs, a copper-lined chassis, and copper coating elsewhere;
the SA-14S1 does not.
The review is generally favorable. I found one rather negative review (in dutch) of the SA114S1, but most reviews are positive.
I believe that the SA-14S1 is similar in functionality to the much less expensive SA-8005;
one difference is that the former gives a choice of two filers, which the SA-8005 does not.
It is almost twice as heavy, perhaps overbuilt, and it has a longer warranty.
There was another similar threat (in Italian I think) on a different site, someone trying to choose between the SA-14S1 and the SA-11S3. He chose the latter, not wanting to miss out on the best possible sound.
My personal inclination (not yet a decision) is to order the SA-14S1 from Music Direct. Unlike a local dealer, they will allow me to return it if I don't like it. Although the SA-11S3 may sound somewhat better, I am concerned about its older design and the USB compatibility problems I have read about. I have heard that Marantz will release a new SA-10 in the fall that will be a step up from the SA-11S3 and may resolve all its problems, but it will cost twice as much.
My analog setup uses a Van den Hul Frog, not as spectacular (I am told) as the Colibri, but very very musical, and I am completely satisfied with it. It's not always necessary (or possible) to go for the best.
Here is the link:
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-TW&u=http://www.hiendy.com/hififorum/portal.php%3Fmod%3Dview%26aid%3D1553&prev=search
Just a few months ago I purchased the SA-14S1 from Music Direct. My need was SACD playback, though the entire set of features appealed to me. Also in the rack is a Bryston BCD-1 (beautiful CD playback, but no SACD).
Right out of the box I liked the sound of the SA-14S1, for both CD and SACD. Compared to the Bryston? I felt the Bryston bested it, and one day did a critical listening comparison and felt the Bryston strongly bested it. Ok, I could live with that, the Marantz still sounded very good and gave me SACD. But I read in a few places that the Marantz players really like a long break-in period. So I played it a lot ... and somewhere around ~70-100 hours of playback, it became significantly more ... liquid, more fully fleshed-out, more real - more like the Bryston. So I did another comparison. This time, though I could hear differences, it was harder to pick a winner. I was thrilled - the Marantz, very good from the start, was really sensational after a good amount of playback.
So ... buy one and give it plenty of play. I think you'll be happy from the start, and once broken-in I can't imagine you won't be delighted. And, yes, Music Direct has a nice return policy - you'll have time to give it plenty of play and be sure you are really happy with the sound.
I can't comment on using the DAC with computer input just yet, though I do expect to use this (and I plan to use the direct connect of iDevices, too). All in all, I think it's a wonderful machine with a broad and useful set of features.
GratefulBob-
your Marantz will really open up after 400 hours of break-in. Hang in there.
It was good of you to write about the comparison between the Bryston and Marantz. Happy Listening!
Thank you very much. In the meantime I found another in-depth review, this time in English.
It echoes what you say about the importance of break-in (something I don't really understand).
Here is the review:
http://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2016/5/24/the-marantz-sa-14s1-sacd-player?rq=marantz
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