There is a huge disparity between both cd players. The Marantz CD6002 is a budget player while the Arcam FMJ CD17 is definitely a higher end player, so I don't quite understand on what basis you are making a comparison.
basically my dealer was doing a demo for me earlier this morning. he set up a pair of b&w 685 running off a rega brio3 amp, and he was switching back and forth between a marantz cd6002 and the arcam cd17. anyway i decided on the arcam. just wanted to know what you guys thought of the arcam fmj cd17.
i did. collected it this morning. absolutely over the moon! sounds great out of the box. so glad i traded the meridian f80 in, now i'm on the ladder and can improve my system ovet the years, obviously coul'dnt have done that with the f80.