Marantz SA11S3

I agree that going balanced is likely the best way in your situation. I run all-balanced with my SA-7S1, and IMO it definitely sounds better than single-ended. Purer and slightly darker backgrounds.

Other than when I go out of town, my player has been left fully on every day for the last six years. But if you want to leave it in Standby when not listening, that's fine too. It's a personal choice.

That unit has a standby mode and that's where it should be set when not spinning a disk. If don't have any XLR cables and wish to try something, contact me. 

rsfphil:

Congratulations on the new Marantz player . Owning three Marantz SACD players, I also like the Marantz "sound". To take your player to a higher level consider replacing the main power fuse with a Synergistic Research "BLACK "brand fuse. I heard I significant improvement in sound with the upgraded fuse.

Enjoy your new system.

David Pritchard

Thanks to everyone who responded. It looks like balanced is the way to go. I ran the Sony single ended for two reasons.
1. It seems like the Sony's balanced output is BINO( balanced in name only) and most people seemed to prefer the single ended output.
2. While most balanced connections have pin 2+ and pin 3-, the Marantz amp has the opposite, pin2- and pin 3+. I know there are ways to work around the polarity issue, but the Sony sounded so good single ended I just didn't want to mess with it. 
You can reverse the polarity of the Marantz SACD so that is no longer an issue. As far as replacing the power fuse I've only heard positive things. That is something I may do somewhere down the road. For now I want to get used to the sound with the balanced cable. Thanks again for your help.

Bob