TRL Marantz Sa-14

I posted a while back that I sent Paul a SA-8260 for modding. Thanks to everyone who requested updates over the past few months. It has taken a while because one of Paul's key employees was injured in a car accident and he has had a lot of players coming in for modding. After getting it back the break-in period has taken a very long time. I’ve lost count of the hours but my best guess is it has 550 to 575 hours on it.

Fresh back from the mod, the player sounded much more dynamic than the stock unit. The bass was deeper but the mids and highs may have been even a little more shouty. I am guessing he uses some type of silver solder or wire because in the past I’ve heard the same thing when using silver cables that were not fully broken-in. The soundstage opened up at about the 200 hour point. Images fleshed-out well in front of the speakers, 2 or 3 feet wider than the speakers and at least 5 feet behind the speakers – all with a very nice center fill. If you are getting a flat soundstage with your TRL player either its not broken-in or there is a weak link some where in your system, because its not the player.

The mod sounds fine but I’m a little concerned about the microdynamics in the midrange and treble. I’m not talking about hearing detail but having a real and relaxed sound. This is hard for me to describe but the one area of playback I always listen for is a sense there is no strain in the system and the musicians are simply making music. My wife is a professional musician and I enjoy making music (I’m no pro though!) and if I hear sounds that are over emphasized I immediately think something is not right. I know my recordings very well and I’ve owned/heard some very good players, dacs and transports over the years. I can just “feel” if the midrange/treble microdynamics are right. If you spend any significant time around live acoustic music you know what I’m talking about.

The TRL 8260 is very good and its getting better as more time is put on the player. Everything is “there” but it just hasn’t relaxed yet. To put it another way, if I were to break down every aspect of this modded player I would say the midrange has clarity, the treble is smooth yet detailed, the soundstaging is huge, the bass is tight and the background is black. However, all those great attributes have not melted together into one very believable sound. I still know I’m listening to a CD.

The answer may be to move-up the food chain. A SA-14 maybe on the horizon. Before I go that route, I’m just going to let the 8260 keep playing – I think its capable of better sound. So even this “review” is still a work in progress. I’ll report back in about another month or so.

Nice reporting Sbayne. Too early to pass judgement and perhaps your keen ears are indeed on track. Microdynamics is part of coherency and synergy. I am sure it will come thru eventually.

If it does not then SA-14 is the next stop where by all reports its no slouch in that category.

Sbayne-

Yes, very thorough and thoughtful comments.

However, all those great attributes have not melted together into one very believable sound. I still know I’m listening to a CD.

There are many who believe that the TRL players actually take near 750 hours to fully relax and settle in. Your sense of silver wire in the mix is likely accurate. I think they use some of their proprietary power cord wire to the IEC inputs and this is long break in stuff.

Curious as to the rest of your system/cables, etc. I found with the TRL 595 I had that it exposed some of the weaker areas in my integrated amp and speakers a bit more. For me, anyway, it kind of put my system components out of sync.

I ended up having TRL mod my integrated amp.

I eventually moved up to the SA14. As good as the 595 was, and I am sure the SA8260 is, the SA14 does take the next step to suspending disbelief even moreso.

After the SA14 broke in, I ended up moving up to the next level of ACI monitors.

Moral of story- send the damn thing back before you end up upgrading your whole stinking system :)

Just kidding-but it does get you working on the whole synergy and system blance thing.

Keep us posted.

Thanks Sbayne, I was wondering how the 8260 was sounding. Please give us more feedback in another month. I will be intrested to hear of any improvements after you feel the unit is broke in and everything is coming together. My stock 8260 waits for your final judgement, or start looking to the upgrade path. I hope the TRL mod path is the way to go. Sounds like the mod has already improved everything a great deal.

Brouch - based on my listening the TRL mod is worthy of recommendation as it stands now. I'm just trying to squeeze that last drop of performance out of it. I should mention I've got it sitting on Mapleshade footers with heavyhats. The power cord is a ZCable Red Lighting. So if you consider the total cost I have in this player the $500 TRL mod is well worth it on a cost/benefit basis even if the player doesn't improve with even more break-in (IMHO of course).