Why buy Marantz NA 7004 while the MCR 603 exists?!

[popjac11]

I'm deeply sorry if I've missed something glaringly obvious here, but I fail to see why you'd spend £100+ more on the NA7004 for the privilege of NOT having the built in amplification and cd playback that the MCR 603 offers?

The MCR 603 seems much better value for money surely?

 

[Clare Newsome]

Simple: if you've already got a damn good CD player and amplifier, you can just slot the NA7004 into your system to add the streaming element.

Not everyone is looking for a one-box solution.

 

[popjac11]

Thank you Clare, I'm glad there isn't one magical feature I was missing!

Don't you think it's a little overpriced though? At least in comparison to the MCR 603?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Not really: extend that logic and no CD player should cost more than the least expensive micro-system on the market.

 

[cse]

Yes but is the 603 actually better sound quality than the 7004?

 

[the record spot]

It's apples and oranges. A better amp would see off the 603, good though it apparently is. It's still ultimately a 40watter (or 60 at 4ohms) and it'll toil when pushed. Were the 7004 delivered with an onboard amp, you might have a case, but as you can pair up any amp with the streamer, it'll benefit from the additional flexibility. Of course, I think you can add an offboard power amp to the 603, in which case, it changes the balance again.

 

[popjac11]

Not really: extend that logic and no CD player should cost more than the least expensive micro-system on the market.

Good point, therefore the streaming and DAC capabilities of the NA7004 should be better than the MCR603's?

Like you'd expect a pricer cd player to outperform a micro system?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Good point, therefore the streaming and DAC capabilities of the NA7004 should be better than the MCR603's

Indeed...