Winoguy, I can't contribute this thread with anything straight on-topic (never heard the SC-11S1), but I can say that another similar topic I've started (concerning bigger Marantz preamp SC-7S2) remains without any input so far (three days).
It seems that Marantz preamps don't exist too much in listening rooms out there...
Btw, SC-11S1 looks truly sturdy device, based on net pictures of course. Power supply seems to be excelent - two shielded toroidals (even not for dual mono but one for digital and another for analog section) and higher quality parts everywhere. Aesthetics is first rate, 16 kilos net weight smells pretty convincing etc.
Something that bother me is the inverted plarity of XLR connections... Entire Marantz Premium Series (integrades, preamps, power amps, CDPs) use an awkward pattern: pin 1 is ground (OK), pin 2 is "cold" (inverse to standard - usually pin 2 is "hot") and pin 3 is "hot" (usually pin 3 is "cold"). This aberation is clearly declared in their user guides... That means altogether that those components should be carefully connected via XLR to another brand components, since major part of other manufacturers uses the standatd pattern (2 "hot" and 3 "cold").
Well, this is easy to resolve with suitable (awkward) XLR interconnect, diy of course.
