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Marantz SA10 Reviews

69.167.29.122
Posted on April 23, 2017 at 09:04:32
airheadair
Audiophile

Posts: 393
Location: California
Joined: October 18, 2010
 Since the Marantz threads are now hopelessly tangled up (at least for me), I am taking the liberty of starting a new one.

I found a Japanese site that has a couple of reviews. At least I think so. I used Google translate to try to figure them out, with often amusing results. Perhaps someone here can do better than Google.

 

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RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 23, 2017 at 10:21:48
Barry
Audiophile

Posts: 1003
Location: PA
Joined: November 24, 1999
Contributor
  Since: January 18, 2009
 I like the heading on this user review:

"My lust gets a little boiled"

Know what he means. I'm ok with a very little German, but not Japanese.

I'm thinking of modifying my SA-7S1 but wouldn't put much into it. Does anyone know how easy it is to get a replacement transport if it dies?

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 23, 2017 at 12:51:18
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 You will probably not get a better insight into the SA10 than the one from Hired Fox MARANTZ SA10 P.2 109 Replies.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 23, 2017 at 18:11:56
airheadair
Audiophile

Posts: 393
Location: California
Joined: October 18, 2010
 In keeping with my desire to simplify the thread of SA10 reviews, let me post here the urls' to three of them, two by hiredfox and one new one by rogl.

Hiredfox seems enthusiastic about the SACD playback, but negative about the CD playback.
Rogl seems to like both.

PS Audio offers a two-box solution that takes a similar approach;
(upsampling everyone to one-bit DSD); they claim it is better for Redbook as well for SACD.
The two boxes they are selling together cost much more than the Marantz.

I'm still interested in more opinions about CD playback on the Marantz 10. I don't of course expect it to be be as good as SACD, but I was hoping that it would be at least as good as, hopefully better than, previous Marantz players (possibly excepting the unique CD7).

Here are the urls:

hired fox 1: https://www.audioasylum.com/forums/hirez/messages/28/289399.html
hired fox 2: https://www.audioasylum.com/forums/hirez/messages/28/289416.html
rogl: https://www.audioasylum.com/forums/hirez/messages/28/289447.html

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 23, 2017 at 21:50:13
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Thanks! for sharing- Guys.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 24, 2017 at 00:18:10
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 Hired Fox is the most experienced of the SA-10 owners so far, opinions based mainly on pop or rock music that has no reference is of no value for me..

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 24, 2017 at 09:22:06
hiredfox
Audiophile

Posts: 62
Joined: March 25, 2016
 Barry, the best mod for the SA7-S1 if you have not already made the step is to link it to a reference Word Clock via a BNC 75 ohm digital interconnect. You will discover how important accurate timing is in audio playback, the SA7-S1 was thought to have excellent timing of its own but it turns out it didn't!

Lots of colleagues around the world have made this step and the results arte transformative for every parameter even the one that Disbeliever complains about (bass) most.

I used a DCS Paganini clock, having trailed many beforehand.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 24, 2017 at 09:23:54
hiredfox
Audiophile

Posts: 62
Joined: March 25, 2016
 Thanks airheadair it badly needs better structuring. Any questions about the SA10-S1 direct them at me and I'll do my best to shed some further light.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 24, 2017 at 15:15:20
Luciano, IT
Audiophile

Posts: 1
Location: Piedmont, Italy
Joined: April 24, 2017
 Let me try to contribute on this topic even without being able to write a review proper.

I have been the (happy) owner of a SA7 for over ten years. My first exposure to the new SA 10 was about one month ago when I first briefly auditioned it at an official presentation with a Marantz dealer here in Turin (Italy). My daughter had come along (always wise to have a lady to join: the other half of the world definitely "hear" better than we do). Neither of us was particularly impressed. For surethe location was far from an ideal one, with people strolling and chatting and the material used for spinning was the usual "sounds good everywhere" demo material.

A couple of weeks ago I arranged for some more meditated listening with my usual "pusher" of hi-fi gear (I mostly purchase prevoiusly owned material). The gentleman is a former amateur musician with a sound technical background and very discerning listening skills (all genres). We had arranged for at least minimal burn in of equipment and spent about three hours listening to a set of CDs-SACDs I currently used for evaluating equipment (this is just for fun: I have no professional interests whatsoever in sound reproduction equipment). None of these is of demonstration quality: these are just exemplary of the kind of material I currently listen to (mostly classical with some jazz and world, (mostly brazilian). Equipment used included recent Mc Intosh electronics driving a JBL Everest pair (no idea of the cabling). My final verdict was again lukewark: good player, maybe with some edge over SA 7, but not worth the investment.

Rather unexpectedly, when back home while working I started playing again on the SA7 the same discs I had just heard on the SA10. At that point the improvement became evident. So I arranged to carry the SA 10 home for further listening. I have now purchased the unit (while keeping the SA 7, of course) and cannot but congratulate Ken and Marantz on their achievement.

While listening experience so far is short (I also enjoyed doing some tampering with filter options: a current preferred setting is Filter 1 - Dither 1 - Noise Shaper 4th-0), I would mention the following points as points of marked improvement over the SA 7:

- bass line: this is always much present without being intrusive (say it provides current RBCD's with a bass line of comparable SACD quality); it thus gives a correct amount of "body" to piano recordings which may sound slightly too lean: most Pogorelich recordings for DG are exemplary of this;

- imaging: this is outstanding both at macroscopic level (soundstage and exact location of instruments, e.g. telling exactly where the viola and cello are on the right side of a string quartet) and at a microscopic level (e.g. Individually perceiving the two violins on the left side of a string quartet);

- definite absence of any "glare": recordings of historical string instruments are revelatory with gut strings when heard live having a very acute tonal balance which may sound somewhat sour, yet not shrill. The SA 10 renders such sound admirably. On the same line this the first time I hear the glorious Antiphonal Music Of Gabrieli (Sony SS 89173 - Single Layer SACD) with the full power of brass instruments with no shrillness (the spatial location is also just right).

To sum up: highly recommended. But do not trade in your SA 7: be wise enough to keep two Ferraris in your garage.

Very best.

Luciano

 

Thanks!, posted on April 24, 2017 at 15:29:49
hawkmoon
Audiophile

Posts: 903
Location: cleveland
Joined: July 11, 2003
 Loved reading your post.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 25, 2017 at 00:15:50
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 One Ferrari is problematic enough

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 25, 2017 at 01:42:52
hiredfox
Audiophile

Posts: 62
Joined: March 25, 2016
 Its a good idea not to sell your SA7-S1 as a CD7 is being offered on Hi Fi Shark for a shade under Euro 10k.

Unlike Luciano 'though there was no doubts whatsoever in my mind after the first spin that this is a rather special player. What is astonishing is how good it sounds 'out-of-the-box' and the very short warm up period needed per session of about 30 mins until it is sounding its best.

It is impossible to assess hi fi components from a quick demo in a dealer showroom. Home demo in your own system or forget it! I bought mine as an act of trust in the Marantz design and build teams based on previous experience with a string of their high end players. They have not let me down.

Marantz are playing hardball with the SA10-S1 which means either they are convinced of its superiority over other SACD players or it is a loss leader and they don't want to make too many.

If you need a glimpse of heaven, listen to the new Johannes Moser version of the Roccoco Variations on Pentatone on your SA10-S1 but it does carry a health warning for your heart strings!

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 25, 2017 at 02:36:00
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 HIREDFOX . At long last you have admitted that I was right about the unsatisfactory SQ of the obese SA7-S1 and that a very expensive dCs Clock is required for a satisfactory performance. Herewith are the comments by Mark Lawton from the first review from Positive Feedback Online, the glowing one by Dr Sarconicus is total nonsense.

Mark Lawton

I am not afraid to ask for a little "more" zest & spice from the SA7-S1 and that's why I am sending it off to the Mod Man to be upgraded. This is what I asked him to address in order of importance

1. Improve dynamics, heft, slam, power,punch, oomph etc.

2. Increase transparency,palpability and address blackness of background. It has a very low-level amount of "fog" between you and the performers, images are a tad"soft" around the edges could use some firming up.

3.Tone is a hair on the warm side of neutral, a small correction wouldn't hurt. Tone is also a tad on the dry side, and if that's fixable, that would be great.

Well that's why I sold my SA7-S1 after a 700 hour burn in. and of course the poor bass.


 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 25, 2017 at 04:47:21
hiredfox
Audiophile

Posts: 62
Joined: March 25, 2016
 This is an old battleground now used mainly for tourism!

Having spent £5k on the SA7-S1, it is surprising that you gave up so easily and didn't follow the rest of the audio community in linking it to a Word Clock, as that was a very well reported improvement almost from the off. It had a Word Clock input which to any research minded audiophile was an open invitation to play around with it.

The other question is why didn't you do your research beforehand as the SA7-S1 was freely available for home demo?

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 25, 2017 at 05:33:40
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 As I got the Marantz SA7-S1 at Trade price, there was no need to do any research ,knowing it would be easy to dispose of if I did not like it. Quite frankly I should not of bought it because the SACD is Stereo only. I also owned at that time my very extensively modded CD94 , I had compared it to the CD7 which I did not buy as the two players were virtually indistinguishable for SQ, this near 30 year old CD94 is still being enjoyed by the guy I sold it to.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 25, 2017 at 12:37:13
airheadair
Audiophile

Posts: 393
Location: California
Joined: October 18, 2010
 Thanks very much to Hiredfox for the musical reference. I didn't know about Pentatone; it looks like a good resource. I will look more closely at it. Do you recommend the DSD files as well as the SACD's?

I'm still interested in more analysis of the SA10 on CD's. You mentioned some sounds you didn't recognize. Do you think now they are artifacts created by the player or rather revealed by it?
Have you tried various filters? (To my surprise, my wife and I preferred the filter 2 setting of the SA14).

 

Thanks!, posted on April 26, 2017 at 14:56:18
Barry
Audiophile

Posts: 1003
Location: PA
Joined: November 24, 1999
Contributor
  Since: January 18, 2009
 I was debating about trying this earlier but never got around to buying an external clocker. I had a question for you offline. Could you send me an email?

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 26, 2017 at 16:27:58
rogl
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: April 23, 2017
 I have posted a review of the Marantz Sa 10 with primaily Jazz and Blues cds if that would be helpful to you. The review can be found at: www.audioasylum.com/forums/hirez/messages/28/289447.html
Regards, Rogl

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 26, 2017 at 17:41:58
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Welcome! Luciano IT

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 27, 2017 at 05:31:55
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 I doubt if many will buy the expensive Marantz SA-1O . hiredfox a very experienced Marantz user finds redbook CD inferior to the older CD7 and the SA7-S1 that requires a very expensive dCs master clock to give an adequate performance. No magazine reviewer even mentioned this , IMO having various filters is absurd. . No doubt D & M will accuse me of causing them problems as they did with the SA7-S1

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 27, 2017 at 09:09:09
Felixer
Industry Professional

Posts: 41
Joined: August 2, 2010
 I doubt if many will buy a Ferrari - after all, most of them only have 2 doors. True - and yet completely meaningless.

Actually, one area I agree with the otherwise stuck record of Disbeliever's monologue is that I am not a great fan of lots of different filters on playback units (nor on comfort suspension settings in cars). Let the manufacturer choose their sound, and let me choose the manufacturer.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 27, 2017 at 13:23:23
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 I understand both pov (points of view) per hiredfox and Disbeliever.
Until I can demo this spinner, I enjoy Esoteric spinners, for SACD only!
Their players feature "filters" for RBCD. Very thin, dry in presentation to my ears.

Esoteric SACD playback is outstanding!

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 27, 2017 at 15:14:42
airheadair
Audiophile

Posts: 393
Location: California
Joined: October 18, 2010
 Disbeliever writes:

"I doubt if many will buy the expensive Marantz SA-1O . hiredfox a very experienced Marantz user finds redbook CD inferior to the older CD7 and the SA7-S1 that requires a very expensive dCs master clock to give an adequate performance."


Since the CD7 is essentially unobtainable and was also very expensive, I don't think this is the right standard for most people. I would consider buying the SA10 if it plays both SACDs and CD's better than something like the SA14 (which I own, and which costs about 1/3 as much as the SA10).
I still haven't heard a comparison between the CD playbook of the SA10 and the CD playback of something like the SA14.

Another interesting comparison would be between the SA10 and the PS Audio two-box solution,
which they claim improves both SACD and CD playback. I expect we'll have to wait a long time for such a comparison, but I hope to hear more quickly about the CD playback of the SA10 compared to other players.

Actually the SA14 sounds pretty musical to me, and I am most likely going to just stay with it.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 27, 2017 at 22:33:22
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 airheadair-

what other gear, including cabling, is in your system?

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 28, 2017 at 00:11:35
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 As the SA-14 sounds musical to you best to stay with it and not throw away money on the SA-10 which hiredfox after more time ,now says I doubt you will want to buy this machine (SA-10) for CD playback as its main duty.
.

 

I second the stuck record characterization, posted on April 28, 2017 at 04:56:10
mcondo
Audiophile

Posts: 1411
Joined: May 12, 2002
 why even comment at all? You'd think he was short D&M (if they were public).

 

RE: I second the stuck record characterization, posted on April 28, 2017 at 06:32:07
RandHat
Audiophile

Posts: 94
Joined: December 18, 2003
 +3 on the stuck record. We get it. Actually we got it somewhere between repeat 3 and 11.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 28, 2017 at 11:20:03
airheadair
Audiophile

Posts: 393
Location: California
Joined: October 18, 2010
 Fanta asks:

"what other gear, including cabling, is in your system?"

Speakers: Stax F83
Subwoofers: Roger Modjeski woofers (made for his own ELS speakers), with a Beveridge crossover
Speaker cabling..... MIT I think
Amplifies: New York Audiolab OTL3 (Futterman design), generic amp for the subwoofer
Preamp: Klyne SK5
Turntable: Well-tempered, original model
Cartridge: van den Hul Frog Gold
CD player and USB DAC: Marantz SA14
Other cabling, a mix which I can't possibly sort out.
Headphones: Stax SRX MKIII
Headphone amp: McCormack mini (don't remember the exact name)


I'd still like to hear more from Hiredfox....






 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 28, 2017 at 14:11:06
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Nice system!
I did ask the same from hiredfox.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 28, 2017 at 14:12:48
Frank I
 My review is still in process . I will say both Sacd and CD red book is excellent. Reference quality play on both disc formats. The DAC is good but not in the same class as the Chord Dave as it should not be as the DAVE is much more money. I will have my review done and published end of May or early June. If you have large CD and SACD library the player is going to make you happy but at a premium price. I am enjoying the review process with this unit.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 28, 2017 at 14:38:01
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Thanks! for the update- Frank I.

 

Interesting, posted on April 28, 2017 at 14:45:31
E-Stat
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Posts: 37634
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 Actually, one area I agree with the otherwise stuck record of Disbeliever's monologue is that I am not a great fan of lots of different filters on playback units (nor on comfort suspension settings in cars).

Interesting. While such is unnecessary with any hi-rez format, one must necessarily choose a tradeoff with Redbook playback: extended response with ringing or rolled off response sans ringing. While I don't have the choice with my DAC, it makes sense to me.

As for cars, I also like having multiple drives modes using the PDK dual clutch tranny in wifey's Boxster. It's nice to run Sport Plus on occasion with the engine always spooled up, but most of the time Normal works fine with it lumbering along in 7th. :)

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on April 28, 2017 at 18:01:41
bigshow
Audiophile

Posts: 472
Location: WI
Joined: December 3, 2012
 After hearing the SA-8005 with the Modwright upgrades, I have to think that is the best way to go and I may look into that myself.
bigshow

 

it's a player I've being thinking of , posted on April 29, 2017 at 18:46:13
jeromelang
Audiophile

Posts: 2303
Joined: February 2, 2001
 ...considering selling off the emm lab combo and getting this marantz player.

I've never own any marantz products, so it should be interesting.

But emm lab just introduce a new version of the dac2x. My dealer offered me a brand new unit if I trade in the existing DAC plus a top up of sgd $3900.

 

Here is one official review...but..., posted on April 29, 2017 at 20:48:51
milpai
Audiophile

Posts: 651
Location: Ohio
Joined: August 21, 2005
 ...it is in Polish and the Google Translate did not work.

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on April 29, 2017 at 21:03:25
airheadair
Audiophile

Posts: 393
Location: California
Joined: October 18, 2010
 Thank to milpai for locating the review in Polish. Using Google Chrome, I got something fairly useful in the translation. For example:

"Marantz SA-10 impresses with its meticulous devotion subtle differences in the sound of various musical genres, regardless of whether it uses the classic a CD, SACD, or files in high definition. Marantz flagship player enchants and draws, and does it so skillfully that listening to music through it becomes a sensation that associates while listening to studio-quality outright, or intercourse with music performed live."

 

You are welcome.....and.., posted on April 29, 2017 at 21:34:02
milpai
Audiophile

Posts: 651
Location: Ohio
Joined: August 21, 2005
 ...Thanks for the translation :-)

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on April 30, 2017 at 07:01:48
stator_99@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 527
Location: ohio
Joined: August 24, 2003
 Intercourse with music, that would be an intimate listening session :)

 

+1..., posted on April 30, 2017 at 21:23:29
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31878
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 and I'm not the least bit interested in the player!

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on May 1, 2017 at 08:17:23
airheadair
Audiophile

Posts: 393
Location: California
Joined: October 18, 2010
 Thanks to all for contributing to this thread. I remain interested in the SA10, but will be cautious.
The SA14 is not bad, and as I wrote before SACD's sound very good and CD's okay. I know I cannot expect CD's to sound as good as SACD's but i do hope that on the SA!0 they could rival my vine setup. I was just listening again last night. I didn't do any AB switching (I'm more interested in music than sound), but, judging on memory, my impression that more excitement (micro dynamics, tone purity, the thrill of "thereness") is provided by the vinyl than the CD's. Specifically, this holds on:

a. The Bohm recording of the Magic Flute (with Fischer-Dieskau)
b. The Barenboim recording of L'Enfant et les Sortileges
c. The recording of Crumb's Idyll for the Misbegotten played by Ziti Mueller

In each case I have CD's and LP's, and the latter are thrilling, the former merely good.

Further information is welcome, especially from Hiredfox.

 

RE: I'm not Hiredfox, but I'll butt in, posted on May 1, 2017 at 13:21:58
bean
 CD already has a foot in the grave when compared to even a fairly modest vinyl rig. I enjoy ceedees for what they are but I don't expect them to equal vinyl.

How is the SA14 playing hi-res PCM? I would be more concerned if flaws are apparent there.

I'm actually considering moving up to the SA14 from my SA8004.

 

RE: I'm not Hiredfox, but I'll butt in, posted on May 2, 2017 at 05:32:53
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 keep us posted -bean.

 

There's only 2 filters to choose from, posted on May 2, 2017 at 05:47:52
Jack G
Audiophile

Posts: 9740
Joined: September 24, 1999
 And neither effect SACD or DSD recordings. It shouldn't be that hard.
Jeez, my old PS Audio PWD had 6.
jack

 

RE: I'm not Hiredfox, but I'll butt in, posted on May 2, 2017 at 08:30:02
hiredfox
Audiophile

Posts: 62
Joined: March 25, 2016
 One can become quite used to the imperfections of vinyl and the electronics that were used to create it.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on May 2, 2017 at 08:52:16
hiredfox
Audiophile

Posts: 62
Joined: March 25, 2016
 Unquestionably the SA10-S1 is a very fine machine indeed but it also demands that other system elements at least match it in quality. This was true also of Marantz's other flagship players CD12, CD7, SA1 & SA7-S1. I see no reason why this would not be the case as well with the SA 14SE which was so well received and reviewed in high end circles; anybody owning one of these should at least explore its performance in an upgraded system before casting it aside on a whim.

As to their performance with Red Book CD, I'm not sure what people are expecting. The machines are not music generators they reprocess only the information that is on the disc. For that reason alone the sound may be sound different through different reprocessing but SQ in absolute terms cannot be improved.

It is my view that dedicated RBCD machines like the CD7 remain the best way of hearing CD at its "limited best" as processing remained in the PCM regime throughout.

 

RE: I'm not Hiredfox, but I'll butt in, posted on May 2, 2017 at 10:39:24
thegage
Audiophile

Posts: 1157
Location: Western Mass.
Joined: April 29, 2000
 Just as one can get used to the sterility and flat representation of much digital reproduction and the electronics used to create it.

I can't remember the wag who penned it, but: "The best way to enjoy digital reproduction is to never listen to LPs." While that statement is a perfect example of hyperbole, there is a grain of truth. I enjoy the digital side of my system immensely for what it does, but there's always a sense of relaxation when I switch to vinyl.

 

RE: I'm not Hiredfox, but I'll butt in, posted on May 2, 2017 at 11:57:42
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 I no longer bother with my extensive vinyl collection, much prefer mch SACD.& well recorded CDs.

 

RE: I'm not Hiredfox, but I'll butt in, posted on May 2, 2017 at 13:12:21
airheadair
Audiophile

Posts: 393
Location: California
Joined: October 18, 2010
 I wrote earlier about three recordings which to me, in my system, sound better on vinyl than on CD. But there are also several recordings that sound better on CD than on vinyl, I think because of the mastering.

My goal is to get the best out of both possibilities. PS Audio claims that their new player
(same basic process as the Marantz sa10) makes CD's, not just SACD's, sound better.
I'd like to know.

Someone asked about the SA14 on PCM downloadable files. I don't have too much experience there, and in particular no basis of comparison. I have some FLAC files (Patricia Barber's Monday Night at the Green Mill) that do sound very good when streamed through the USB port of the Marantz.

I am more or less satisfied with the rest of my system (speakers, amplifiers, etc.)

 

RE: I'm not Hiredfox, but I'll butt in, posted on May 3, 2017 at 02:54:02
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 Whilst I would not want a separate transport & dac ,the new PS player does mch SACD, however I find their claims hard to believe, according to Hiredfox not possible to improve CD SQ with a similar process as on the Marantz SA10 .whilst I will be accused of repeating myself the Sony combo DA5400ES/XA5400ES does have H.A.T.S. low jitter that PS espouse and find so important, Just read Audio Stream review that says CD SQ is improved but I am not interested in paying $12K to find out for myself.

 

Translation, posted on May 3, 2017 at 20:36:55
milpai
Audiophile

Posts: 651
Location: Ohio
Joined: August 21, 2005
 I was able to open the link in a page and copy-paste into translate.google.com and read the entire review - in English. Try that. It should work.

 

RE: I'm not Hiredfox, but I'll butt in, posted on May 5, 2017 at 05:20:37
Frank I
 I have been listening quite a bit to both the SA10 and SA8005. The price difference is wide but have to say both players are exceptional. I will be writing the SA10 review shorty and it will appear in June. I also have to say the mor listening to SA8005 the more I become impressed and will be doing a separate review on that unit as well. Marantz continues to impress with their red book and SACD playback.

 

RE: I'm not Hiredfox, but I'll butt in, posted on May 7, 2017 at 18:45:38
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Thanks! for sharing- Frank I

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on May 12, 2017 at 17:47:17
airheadair
Audiophile

Posts: 393
Location: California
Joined: October 18, 2010
 Here is another review from a magazine, this time in German. I may try to struggle through it.
Google translate made a real mess of it:

http://www.i-fidelity.net/testberichte/high-end/marantz-sa-10/test.html

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on May 13, 2017 at 23:25:31
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Thanks! for sharing-

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on May 16, 2017 at 10:03:52
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Agreed-
Google translate does not do a good job? With all of the money that company makes, this app should perform much, much, better.

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 20, 2017 at 18:36:19
rogl
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: April 23, 2017
 Here is another thorough review from a french magazine. I used google translate to read the review. Although the translation is not perfect, the details are fully understandable. The link is listed as follows:
https://www.on-mag.fr/index.php/topaudio/tests-auditions/16029-avant-premiere-test-du-lecteur-dac-hi-res-marantz-sa-10-la-nouvelle-reference-numerique

I hope everyone finds this info useful.
Regards, Rogl

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 20, 2017 at 20:50:17
Annapurna
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: July 13, 2001
 Thanks for posting this review. The google translation is much better on this one. I am eagerly waiting for my Marantz SA10 to arrive.
(SME20/12 V12 arm, Clearaudio Titanium V2, ARC Ref 3 Phono, Marantz CD7,SA10, NA11S1, ARC Ref 6, Passlabs XA100.8 mono pwr, Sonus Faber Amati Futura, Purepower 3000+, Yter, Kimber PK10 Palladian, Nordost Tyr)

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 20, 2017 at 21:11:55
rogl
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: April 23, 2017
 I think you will find the Marantz Sa 10 performance outstanding once you have the unit broken in. The musicality of the player, detail, and sense of immediacy related to dynamic range are all positive attributes that I have found with mine. It looks like you have a very nice system to use the new player with.
Regards, Rogl

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 20, 2017 at 21:33:22
Annapurna
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: July 13, 2001
 HI Rogl,

Thank you for your kind compliments. My current digital playback lags greatly behind my analog rig and I hope the new SA10 will narrow the gap with SACD. I spend most of my serious listening on vinyl although I have quite a big CD/SACD collection and I hope this will change
(SME20/12 V12 arm, Clearaudio Titanium V2, ARC Ref 3 Phono, Marantz CD7,SA10, NA11S1, ARC Ref 6, Passlabs XA100.8 mono pwr, Sonus Faber Amati Futura, Purepower 3000+, Yter, Kimber PK10 Palladian, Nordost Tyr)

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 20, 2017 at 21:35:50
airheadair
Audiophile

Posts: 393
Location: California
Joined: October 18, 2010
 Thanks very much for this link. My French is almost good enough to understand the original. It is a very positive and useful review. Almost too positive, with the beginning reading a bit too much like the Marantz publicity for the unit.

Still, I'm getting tempted. I was just listening last night to the edition of Voice of the Whale played by the Aeolian Chamber players on Tidal, streamed through my SA14, and it sounded comparable to the LP I have of the same performance. Really very impressive. Will the SA10 be a big improvement?
I'm already pretty happy with SA14 on SACD.

Frank I may compare the SA10 to the SA8005....

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 20, 2017 at 23:12:46
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 Annapurna: I will be very interested to know how you find SA-10 CD performance compares with your CD7. I was going to buy a CD7 but on a comparison with my very extensively modified CD94 ,I preferred my CD94. . hiredfox has said he prefers his CD7 to his SA-10 but is over the moon with its SACD performance I much prefer the superiority of mch sacd.

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 21, 2017 at 00:23:57
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Looking forward to your review- Annapurna

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 21, 2017 at 05:55:47
rogl
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: April 23, 2017
 Airheadair no problem. I have found a number of reviews around the web that share common ground regarding the Sa 10. The bottom line is hearing a unit that is broken in on your own system with well recorded cds or sacds. This will go a long way to answer any questions you have. I come from a technical background and I have been involved with both pro audio and consumer electronics for most of my life. So my perspective on things is influenced by this. Regards, Rogl

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 21, 2017 at 08:57:06
rogl
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: April 23, 2017
 I found yet another link with the Sa 10 HiFi Choice review. I think someone else found it previously but it would not translate from Polish. This link gives you free digital editions of the magazine and google chrome will translate. You have a translate option and the magazine in the lower right corner has the Sa 10 review. The link is as follows: http://www.hifichoice.pl/
Regards, Rogl

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 22, 2017 at 14:12:01
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Thanks! again for sharing- rogl

it would appear that this spinner is quite popular in the EU.
Wonder has it reached a few in Japan?

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 22, 2017 at 18:16:43
rogl
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: April 23, 2017
 Fantja I have seen some reviews from Asia. I am not sure if it was Japan specifically. The translation on those was a little rough; but
I could get the general idea. I see alot of common ground in the comments on most of the Pro reviews I have read both domestically and overseas. I think that is good news on the general consensus of the performance of the Sa 10. It certainly runs paralell to my thoughts on the unit.
Regards, Rogl

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 22, 2017 at 22:45:11
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 IMO hiredfox's comments on the SA-10 appear to be the most authentic having very long experience with top end Marantz spinners far more than other posters and reviewers.

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 23, 2017 at 06:53:32
rogl
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: April 23, 2017
 Disbeliever I should have said "professional" reviews instead of "pro" reviews (as in pro or con} to avoid any confusion. I realized my mistake when I saw that you had commentted about a general user review that was posted on this forum.
Regards, Rogl

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 23, 2017 at 12:13:29
rogl
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: April 23, 2017
 Disbeliever my thread was making reference to the professional reviews that I have read. I am trying to contribute as much new information as I can to the forum. I don't understand what a user review has to do with the thread I started. I believe I have seen hiredfoxs' review or comments regarding it in a number of threads earlier. I think those threads were related to the other user reviews. I hope this helps to clarify my post.
Regards, Rogl

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 23, 2017 at 12:31:16
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 Hi Rogl hiredfox's posted comments are entirely his own, are no way related to other user or professional reviewers. IMO they are the most authentic for the reasons I have given plus most importantly he regularly attends live classical Concerts and like myself has had many conversations with Marantz designer Ken Ishiwata, in my case over 30 years.

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 23, 2017 at 12:41:03
rogl
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: April 23, 2017
 Disbeliever I don't have to much else to comment on regarding your last post. I will let the other members decide whether or not they think comments about hiredfoxs' assessment of the Sa10 belongs in my thread about the Professional reviews.
Regards, Rogl

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 23, 2017 at 12:56:30
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 I have not been able to access any of the foreign reviews you mention but I assume you are pleased that these reviews agree with your own take on the SA-10 .

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 23, 2017 at 13:16:58
rogl
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: April 23, 2017
 I am pleased with the reviews; but I also realize that regardless of the Pro or forum user reviews a broken in player needs to be auditioned by the perspective buyer. My thoughts are that the reviews can be used as a general guideline to see if a player is even worth an audition. But the bottom line is if the listener is not satisfied after the audition the reviews won't matter any more. With the cost of some of the equipment in todays' market buying a player that does't satisfy can be an expensive mistake.
Regards, Rogl

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 23, 2017 at 15:13:39
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 I hope to read more reviews from owners. This is still a "new" spinner.

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 23, 2017 at 17:49:28
rogl
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: April 23, 2017
 Fantja I think Frank said he's going to do a follow up review on his unit and I think annapurna is going to do one after he gets his new unit.
Regards, Roger

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 23, 2017 at 19:21:48
Annapurna
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Joined: July 13, 2001
 I should be getting my player soon, likely beginning of June or late May. As I am not a native English speaker, I doubt I can call it a review, rather a short write up after i hear it. I have owned a few Marantz Cd players including CD94, CD7 and NA11S1 so I hope to be able to hear the difference and improvement that the SA10 will bring. I have always prefer by a great margin analog playback from my SME 20/12 and also from various analog playblack from friend's setup compared to their digital and I hope this time Marantz can make me enjoy digital.
(SME20/12 V12 arm, Clearaudio Titanium V2, ARC Ref 3 Phono, Marantz CD7,SA10, NA11S1, ARC Ref 6, Passlabs XA100.8 mono pwr, Sonus Faber Amati Futura, Purepower 3000+, Yter, Kimber PK10 Palladian, Nordost Tyr)

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 23, 2017 at 19:28:47
rogl
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: April 23, 2017
 Annapurna thanks for the update. I wll be looking forward to your comments once you have broken in and tested the player. FYI you are doing great with your english.
Regards, Rogl

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on May 25, 2017 at 08:34:10
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Thanks! for the updates- rogl.

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on June 4, 2017 at 20:31:28
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 I am ready for Frank I 's review.

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on June 4, 2017 at 23:13:52
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 No need for Frank 1's review, hired fox's will be the most authentic with his long experience of Marantz spinners and his regular attendance at live Classical concerts. Only buy the expensive SA-10 if you are very interested in Stereo SACD .CD performance not as good as previous Marantz spinners.

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on June 5, 2017 at 02:27:52
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 slowly this spinner is making the "rounds". I read over many, many, Audio forums and have asked owners to post their listening impressions.

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on June 5, 2017 at 03:07:23
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 No Need ,just take notice of the most authentic you will find, hired fox's

 

RE: Here is one official review...but..., posted on June 11, 2017 at 23:58:29
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 I enjoyed hiredfox's report so much, that, I want MORE!!!

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on June 24, 2017 at 08:13:51
airheadair
Audiophile

Posts: 393
Location: California
Joined: October 18, 2010
 Here is another review I found a couple of days ago. It is not very detailed, as far as I can tell from Google Translate.

https://www.alpha-audio.nl/2017/04/review-marantz-pm-10-en-sa-10/

Has Frank I published a review yet?

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on June 25, 2017 at 07:04:59
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 No I assume he is not going to post a review.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on July 1, 2017 at 21:29:02
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Frank I - where are ya?

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on July 8, 2017 at 12:18:36
Frank I
 Our review will publish in October

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on July 8, 2017 at 14:15:24
airheadair
Audiophile

Posts: 393
Location: California
Joined: October 18, 2010
 Here is another review I found, in Japanese this time. I read a translation which gave me some idea of what the author thought: an excellent product, but not as good as the EAR Acute Classic.
Interestingly, Stereophile gave the latter a really very negative review in the past.

https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.ippinkan.com/ear_marantz_sa10.htm&prev=search

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on July 9, 2017 at 13:23:47
milpai
Audiophile

Posts: 651
Location: Ohio
Joined: August 21, 2005
 Here is what caught my eye:
"It is not hard like Esoteric, it is not soft like LUXMAN, the color is not thin like Accuphase, the balance of SA 10 is very neutral."

So if we were to decide between Esoteris, Luxman, Accuphase and Marantz, the Marantz would be the way to go.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on July 10, 2017 at 02:23:21
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Thanks! for sharing- Frank I

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on July 10, 2017 at 02:27:57
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Thanks! for sharing - airheadair

I have always wanted to demo the EAR acute spinner.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on July 10, 2017 at 02:29:42
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 That is certainly excellent company (no pun) -milpai

I have always wanted to demo an Accuphase spinner.
The Luxman got a hearty review in Stereophile recently.

I like Esoteric spinners for SACD -only playback.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on July 10, 2017 at 02:31:14
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 The Esoteric spinners that i have spent time with, SA/DV 50 and 60 models.
Not the DV-50s model. I have read that it is the best at its price point.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on July 22, 2017 at 08:18:32
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Any one else come across a different review of the SA-10 ?

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on July 27, 2017 at 04:48:33
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Not sure why Frank I pushed back his review until October???

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on August 10, 2017 at 05:55:27
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Getting closer to Frank I 's review in October.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on August 21, 2017 at 13:11:10
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 If/when I find this spinner in a showroom, I will write a review!

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on August 22, 2017 at 03:01:28
Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012
 You have to have the Marantz SA-10 in your system before writing a review.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on August 23, 2017 at 14:02:24
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Possibly. For those that have this spinner in their local dealers/retailers, need to get out the word.

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on August 30, 2017 at 21:12:12
airheadair
Audiophile

Posts: 393
Location: California
Joined: October 18, 2010
 Music Direct is offering the Marantz SA10 with a one-month trial period, if I understand correctly.
The same seems to be true of PS Audio's direct stream DSD DAC and Direct Stream Memory Player Universal transport. These two boxes together cost $12,000, but Music Direct seems to be offering a deal of $7000 for the two bought together. (I haven't verified this by phone, and the ad in their mailing has an unexplained *, so I'm not sure what the terms are.)

Both the PS Audio and the Marantz claim to have a DAC that works by upsampling to a very high bit rate DSD and then filtering to get an analog signal. (10x DSD for the PS Audio and DSD256 for the Marantz. I confess I don't know how to compare these.)
Both make strong claims for the resulting sound.

Marantz makes its own transport, I doubt that PS Audio does. On the other hand, PS's DAC seems to have a lot of features, Roon ready, a slick display, reprogrammable DAC....

It would be very interesting to have a comparison of these approaches. Someone with more time than I have could order all three machines, listen, and then send one or all of them back...

 

RE: Marantz SA10 Reviews, posted on September 2, 2017 at 13:15:10
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15519
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Thanks! for sharing- airheadair

 

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