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Marantz Player Question

My Marantz SA-12S1 player died a couple of weeks ago. It was in the Marantz shop for repair but the cost of replacing the board is going to be prohibitive and my dealer would prefer to just change the machine. The SA-12S1 isn't being manufactured anymore, so the dealer is considering the DV-9500 as a replacement. I'm wondering if that change might mean a loss of quality with SACD, which I've grown to love. The advantage of the 9500 though is DVD-A and I'm now buying recordings from Mode with that dimension, so the 9500 might be a good trade. Other options might well be the Marantz DV 12-S2 and the Marantz SA-11-S1. Has anyone compared any of these and which might be the best overall player. Originally when I bought the SA 12-S1, I was looking at DVD playback with the SACD option. Now I'd say that SACD quality is my first priority with DVD second and maybe DVD-A third. Don't recommend any other players because Marantz won't refund my money to buy them. I'm just looking for a replacement that can do a comparable or better job with SACD from the Marantz line. Thanks in advance.
washline
millenium
62 posts
 
GET ON THE MARANTZ WEBSITE AND CALL THE MAIN HEADQUATERS AND COMPLAIN TO SOMEONE WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE SEVICE DEPARTMENT. I CANNOT REMEMBER HIS NAME BUT HE HELPED ME WITH A LEXCICON RT-10 THAT BY THE WAY IS A MARNATZ DV8400 AND THE LEXICON RT-20 IS THE MARANTZ DV 9500. THE BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT IN THE DV9500 IS IN THE VIDEO SECTION. THEY CHANGED TO HIGHER SAMPLING CHIPS FOR VIDEO. IF YOU TALK TO HIM JUST ASK HIM ABOUT A GUY THAT HAD A ISSUE WITH THE TRANSPORT WITH HIS LEXICON RT-10. IT SHOULD RING A BELL WITH HIM. IF IT DOES I WOULD INSIST THAT THEY FIX YOUR UNIT. THIS IS THE PRACTICE WITH MANUFCTURES TODAY, THEY JUST WANT TO REPLACE THINGS AND NOT FIX THEM. IF HE REMEMBERS ME TELL HIM I ADVISED YOU TO TALK TO HIM. HE REALLY IS A GREAT GUY TO DEAL WITH. I THINK HIS NAME IS STEVE BUT WHEN YOU TRANSFER TO SERVICE YOU MIGHT GET HIS VOICE MAIL. I WOULD CALL IN THE MORNING THAT IS WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET A TALK WITH HIM. HE SALVAGED MY MACHINE THAT ALL IT NEEDED WAS THE LASER ALIGNED. LEXICON SAID THE UNIT WAS TOTALED AFTER A SHIPPING ISSUE. STAYED WITH LEXICON FOR 6 WEEKS FOR ME TO GET IT WORKING AFTER TALKING TO THIS GUY IN SERVICE.

GOOD LUCK

BILL L.

GOOD LUCK
BILL L.
jndean
132 posts
 
I have had a Marantz SA-12S1 for two years but only use it for 2-channel sacd and cd. This summer the main board went out and it wouldn't read sacd's or cd's. I took it back to Sound One in Asheville, NC and Marantz kept it 4 weeks but it now works perfectly. I would insist on repair.It's a great sacd/cd player. I have it teamed with a Marantz PM-17 integrated as a pre-amp and two Marantz SM-17's bridged for 200 w/c. You can share my positive experience with Marantz. They should care about customer satisfaction.
John Dean
mikesinger
572 posts
 
i would opt for the repair.. from what i have been "told" that is a INCREDIBLE musical unit...
rello
311 posts
 
If you do not need multi channel and DVD-a the SA11 is the way to go. the 9500 is nice but does not compare. Also, the SA-11 with the balanced out is noticably better then with the SE. If you have xlr use it.
washline OP
202 posts
 
OK. Thanks for the tips, one and all. Rello, I'm going into a MF Tri-Vista so only unbalanced inputs, but does the SA11 also play DVD video? I wasn't aware that it does. I can live without DVD-A for the time being. The problem is that I live in Korea. The piece is actually in the Marantz head office over here in Seoul. They've had it for three weeks already, and getting the part now is proving to be quite difficult. I'll press for repair. If that doesn't work, I'm going to have to push for a higher quality unit on par with the SA12-S1
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