Al ears said:
sound10 said:
Hi everyone, just wondering please if any forum member has the above Marantz amplifier/CD player and what they think. I've read a few forum threads with regards to Marantz Reference range equipment and some people have said that it's amazing, while others have said they preferred the models just below the reference range e.g. the Pearl Lite/PM8005 as they are more musical. My question is does the Marantz Reference Range have the typical warm Marantz sound or does the sound become too clinical rather than being more musical. Just to add that I do currently have the Marantz PM8005/SA8005. I like the sound, but was thinking of upgrading. Thanks
I believe nopiano has recently acquired the SA14 S1SE.
Indeed I have, and literally only 7 days ago, so too early for fixed opinions. However, it seems to have an attractive, expressive quality to vocals (for example) that I associate with higher-endgear, and real life, rather than a rather mechanical and flat sound. Beautiful finish, far nicer than the pictures (which look like a 6006 needing to diet!). Weighs over 15kg, more than most amps.
No opportunity to compare with my aging Krell KAV-300cd yet, as I managed to clumsily derail the loading tray the day before I bought the Marantz.
Regarding the overall Marantz sound, I usually prefer a wide-open, large-scale sound, typically found in US designs, and wide bandwidth gear. I'd contrast this with the more engineered sound of, say, Naim, with deliberately poor damping - though great results can be achieved. Marantz is therefore pretty much my style, and I've enjoyed and owned several Marantz products, including my first CD player, an original CD63 14-bit top loader, and an amp and cdplayer from c. 1994, the PM-52 markII se and the matching CD player (CD52 se I think), still used by my dad, and never repaired or serviced! I don't think of it as warm, more rich, in the manner of a good meat stock, and quite vibrant, so not overly smooth at the top. The PM14s1 SE may therefore be all the amp most of us will ever need, and one of the finest under £2000. Only the Denon PMA2500, Rotel RA1592, and maybe the Exposure 3010S2D seem to offer similar at that price. At £2000 or above, there are several, such as Primare, Electrocompaniet, Densen and Parasound Halo, with all bar the Primare hard to find. Hegel sound great but are too mean with inputs. Yamaha looks stunning but I've not heard this generation. Beyond that come the streamer and ripper models from Moon, Musical Fidelity, and now AVM, not to mention the Naim models replacing the Uniti range. There are doubtless others I will think of as soon as I've posted this!