Multi Channel SACD

Hi junzhang10,

Thanks for the recommendation. I will order soon.

I too am a Thiel lover. Just sold my 2 2s to my best friend. Great speakers.

The later Oppos (model 95 and 105) are really good universal players. I just bought a ModWright/Sony 5400ES which transmits multi-channel SACD in DSD via its HDMI output. Looking forward to hearing this SACD on it.

Re: the center channel, when I first converted my 2 channel setup to do dual duty as a HT, I bought a Thiel MCS-1 center channel to use with my 5i’s for front L/R and the 2 2s for the rears. I never liked the sound of the MCS-1 and sold it, replacing it with a Martin Logan Stage center. Much better, but one day I had to move the Stage to install my TT and tried my processor in the "Phantom Center" mode (no center channel, the processor sends center channel information to the front L/R speakers). The 5i’s sounded much better without the center channel on both movies and multi-channel music. Image height is perfect for my 120" diagonal screen and motion is much more contiguous, realistic, and natural. You might try this with your 2 2s and see if this works for you.

Best to you junzhang10,
Dave

Dave,

What does ModWright bring to the party with HDMI where the DAC process is outsourced?

I tend to agree with you about phantom center, although I've invested nearly $4K for a used Parasound JC 1 monoblock and KEF Reference 204/2C center.  I can always set my processor to phantom mode.

db

phantom center if don't have a matching center speaker. The problem with typical center speakers is they sit horizontal position rather than stand and they usually have dual speakers. They are designed for movie theater (won't block the drop off screen) usage. A true center should be a identical to L/R and stand vertical with height at your ear level. Of course, no one will sell you a single speaker. The rear is not that critical because we tend to listen forward. So at min a L/C/R setup is essential for a music listen room and add rear ambient would be ideal.

Hi dpphd,

I have been using a stock 5400ES for several weeks while the seller of this MW version player was waiting on his new MW Marantz SA-8005 to arrive from MW.

I don’t think that the MW improvements affect the HDMI output other than providing much better AC quality to the circuitry. MW is all about improving AC quality and adding tubes/clocks/etc, feeling like the chipsets and digital circuitry are already near-SOTA in this level of gear. This one does have the TOTL Audio Magic Gen Vx clock and also the Bybee DC rails.

The MW actually just arrived a few hours ago and is barely warmed up as I write. It is starting to sound very promising with about 2 hours of warm up. Fast, dynamic, and detailed like the stocker but much smoother and harmonically richer with a good dose of tube magic clearly audible.

I will let you know later whether or not the MW version sounds different/better than the stocker through the HDMI output.

Best to you dpphd,
Dave