Marantz KI Signature Mania

[ESP2009]

Stephennic, thanks for the input. Nice and concise - I think you have put forward some good points there in support of the 63SE. Despite seeing accusations of 'jitter' from the puists, I really appreciate the warm, smooth, clear and balanced sound of the player. Seems to work well with my set-up anyway.

I am looking forward to taking delivery of my second 63SE, particularly as I will be able to do something of a direct comparison of any influence of a quality mains lead (YELLO)against the as-supplied version on my original.

 

[the record spot]

I'd probably recommend the 6010KI-S amp too, had mine since 2001 and it's superb. Very tonally even, quite transparent I think - works with allthe music I listen to which is pretty varied. Should be able to get a mint one online for about £150 or less on Ebay and a good price on the likes of Gumtree.

 

[stephennic]

Hi ESP2009,

Thanks. I even compared it to the 7001 - it was more digital sounding than the 63se, it seem to have a more glassy midrange and I was fatigued after listening to it for 20 minutes. It certaintly had a big soundstage but was not musical like the 63se. It was only when i listened to more expensive models like the rega apollo that I saw improvement in some areas, I ended up buying a consonance cd-120 linear a very musical machine - but I kept my old 63se it just a very enjoyable machine.

Cheers,

Steve.

 

[ESP2009]

the record spot:I'd probably recommend the 6010KI-S amp too, had mine since 2001 and it's superb. Very tonally even, quite transparent I think - works with allthe music I listen to which is pretty varied. Should be able to get a mint one online for about £150 or less on Ebay and a good price on the likes of Gumtree.

Cheers! Another one to add to the list.

Hey, and no-one else reading this thread had better start checking these items out - I can do without the competition!

Now, if I could just get the speakers sorted...

 

[SpiceWeasel]

Would you believe that in the mid 90's ish I used to turn standard Marantz amps into KI editions. I forget the model but I can remember fitting the kits to turn a standard amp into a KI edition. My first real job after college was as an electronic engineer in a repair centre.

 

[ESP2009]

I hope you enjoyed the job - I can imagine that if you were into hi-fi it was an excellent grounding for exploring your interest. Mind you, given the way the KI thing took off, you may have been pretty fed up with them!

 

[Pistol Pete1]

What a great thread......

I bought the CD63MKII KI off ebay a few years back for just over £100......touch wood, it is still going well without any problems so far. But saying that, the main thing that could go wrong is the transport mech, IMO.

A quick search on ebay and you will find a company that replaces them with an upgraded version of the transport mech (£67 for replacement and delivery). Therefore buying a second might have not been needed.

To compliment the player I bought the PM6010 KI amp off ebay too. Again, it cost just over £100 a few years back. And again, I have had no problems with it at all. I partnered both with a set of Tannoy DC2000's speakers and the sound was fantastic!!

Unfortunately, I have now (by order of the management) had to stop having two separate set ups for home cinema and music, so use the cd player with an av amp - onkyo 606 (a bit of a waste, I know!) The speakers were sold on ebay for £140 14 years after buying them for £270, but the marantz amp is safely tucked away in the hope that I will be able to re use it with the CD63MkII KI in the near future!! (No divorce on the cards yet, thou!!)

On the whole both components were top class, and IMO worked very well together.....

 

[ESP2009]

Pistol Pete1, I know exactly what you mean! ;o) The dynamics of the household and lifestyle change over time - something has to give in the name of harmony.

Not sure if I can sneak a pair of Tannoys in unnoticed.

Vis-a-vis the break-down side, the advantage is that now I have a spare whole player and can experiment with the sound of the whole system by direct comparison. However, I take your point and will keep my options a little more open in future - so thanks very much for the heads-up!

Nice to chat about one of the all-time hi-fi greats and get feedback from fellow fans.

 

[SpiceWeasel]

ESP2009:I hope you enjoyed the job - I can imagine that if you were into hi-fi it was an excellent grounding for exploring your interest. Mind you, given the way the KI thing took off, you may have been pretty fed up with them!

I only upgraded them for a few months, mainly I used to repair Sony and Aiwa all in one systems with a few video recorders. I was mainly into car audio back then but I used to love the sound of the KI amps. Almost 32 now and I still don't own a proper hi-fi

I can remember growing up with my dads stereo, he had an old Marantz system that he bought in his late teans/early 20's. His old amp died a few years ago which he replaced with a PM6000 I think ( you can run it in either class a/b or full class a ). His 30 year old Marantz tuner is still in use and going strong though, works perfect and still sounds good.

 

[ESP2009]

Don't feel too bad, I can't have been too far away from the same age before I could afford a decent hi-fi myself. Circumstances change and sometimes we get the chance to move onwards and upwards in an area we care about. I purchased my Kenwood 3020SE, Pioneer PD-S703 and Mission 760i speakers quite some time after I first got interested in decent hi-fi (courtesy of a mate of mine of greater means). Finally, in the mid-late '90s, a small investment bond I had made 10yrs before came to term and I could finaly afford the Audiolab amp and CD63SE that make up the core of my system (thanks to WHF advice). With a few more years under my belt I am looking at enhancements, but the KI is still king to me.

Sadly, as I type, I can't quite recall my dad's set-up when I was a lad, but I do know that whilst it wasn't an audiophile's dream, it sowed the seeds that were fertlilsed by my mate who was far more hi-fi savvy and made me envious with his Rega Planar record deck, Nad 3020 amp and Mordaunt Short (were they 'Festival'?) speakers. It's been a good few years and my memory fails. Maybe I should check with both my dad and my mate - could be interesting to see what they did have and what has survived.

 

[pwiles1968]

Currently Running a CD6000 Ki Sig, I got this direct from Marantz I got talking to one of the Tech Guys a few years back now and he happened to be selling off some of the old demo Kit I had this off him, it was checked and tweaked apparently before being sent off, think it may even have been to WHF for review.

Due to space requirements I only have 1 system so I run the CDP in to an AV amp Marantz SR5300 and run it in source direct with line out into a Pair of MA6100 Mono-blocks which feed my newest acquirement a pair of B&W 805s they were an upgrade from my 603S2's and what an upgrade possibly the biggest gain I have ever had in my system whole system sounds fantastic, I have heard better but that was some very expensive equipment in a dedicated review room.

My next upgrade will be the AV amp going to look at another Marantz possibly 6003, I can bi-wire the speakers (SR into the tweeters MA in to Mid.Bass), After reading some of the comments I am thinking now of keeping an eye out for other Ki CD Players second hand but think that is a way off at the moment Other upgrades will come first.