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SA-14 Construction/TOC Issues

Hello,

I just bought a B-stock unit from Cambridge Sound Works that has the full warrantee and had them ship it to me (I live in Canada). The date of manufacture is December 2001. I have never seen a SA-14 before except via pictures.
Just two questions:

1. The top and sides of my unit are made out of a black plastic material that are riveted in place. I had assumed that it would be a metal of some sort (probably aluminum). Is this the normal top and sides?

2. The CD player that this is replacing is a Sony SCD-C555ES player. In the year that I have had it, it has never had a TOC or skipping problem. On one SACD in particular (Jacintha - Lush Life) the SA-14 has a TOC problem and when eventually loaded, skips on the latter tracks. The CD is spotless and not a problem with the Sony. Anyone else have this type of problem?

I have had this unit only for a couple of days now and can return it via their 45 day trial.

Thank you in advance for your input.

Regards,

David Berry
david_berry
lafish
151 posts
 
you need to upgrade firm ware. TOC and skipping may be because of this. And well.......it should be a metal piece.
jconder
16 posts
 
Plastic sides and top? That's unconscionable. I bought a refurb unit that was slightly scratched but at least had the normal copper-lined metal chassis. I believe my unit is also from 2001, but I have not had any problems with reading SACDs or CDs. Send that plastic baby back, that's what I think.
david_berry OP
211 posts
 
Thank you for your responses. I was aware that there was a TOC issue in their earlier run (I believe pre-April or May 2001) and thus did not expect it when I asked for the date of manufacture from the salerep. I also did not expect that once the disc was read, that it would skip.

The plastic top just put me over the edge when I saw it. I am going to attempt to get them to pay for return shipping as I was led down the garden path.

There have been many positive remarks about Cambridge SoundWorks in this forum and in others, but unfortunately, I cannot add to them.

David
attilasimon
15 posts
 
I also recently purchased an SA-14 from CSW.
Initially I was less than pleased, however from
guidance from Ivan, Islandfisher, and Socrates,
the unit has settled into place and now
sounds great. Lengthy break-in and the inner tube
have transformed it. I am very pleased.
To your point-my unit was A-stock, i.e. brand new,
sealed, etc. with a manufacture date of Dec.2001.
The top and sides do seem to be plastic riveted into
place. If they are made like this, whats the problem?
Some of my cheaper players have metal tops and sound awful-so if the SA-14 has a copper clad bottom but plastic
top and sides and sounds great does it really matter?
My concern would be if other units from different dates
were built with metal top and sides, and if so why?
I'll call Marantz today and post my findings.

Best Regards and Thanks,
Attila Simon
david_berry OP
211 posts
 
"My concern would be if other units from different dates
were built with metal top and sides, and if so why?"

Exactly, Attila. I held my unit under a bit more scrutiny than normal due to its B-stock status. As such, the reason for the question about its top plastic-like material vs. what I was expecting - an aluminum top. It is good to know that the top and sides of yours seems the same as mine.

My concern was that of misrepresention of the product (i.e. not just B-stock but exterior (and possibly interior) changes), not particulary about the sound output.

Please do post your findings.
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