I have no idea how this thread works it all looks highly higgly-piggly to me and it is impossible to tell where comments are likely to appear but here goes in response to those asking about CD playback.

It is impossible for any sort of processing of 44/16 RBCD data to transform the sound miraculously into SACD quality. The SA10-S1 processes RBCD in a different way to all previous SACD spinners but it cannot and does not work miracles.

Compared with the SACD sound, there is very little depth to the soundstage, the soundstage is reduced in dimensions, there is a noticeable lack of precision in instrument placement, some of the harshness of upper strings and female voice are unbearably screechy and there are even some sounds I cannot recognise! There is definitely a sense of smoothing of detail but the sound is not warm. I find it aurally quite unattractive.

My Marantz CD7 and indeed the SA7-S1 do better jobs at RBCD playback. If you accept that the CD7 set the benchmark for RBCD playback and has never been bettered this new machine falls some way short of the SQ of the CD7. I doubt you will want to buy this machine for CD playback as its main duty.

Buy the SA10-S1 only if you want state of the art cutting edge audio sound quality from the very best SACD recording available today. Pentatone, Mariinsky & Challenge Classics discs sound best of all, all recorded in DSD. Reference Recordings discs also show up well. DSD retreads are exposed by the limitations of the original analogue recordings.

Those that bemoan the SA10-S1's lack of multi-channel capability will be surprised by what this truly high-end stereo reproduction can achieve especially in small rooms. It is also patently daft to compare the SA10-S1 sound to that of a sub $1k DVD player used for SACD mch playback.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 23, 2017 at 13:41:38

rogl
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: April 23, 2017

I am new to the forum and I would like to chime in on the new Marantz Sa 10 Hi Rez audio player. I now have around 100 hours of break in on the player and I have played quite a few cds and a few sacds. I think Ken Ishiwata of Marantz has something special with this new design. The sense of immediacy relating to dynamic range, musicality, detail and the timberal acurracy (with a feeling of delicacy in the playback of the music) is first rate. The sound stage is large and layered and the seperation of instruments and vocals is exceptional. I have found this to be true with well recorded cds as well as sacds. The higher the quality of the source material I put on always results in the feeling of being closer to the actual recording session. The music has a sense of livelyness and musicality that makes listening a real pleasure. I am very critical listener so the results I have found for myself with this player are satisfying. I primarily listen to Blues and Jazz and some Soft Rock. Some of the cds I have listened to are listed as follows: Duke Robillard-Blue Mood, Monte Alexander-Goin' Yard, Maria Maldaur-A Woman Alone With The Blues, Robin Ford & The Blue Line-The Authorized Bootleg, Eddie Vinson-Kidney Stew is Fine, Harry Connick Jr.-Eleven, Sacd Diana Krall-The Look Of Love
The associated equipment is listed as follows: Krell KCT preamp (with Siltech cast cable, Krell FPB 600C amplifier, Legacy Focus 20/20 speakers, Siltech LS188 speaker cables, and Siltech SQ110 Classic balanced interconnects
I am planning on recording some Hi Rez music files to a USB drive as an alternate souce for the DAC. It will be interesting to evaluate the results.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 26, 2017 at 17:42:50
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Another +review by Luciano IT in a different thread.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 26, 2017 at 20:42:09
rogl Audiophile Posts: 26 Location: Massachusetts Joined: April 23, 2017	Fantja thank you for the link. Rogl

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 27, 2017 at 13:24:54
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	my pleasure- rogl. The hope is that this special spinner catches on to others and we get more reviews. I will post if/when I can find a dealer/retailer in the U.S.A for audition.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 27, 2017 at 20:55:06
rogl Audiophile Posts: 26 Location: Massachusetts Joined: April 23, 2017	Fantja I am lucky because Safe and Sound in Chicopee, Ma. is an authorized Marantz dealer. I live in Chicopee, Ma. so I was able to audition and buy my unit from Mike the owner. I think they are selling on ebay also. Regards, Rogl

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on May 29, 2017 at 16:30:36
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Hopefully, Frank I, is preparing his report and review soon.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 27, 2017 at 22:32:15
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Thanks! for giving a shout-out for your local dealer/retailer- rogl what other gear, including cabling, is in your system?

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 29, 2017 at 05:19:22

rogl
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: April 23, 2017

I have a Magnum Dynalab MD102T Fm tuner that was upgraded by Magnum Dynalab. It is essentially an Md106 without the magic eye tuning aid on the front panel. I also have the Monster Avs2000 automatic voltage stabilizer and the Signature Htps 7000 reference signal source for AC power conditioning. I use them primarily to suppress any AC noise or transients that could cause equipment damage or failure. I plug the power amp directly into the wall to provide maximum current to the amplifier for the best performance. I run a Siltech cast cable between my preamp and amplifier. This is used instead of a balanced cable for the audio path. This keeps the audio signal as a current source instead of a voltage source. The advantage is that current loops provide wide bandwidth, ultra fast speed, and great noise immunity. I run a pair of Siltech SQ28 Classic MK II between the tuner and the preamp. I think that covers the equipment and cabling that I didn't cover in my first post. I hope you find this info useful. Regards, Rogl

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 10, 2017 at 02:25:21
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	FRank I- review will drop in October.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 1, 2017 at 21:31:27
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	rogl- how is the player settling in your system?

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 11, 2017 at 21:39:15

rogl
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: April 23, 2017

Fantja I have over 250 hours on the player now. I have been playing a lot of cds on a regular basis. Tonight I was playing a Telearc cd by Junior wells called "Come on in to this house". I just can't quantify the level of palpability, detail, and dynamic range that was also highlighted by an immense three dimensional soundstage. To say that the Sa10 has brought a great amount of musical enjoyment into my listening room would be an under statement. There is no doubt that the minimum break in time of 200 hours or greater will allow this machine to really shine. I do have the room treated with some RPG absorption panels and Asc Tube traps for optimized sound quality in my system. Because of the addition of the Marantz Sa10 to my system, I now think it is worth it to take the next step and add some additional tube traps to provide some additional sound enhancement for the room acoustics. I can then get the maximum benefit from the full range tower speakers that I run. I have not been on this site for a while. So it is time to provide an update regarding the unit.
Regards, Rogl

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 22, 2017 at 08:17:40
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Anyone else come across a different review of the SA-10 ?

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 22, 2017 at 09:08:56
rogl Audiophile Posts: 26 Location: Massachusetts Joined: April 23, 2017	Fantja I think that the activity on the site has been light during the summer vacation period. I have a link that has 6 reviews of the Marantz Sa 10. I had to use a translator to read them. The link is listed as follows: https://www.testseek.com/home_electronics/hifi/cd/media-players/marantz-sa-10-p-9aa7ed91-0e2c-c5c5-3a43-5b3e18c9ff48.html I hope you find them useful. Regards, Rogl

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 28, 2017 at 05:25:01
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	rogl- after 500 hours your SA-10 will be set! Keep listening, keep posting about your experience.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 28, 2017 at 07:56:14

rogl
Audiophile

Posts: 26
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: April 23, 2017

Fantja I plan on ordering a usb thumb drive to load with high rez music files to try on the Sa 10. Alpha audio is using the Marantz Sa10 as their unit of choice on one of the ultra high end demo systems that they are diplaying in their store. I found that very interesting when I happen to check out their website recently. I think activity will pick up on Audio Asylum once the vacation period ends. Anyhow it is good to chime in and report some tidbits related to the Marantz Sa 10.
Regards, Rogl

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 28, 2017 at 13:56:09
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Thank You- rogl where is Alpha Audio located?

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 28, 2017 at 15:21:51
rogl Audiophile Posts: 26 Location: Massachusetts Joined: April 23, 2017	Fantja their URL has nl as the suffix. So they are probably a Dutch business located in the Netherlands. On another note, I just bought and downloaded 2 high rez albums from the HD tracks website. I am waiting for Marantz to send me the usb driver file so I can stream from my laptop this evening. I will keep you posted on the audio quality. Regards, Rogl

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 28, 2017 at 15:49:51
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	rogl what gear, including cables/cords, is in your system? Happy Listening!

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 28, 2017 at 16:09:29
rogl Audiophile Posts: 26 Location: Massachusetts Joined: April 23, 2017	Fantja the dealer thing is a though one. I hope you find a way to audition the unit. You can get the associated equipment and cables I am using in my earlier post. I replaced a Modwrighted Sony SCD1 with this Marantz unit. I was worried that this unit would let me down in comparison. But I have no worries now. Regards, Rogl

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 28, 2017 at 16:19:59
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Marantz has been a strong competitor for Sony, IMO. The competition pushed Sony into building better "ES" cd/sacd spinners.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 29, 2017 at 03:30:04
rogl Audiophile Posts: 26 Location: Massachusetts Joined: April 23, 2017	Competition is a good thing because it delivers better quality products to the consumer. Marantz sent me the Sa10 USB driver for Windows 10 yesterday. I had to configure the driver as referenced in the manual and set it as the default driver. This allows you to stream High Rez music files from a laptop using the dac in the Sa10. This is a really nice feature IMO. Regards, Roger

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 29, 2017 at 05:06:42
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Cool features. Still, I want to read more about the player's CD and SACD playback.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 29, 2017 at 07:48:22
rogl Audiophile Posts: 26 Location: Massachusetts Joined: April 23, 2017	Fantja here is a review of the Sa 10 from Audio Visual of Hong Kong. It required the translator function. The URL is https://www.spill.hk/audiovisual/marantz-sa-10-review/ Regards, Rogl

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on August 13, 2017 at 04:30:05
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Frank I had better deliver one hell of a review on this spinner. We shall see...

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on August 13, 2017 at 05:59:47
Disbeliever Audiophile Posts: 1877 Joined: June 1, 2012	I doubt if Frank is as experienced with Marantz spinners as Hired Fox or myself, I have had many conversations with Ken Ishiwata over 30 years.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on August 15, 2017 at 05:16:05
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	I look forward to your review.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on August 15, 2017 at 22:11:36
rogl Audiophile Posts: 26 Location: Massachusetts Joined: April 23, 2017	I am also looking forward to Franks review. He doesn't have to have any knowledge about the Sa 10 or any other CD player IMHO. What is important is that he has a critical ear to evaluate the important criteria that defines the type of playback that leads to a top notch listening experience that is representative of a state of the art design. Regards, Rogl

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on January 10, 2018 at 00:37:25
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Frank I - where are ya?

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on October 22, 2017 at 05:24:05
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Where are ya- Frank I ?

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on October 3, 2017 at 14:03:30
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	October is finally here. Frank I- we are ready for the SA-10 review.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on September 2, 2017 at 13:17:52
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Hopefully 1 month away from Frank I's review - rogl

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on August 16, 2017 at 03:42:00
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Yes! Precisely- rogl.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 29, 2017 at 17:48:23
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Rogl- feel free to mention some of your CD and SACD selections that you are using to test and break-in your SA-10. Demo/Test discs are okay as well. Any genre is okay, especially, the well-recorded ones. Happy Listening!

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 29, 2017 at 10:49:04
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	TY- rogl.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 28, 2017 at 15:48:54
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Many Thanks! rogl. It would be nice to find a U.S.A. dealer/retailer w/ the SA-10 in showroom for audition.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 22, 2017 at 16:12:57
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Thank You- rogl

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 12, 2017 at 16:19:30
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Keep posting- rogl.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on July 12, 2017 at 05:45:04
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Thanks! for the update- rogl Good to see you again. After 500 hours, your SA-10 will be set. Keep posting your thoughts, impressions on this spinner. My interest is certainly peaked, wish I could find a dealer/retailer that has one in his showroom for demo?

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on June 4, 2017 at 20:30:16
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Frank I - when does your review drop?

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on May 16, 2017 at 10:06:32
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	rogl- keep me posted as you continue to become acclimated w/ this spinner.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on May 2, 2017 at 05:33:53
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Cabling is the most important (and forgotten) component- rogl.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 23, 2017 at 21:51:26
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Thanks! for sharing- rogl. Slowly, but surely, the word (and reviews) are coming forward.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 19, 2017 at 23:36:37
Disbeliever Audiophile Posts: 1877 Joined: June 1, 2012	H.F. Thanks for your comments that fully answer all I wanted to know about the Marantz SA-10.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 19, 2017 at 21:32:36

airheadair
Audiophile

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

Thanks very much. I thinkI am the one who asked that question about CD playback. I agree that this thread (or these threads) are very hard to sort out, at least the way the software presents them. I'm glad I managed to find your post.

I think you have answered my question. To perhaps repeat myself: I have a Marantz SA14,
which plays CD's better than my Onkyo. It also plays SACD's, which the Onkyo would not.
Some of the SACD's sound superb: especially Duke Ellington "Blues in Orbit", and some
Patricia Barber SACD's. The SACD version of "Kind of Blue" sounds almost as good as the Vinyl,
the CD not so much. But in fact very little of the music I love is available on SACD, and it would make no sense to me to
spend the money necessary to replace the SA14 with an SA10 if most of that music would sound worse, even if the ten or so great SACD's I
have would sound even better.

The SA14 has been criticized in some places for excessive warmth; that does not bother me,
with my ESL based system.

Any further thoughts?

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 21, 2017 at 23:22:57
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Thanks! for sharing- airheadair

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 19, 2017 at 05:41:42
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Right On! hiredfox

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on March 16, 2017 at 08:19:53
airheadair Audiophile Posts: 393 Location: California Joined: October 18, 2010	there is already one for sale on Audiogon, whatever that means.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on March 28, 2017 at 14:03:51
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Frank I- received his player and will be posting a proper review soon.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on March 23, 2017 at 17:35:20
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Anyone get a "taste" of this spinner?

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on March 17, 2017 at 00:02:48
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	I know- airhead. Strange indeed?

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on February 10, 2017 at 11:19:42

hiredfox
Audiophile

Posts: 62
Joined: March 25, 2016

From snippets I've heard this is not a limited edition machine as such but will not be supplied to stock, it will be pre-order only at first so in effect built to order. Not all that surprising in today's market and for such an expensively built machine and somewhat of a bold gamble by D & M to project a new reference SACD/CD spinner for 2017 release when all the pundits tell us that streaming is the only ticket in town and that optical disc has been confined to history. UK deliveries are expected to begin in March - it keeps getting put back - but CG versions may take a little longer.

SA10-S1 comes in Black and Champagne Gold, Marantz expect demand to be for the black machine. I don't. Anybody willing to drop �6k on a Marantz reference player will choose CG surely with CD12, SCD 1, CD 7, SA7-S1 tradition.

Those friends who have heard it, rave about it... "far higher fidelity than SA7-S1" but more on the cool to neutral side. There are only 10 retailers in the UK (10 get it!) and as far as I have heard there will be none for demo in store at home or anywhere else. The UK has one review model slated and a queue for it around the block. No doubt KK at HFN will get first dibs over here.

No provision has been made for a Word Clock BNC input unlike the SA7-S1 and we all know how vast an improvement that made to timing, tonality and precision.

I have placed a pre-order which will surprise nobody that knows me including my derailleur old friend Gerald who disbelieves most things in hi fi as fake news.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on February 16, 2017 at 11:09:20
hiredfox Audiophile Posts: 62 Joined: March 25, 2016	Am I the only one buying this machine on spec? Anybody else put down a pre-order deposit anywhere not just UK?

cool sounds good to me..., posted on February 11, 2017 at 07:24:54
Jim Pearce Audiophile Posts: 23673 Joined: January 4, 2002	My SA-14 was warm and muddy. The thing is the Bryston bda-3 would be a more flexible and less expensive route for me to take, and I can hear it at my brother's house.

RE: cool sounds good to me..., posted on February 12, 2017 at 10:25:24
Jack G Audiophile Posts: 9739 Joined: September 24, 1999	Interesting. I don't find the SA-11S3 to be overly warm or muddy. Certainly less warm than the PS PWT/PWD combo. That said, nobody is going to call it cold and clinical either. Jack

I've never heard the 11S3 Jack..., posted on February 12, 2017 at 15:43:48

Jim Pearce
Audiophile

Posts: 23673
Joined: January 4, 2002

I can get a new one for $2999 Canadian; maybe I should consider it? On the other hand, it would need to go on top of my rack, taking up the space usually cluttered with CDs and SACDs. Those filter options are pretty much the same as my Esoteric DV-50. Maybe I should buy a laser and get the Esoteric fixed so that I can A/B it with the Oppo bdp-95. Frankly, the Oppo has made me skeptical of high end players in general.

RE: I've never heard the 11S3 Jack..., posted on February 13, 2017 at 04:42:44
Jack G Audiophile Posts: 9739 Joined: September 24, 1999	Not huge fan of Oppo for music. They make fantastic Blu-Ray players, but I prefer to keep mine in the video system. of course, that is a matter of personal preference. Enjoy, jack

could be system/room dependent..., posted on February 13, 2017 at 07:32:15
Jim Pearce Audiophile Posts: 23673 Joined: January 4, 2002	I listened to the SA-14 for a couple of hours - with my discs, on two separate occasions - at the dealer before buying it. It sounded great there, and warm and muddy when I took it home. I do know that my CD sound (in particular) could be improved because my brother's Meridian 208 sounded better than my Esoteric. But I just don't know how to get there from here.

Absolutely, posted on February 14, 2017 at 11:20:20
Jack G Audiophile Posts: 9739 Joined: September 24, 1999	I've got mine going to a Pass Labs INT-60 driving ML Montis speakers. I've also had Ohm speakers hooked up which were significantly warmer. Its been a while since I heard the 208, but I remember liking it. :-) Enjoy, Jack

Maybe try different speakers? nt, posted on February 13, 2017 at 08:01:26
oldmkvi Audiophile Posts: 10581 Joined: April 12, 2002	/

RE: Maybe try different speakers? nt, posted on February 13, 2017 at 09:23:08

Jim Pearce
Audiophile

Posts: 23673
Joined: January 4, 2002

The Paradigm Studio 100 v3 was a perfect candidate (price/performance) for a system of five full range speakers - and is pretty darned neutral: http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/105paradigm/#aaERXigTQisrP7K3.97

Neither am I inclined to look at my five channels of 300 watts into 8 ohms of Bryston amplification (4B & 6B SST). But what I do know is that anything warm - even Cardas Golden Reference cables - sounds warm and muddy in my room. I think what is going on here is that the slight tendency of the Paradigms to emphasize the lower mid-range at the expense of the upper mid-range is being reinforced by the distribution of modes in my room. So I get a rich warm sound from slightly more "clinical" (and usually less expensive) components.

RE: Maybe try different speakers? nt, posted on February 13, 2017 at 14:47:06
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	I do not like warm and muddy as well- Jim.

RE: Maybe try different speakers? nt, posted on February 15, 2017 at 08:18:32
airheadair Audiophile Posts: 393 Location: California Joined: October 18, 2010	I bought an SA14 a year or so ago. Although it may be somewhat warm, I don't find it muddy. My system is on the lean and dry side, with over damped bass. I remain a tiny bit tempted by the SA10....but it seems very extravagant. SACD's through the SA14 sound very good to my ears, the only real rival to vinyl.

I don't think the 95 is hi-end., posted on February 12, 2017 at 16:14:44
oldmkvi Audiophile Posts: 10581 Joined: April 12, 2002	even the 105D has gotten mixed reviews. Marantz should be much better. The UD 7007 Uni player is now around $700. Mine was $1200, and I like it as a second system player and for movies/Netflix Streaming. Still, you can do better for more $.

RE: I don't think the 95 is hi-end., posted on February 12, 2017 at 17:32:20
Jim Pearce Audiophile Posts: 23673 Joined: January 4, 2002	I don't think it's high end - just as good or better than the high end players I've owned - much better than the Marantz SA-14 and as good as the Esoteric DV-50. As for reviewers, who knows what motivates them?

I misunderstood your post-, posted on February 13, 2017 at 08:26:35
oldmkvi Audiophile Posts: 10581 Joined: April 12, 2002	I thought you didn't like the Oppo- Just the Oppo-site!

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on February 11, 2017 at 00:55:46

Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012

HF. Yes much so-called High end is fake, can not be too difficult to make this new player sound better than SA7-S1. You well know that I would not be interested in stereo only Marantz SA-10 as for me mch SACD sounds far more realistic which I get from my excellent Sony XA5400 ES & DA5400ES combo that does output DSD. despite UK Sony technical saying it outputs PCM at the final stage. As for CG I prefer Black. I am suprised Ken abandoned mch having previously said it widens the sweet spot. Perhaps it is because of his disastrous 5.1 demonstrations.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on February 16, 2017 at 11:18:54

hiredfox
Audiophile

Posts: 62
Joined: March 25, 2016

The XA5400 ES is getting a bit long in the tooth now so where are you going from here, they can't last forever and Sony are no longer interested.

Marantz are proving to be an Audiophile's best friend; this is 2017 and we are getting a new high-end SACD disc player from them. Who else is going to make a commitment like that to us? Just cut them some slack Gerald and stop beating yourself up about them.

You will recall the XA5400 ES lasted only 2 months in my system and was much inferior to the SA11-S3 which lasted 5 months - both sold on e-Bay at their times. The weakness of the Sony is that conversion to PCM which ruins the DSD information, lowest common denominator and all that.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on February 18, 2017 at 04:40:23
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	You go through many spinners- hiredfox. A Sony ES has its own "sound" much like, yet, different from a Marantz.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on February 18, 2017 at 13:59:42
hiredfox Audiophile Posts: 62 Joined: March 25, 2016	The Sony was intended to be the basis of a high end mch system that was subsequently abandoned through competing interest for funds. The Marantz SA11-S3 came after the SA7-S1 and was hyped as being 'better'... it wasn't! It is true that over the 18 year lifespan of SACD quite a few disc spinners have come and gone in my system, mostly Sony, Marantz & Esoteric. Not all have been bought new.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on February 19, 2017 at 05:23:33
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Many do like that SA11-S3.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on February 20, 2017 at 09:40:34
hiredfox Audiophile Posts: 62 Joined: March 25, 2016	Yes indeed and it is a good player but voicing does not really suit classical music strings and brass sounds a bit too bright and edgy whilst timing is nothing to write home about.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 11, 2017 at 06:19:39
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	hopefully more reviews are on the horizon...

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 17, 2017 at 06:12:59

hiredfox
Audiophile

Posts: 62
Joined: March 25, 2016

Apologies to all, this is not one of my most visited sites so not always up to speed with this sort of thread. Normally you can find me on HRAudio.net where music buffs can waffle aimlessly over the merits or otherwise of new SACD releases. Of course the hardware helps.

I've had my SA10-S1 up and running for almost two months now. I cannot commit to writing a review of the machine because of the time involved, in any case there are far more qualified scribes than me to do that sort of thing.

What I will say unequivocally is that this is the best SACD player that Marantz has ever produced and not by a small margin. In fact this is the best SACD player I have ever used or heard anywhere since the format began FULL STOP.

This machine is more transparent, more neutral, more detailed, more dynamic and more capable of reproducing recorded music than anything that has gone before and far better than vinyl for taking you into live performance. The soundstage is simply indescribable, the whole playback system becomes not only invisible but irrelevant as the back wall of your room lights up in the mantle of the orchestra stage. Every note, every phrase, every nuance of the music is revealed, every instrument is in place and rock solid, nothing is missed you can hear it all and you can follow two, three, four tunes at once from the various sections. The bass is deep, solid and in scale and the noise floor is so low that you can hear so Loooww down! The dynamic range can deafen you on some uncompressed recordings.

This machine gives you goose bumps, neck hair erections and a shed load of tears as the sweetness and accuracy of instrument timbres turns your emotions to jelly. Yep it is that good.

Is there a downside? There is never gain without pain. It is so revealing that it challenges the recording engineers art. Poor balance, spotlighting, compression, the use of reverb and so on can grate and native DSD recordings sound so much better and more realistic than PCM recordings, which you might have anticipated as this machine operates in the DSD mode throughout.

A few of my SACD are already on Amazon & e Bay because they cannot cut the mustard.

I just wish that the industry had found out how to close these particular stable doors a few years earlier.

I don't know Frank (the reviewer) but if he hears things differently to me it would be surprising.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 18, 2017 at 08:04:04
airheadair Audiophile Posts: 393 Location: California Joined: October 18, 2010	How is its on Redbook? My relatively new Marantz SA14 is not bad on CD's but much better on SACD's. In fact some SACD's sound almost as good as my vinyl setup, and some may be better in some respects. But of course we have many more CD's than SACD's, so I don't think it would be sensible to consider upgrading just for SACD playback.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on March 5, 2018 at 16:54:20
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	bump.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 18, 2017 at 09:00:50
Disbeliever Audiophile Posts: 1877 Joined: June 1, 2012	Whilst I have not heard the SA-10, I suspect it will be far better with CD than SACD for the simple reason that SACD sounds best in mch, whilst the new Marantz like the previous SA7-S1 is stereo only and was easily out performed by a cheap BD player that also plays mch SACD's, which was one of the reasons I sold my Marantz SA7-S1.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 18, 2017 at 08:52:25
Disbeliever Audiophile Posts: 1877 Joined: June 1, 2012	It makes no sense to upgrade for SACD with a STEREO only SACD player

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 18, 2017 at 11:51:12

airheadair
Audiophile

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

"It makes no sense to upgrade for SACD with a STEREO only SACD player"

You keep saying that. But many of us, including me, only have a stereo system, not a multichannel system. I love my old speakers, and it would be completely impossible, for many reasons, to build them into a multichannel system.

Perhaps I could say more. I have many versions of Modern Cool (big PB fan), including vinyl, CD, and SACD. Although it is not the case for all of her recordings, I ranks these as follows:
vinyl > SACD >>> CD.

There is also a multichannel version of Modern Cool available, (Blu-ray?), which in fact won a grammy. I never heard at home, but did ask to hear at a local high end store. Although the sound was good, it made me feel as if I were in the center of the band, instead of the audience. So I don't think it is really realistic in that sense. So I'm not convinced I need/want multichannel.

Maybe you are saying something different; that SACD multi-channel has better intrinsic sonic quality that stereo?

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 18, 2017 at 12:28:03

Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012

Its very easy to build a multi-channel system. I have two floorstanding TL speakers for front L & R , centre channel speaker under the TV , rear small B & W M1 stand mounted speakers ,Sony AVR , Sony sacd player,& Sony BD player this setup also doubles for HT.I use the pre-outs of the AVR into my stereo amplifier to power front speakers, the AVR powers only centre & rear speakers. Contrary to some so-called experts for mch you need 5 equal size floor standers & one or two subs, this is totally impractical for most and
unnecessary . You can use a cheap small Marantz AVR NR 1607 which has pre-outs.I listen to mostly Classical and a mch setup gives me Concert Hall realism not obtainable with Stereo. Most mch SACD's are not recorded inaccurately with listener in middle of orchestra.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 18, 2017 at 01:51:47

hiredfox
Audiophile

Posts: 62
Joined: March 25, 2016

Hope it was of some help. Of course there will be naysayers but in hi-fi it has always paid to be truly open minded. Some will be beyond help in that respect clinging to entrenched old beliefs as indeed do we all.

The SA10-S1 is only part of the story in high end playback, the rest of the chain must be good enough to support its performance. I doubt the PM10 will be but that's how Marantz project it and how Andrew Everard reviewed it, even then he gave it close on 90 points whatever that means.

�6k/$7k is not small change but many will say how can it be better than the latest dCS set costing mega bucks but as we all know it is not the size of the dog in the fight that matters. As I have reported (conversations in the industry) before had dCS produced the (sic) SA10-S1 at this quality of design and build it would no doubt have cost �25/30k+.

This is not the first time Marantz have pulled off this trick but that's what a large committed organisation can do. I honestly believe Marantz are on the side of the consumer in bringing their devices to market at affordable prices.

Last night having just returned from vacation I must admit to some trepidation as the SA10-S1 was fire up for the first time in two weeks, expecting perhaps to be disappointed after the initial euphoria had waned. There was no need to have been concerned I was there in the DZZ Studio in Moscow 'watching' Jurowski's Shostakovich 1 (Pentatone).

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on November 6, 2017 at 13:41:43
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	hiredfox- how about an update on your Sa-10? I know that you have owned it for awhile now. What other gear is in your system?

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 18, 2017 at 07:18:21
Disbeliever Audiophile Posts: 1877 Joined: June 1, 2012	Well the first happy customer has appeared at last.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on April 17, 2017 at 06:52:49
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Thanks! for sharing-

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on March 3, 2017 at 13:04:25
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	An update- hiredfox?

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on March 2, 2017 at 05:08:44
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	I read the decent review in HiFi News. I would have liked to seen more musical numbers cited.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on February 28, 2017 at 14:01:10
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	I look forward to your review.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on February 18, 2017 at 15:42:15
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15518 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Very nice! hiredfox Which Esoteric spinner(s) did you own? I was impressed w/ the DV-60.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on February 17, 2017 at 01:05:43

Disbeliever
Audiophile

Posts: 1877
Joined: June 1, 2012

So the Marantz lasted only 3 months longer than the Sony in your system which you never heard at its best for SACD. The XA5400ES for best digital mch performance must be connected by HDMI to the Sony STR-DA5400ES AVR which will output DSD despite Sony UK saying at the final stage it converts to PCM. There is nothing in the owners manual about DSD . I will look at the HFN review of the Marantz SA-10 today,

Music Direct has it now, but still no reviews. nt, posted on February 10, 2017 at 11:26:08
oldmkvi Audiophile Posts: 10581 Joined: April 12, 2002	/

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on February 6, 2017 at 09:38:27
vahe Audiophile Posts: 449 Location: Houston, Texas Joined: September 11, 2005	For the list price of Marantz SA-10 one can buy a used but in mint condition Esoteric K-03x.

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on February 6, 2017 at 10:34:24
Disbeliever Audiophile Posts: 1877 Joined: June 1, 2012	Why would anyone buy a Esoteric before auditioning the Marantz SA-10 ?

I'm definitely intrigued, but my player keeps chugging along nicely, so I'll hold off, posted on February 4, 2017 at 05:48:16
Quint Dealer Posts: 3657 Joined: June 21, 2003	On a different note, I sure wish Marantz would bring back the champagne finish for the U.S. market. The black is OK, but, man, the champagne was/is special. I get a lot of comments about it on my player. This is a public service announcement . . . WITH GUITARS!!!

RE: marantz SA-10, posted on February 2, 2017 at 08:55:00
akltam Audiophile Posts: 1057 Location: Hong Kong Joined: September 29, 2002	Why does it so long for Marantz (or other company like Denon or Yamaha) to come up with a player with USB input that can accept DXD and DSD 11.2 Marantz, you are at least 3 years late.

I will answer that, posted on February 7, 2017 at 13:54:57
Awe-d-o-file Dealer Posts: 21037 Location: 50 miles west of DC Joined: January 10, 2004	too small a market. Please dont try to say there is a big market of folks that want those features much less a CD player......except people like us ET "If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

+1 Pretty much nobody buys..., posted on February 8, 2017 at 07:49:36
AbeCollins Audiophile Posts: 46278 Location: USA Joined: June 22, 2001 Contributor Since: February 2, 2002	...CD players these days especially ones that costs $7K USD!! Even within the audiophile community which is a relatively small niche, buyers of CD players must be a shrinking breed. On a related note, I wonder with the resurgence of vinyl if turntable sales will (or have?) out numbered CD player sales lately. Hmm.

Well, it appears to be much more-, posted on February 8, 2017 at 10:37:47

oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10581
Joined: April 12, 2002

No need to Rip CDs, and I still have a lot, plus plays SACDs, all played at 4x DSD.
It eliminates the Ripping stage
Also, Data Discs will play, so no Computer hookup needed for HiRes, also played at 4X DSD.
Also a USB Dac and probably plays from NAS.
Seems very flexible, and the SAY it sounds great.

Less $ than PS Audio High-End stuff, Memory Player and the 10x DSD Dac.

I'm interested to read the reviews, but local Marantz shop would only special order it, not have on a shelf to audition.

I'm surprised there aren't any early reviews yet, I check from time to time.

RE: Well, it appears to be much more-, posted on February 9, 2017 at 00:32:00
Disbeliever Audiophile Posts: 1877 Joined: June 1, 2012	Who is the SAY ?

Marantz, as there aren't any 3rd party reviews yet. nt, posted on February 10, 2017 at 18:51:11
oldmkvi Audiophile Posts: 10581 Joined: April 12, 2002	/

RE: "Who is SAY?", posted on February 10, 2017 at 17:28:26

Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001

SAY SAYS it sounds great!

First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

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Hi-Rez Highway

marantz SA-10

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