Indeed he can!
Simply, the 7001 KI is a bit of a star. It looks rather similar to the 6002, albeit a bit chunkier and taller, but with a similar fascia layout.
Build quality is superb, it uses a Sony transport and is equipped with CD-text which may or may not be relevant to you (no big deal for me and only a few of my discs, mostly SACD, have it).
At its' original RRP (circa £600) it was a well priced beast, now, you can likely get one on a good deal if you can find them. Not many knocking around and used models seem to hold their value well.
Sonically, it's not a depth plundering beast, but what there is is a highly articulate and nicely present bass. Midrange and treble are simply superb for the money and the level of detail retrieval is impressive. Instruments are accurately picked out, there is a good soundstage and it works with a wide range of music.
It does spectacularly well with electronic music and orchestral, also piano and vocal is just sublime. Hard rockers might want to look elsewhere if visceral thrills light your fire, however, as a long standing Motorhead and Rush fan, I am happy with what comes out the speakers at home.
My one caveat is what to partner it with; too lean and you will be disappointed if that's not your thing. This is a very neutral CD player and communicates what's on the disc accurately. Great if you have a good recording, not so hot if you don't like honesty. Also the differences between CD and SACD aren't always too obvious; I think this is down to the player's skill in handling both formats well rather than treating one as the poor relation.
I had (and still do) a Marantz PM 6010-KI amp but increasingly found the sound a little too lean and analytical. I like the latter a lot, but the overall effect became sterile and hard to enjoy. The speakers (Mission 752) are excellent partners, so I tinkered and switched amps around, having another three upstairs in the spare room.
The Arcam Alpha 5 partnered it well, gave more depth and was anything but warm and fuzzy, the Technics SU-V6 (circa early 80s model) was also very good, but the midrange lacked something that I can't quite define here. As a last throw of the dice, I went with the amp in my signature line below and that was the best one of the amps I had to hand. It's still plugged in now, 23 years old and doing the business, although an overhaul and new capacitors beckon! This player will work with much better and more expensive amplification though and I think would probably thrive on it.
As for the CD player, you get superb build inside and out, the flexibility of SACD as well as CD and a sonic character that does what it does extremely well. If you can get this one on a deal (and I'm assuming you're in the £600 bracket or under), then seek out an audition. If you crave detail, wrapped up in a very musical cloak, this could well be what you're looking for.
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