Cary CD 306 SACD player vs newer Marantz SA 10 CD/SACD player

@jafant 

I’m not so sure if the Marantz SA 10 would be a nice upgrade sonically from my current older Cary CD 306 SACD. The SA 10 might be an upgrade sonically from the earlier and even older models of Cary CD 306 that can only play Redbook CD but not SACD. Mine is the 306 SACD non pro version which is the latter model in the CD 306 iteration and is a completely different machines and different design internally then the earlier and even older models of the CD 306. My CD 306 SACD shares nothing in common internally and topoly design wise with the earlier and even older of CD 306 that does not play SACD. Not only Cary added the SACD playback with the 306 SACD like the one I have but they completely redesigned internally. These are completely different machines, the only thing they share in common was the name of the 306 iteration. 

dilatante

I have always enjoyed the presentation and sound of Cary Audio players, 303T, 306 SACD and 308.

Happy Listening!

I faced the quandary you faced. MY Cary CD 306 SACD Pro stopped working after 16 wonderful years. Here on Audiogon I bought a used Marantz SA 10 CD/SACD. The Marantz was so superior to the Cary I never even bothered to take the trouble  to A/B them. The highs with the Marantz were sweeter and less harsh. It wasn't clear to me till I got the Marantz, but there is a sort of undefined hole in the lower midrange in the Cary that was fixed in the Marantz. Overall the Marantz had a more sophisticated sound than the rough and gruff Cary CD 306 Pro. The Marantz is most definitely an upgrade. 

@silverlakejim

I own the Cary CD 306 SACD pro in my living room setup with the Cary SLP-05 tube preamp and a pair of Cary monoblock tube power amps. Couple yrs ago my audiophile buddy brought over his Marantz SA 10 SACD player and hooked it up in my all Cary system (Cary tube pre and tube power amps). The Cary 306 SACD pro still sounds better in my all Cary setup with Cary tube preamp and tube amps. My speakers are also on the warmer side. The Marantz SA 10 lacks detail, resolution, air, transparency, scale, authority and dimensionality compared to the 306 Pro. The SA 10 sounded way too warm in my all Cary system setup, which is already sounding warm to begin with. It’s all about system synergy. I bet the Marantz SA 10 will sound better and will be a better match in all solid state or neutral sounding system setups.

In my all Cary setup I don’t find my 306 SACD Pro sound bright or harsh, it’s quite the opposite actually. The whole system sound perfect with the Cary 306 SACD Pro in the chain, it’s a perfect match. When I inserted my friend’s Marantz SA 10 the entire system sounded too recessed too warm too syrupy warm. The SA 10 isn’t a good match for this system. All Marantz gears are always voiced warm, smooth to begin with, too recessed at times depending on your system setup.

Your experience makes sense. The Cary 306 SACD Pro, i'm sure, was developed to be used with Cary amplification, which I have owned, which is lovely sounding and  indeed on the warm side. I'm using a Line Magnetic LM 845 Premium tube integrated amp & Dali Epicon 6 speakers. My system is on the neutral to bright side; the Marantz made sense in my system. So much of our impression of sound is system dependent.