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In Reply to: Marantz SA-11w/ Reference Audio Mods Modifications posted by nsxt28@yahoo.com on March 8, 2007 at 21:38:51:
I've had all of these RAM-sourced pieces in my SCD-1 at one time or another, and they all improved on the stock fitment. I'm surprised the Audiocom Superclock is not included. It sounds like RAM has selected these upgrades to key power circuits from among a wider range of possible modifications.
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Follow Ups:
Do you really think putting $1250 into a $200 or $300 player is worth the value. At the end of the day it is still what it was worth before the mods. People don't give you back you you invest. Mods are subjective. I am not really sure the newer parts quality is any better than the old. Power supply! Now that's what should really be addressed. Not just cap value increas either. Starting at the very beginning of the chain. THE POWER TRANSFORMER! That makes a difference but again, room, money!
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Given the high cost of parts & labor, it makes sense to start with a proven mule like the SA-1, SA-11, SCD-1, Esoteric, or Denon. There is no fixed template for improving all CDPs. But in general it is good philosophy to substitute an aftermarket clock and to refine power circuits (e.g. custom diode bridge, discrete regulators, better reservoir & filtering caps). In most cases a drop-in analog stage like RAM transformers or VSEI offers a better cost/benefit ratio and higher absolute performance level than labor-intensive piece-part substitutions in the stock analog section.My observation directly comparing a few of these machines (stock & modded SCD-1 to stock SA-1 to high-end vinyl, is that such modded CDPs can rise to a level of performance far beyond mere subjectivity. Resale value, customer support, and warranty are separate issues. Personally I have no interest in selling my highly modded SCD-1. It has become the one fixed point in my system.
As to the stock Marantz, if the SA-11 is similar to the SA-1, I can report that it is a nice musical player, but well short of dynamics, body, dimensionality, resolution, and realism of my modded Sony and other machines that approach SOTA.
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And sounds fantastic as it is, although it could use a bit more body. This is a wonderful player + SACD. I wouldn't touch it.
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