TRL Marantz Sa-14

Ok Lawyerman-

You certainly convinced me that the Marantz SA-1 is a contender. However, I do not share your opinion that the player is "lame" in stock form. Naturally I have not heard one modified by RAM but sitting next to an analog system set up, the stock unit was very impressive.

Like so many things out there a player can be a terrific performer or a plain shoe that just does not fit irrespective of price. I would imagine for those folks who are in this group any upgrade will be an improvement if they are committed to the player. Most of us know that Sony and Marantz added unique output stages that when removed improvements abound. I completely agree that this player should remain in stock form.

This is the very point why some of us on this thread share in a common respect and admiration for Paul's sense of economic scale. The TRL SA-14 may not be the best player out there but it certainly is impressive enough.

This is a fun hobby when an item's performance can be raised to an unexpected level with very little investment as opposed to the opposite. The TRL mod in this case is more sensible don't you agree?

Great! Now I have to find a Marantz SA-1 to send to TRL ... :)

I think that song number 2 is Michel Jonasz "Le Temps Passe" from his La Fabuleuse Histoire de Swing CD. It was released in the mid 90's. And yes, it will set you back in your seat. :)

Best wishes,

Jack

Lawyerman:

Regarding your comment that Marantz discouraged the TRL mod:

I have never heard of any company recommending that one modify their product, especially an expensive one.

Here is a perfect example:
I owned a stock pair of the Matrix B&W800's. I then heard a pair that Dan D'Agostino of Krell had modified to be driven actively bi-amped. The change took and excellent speaker and made it debatably one of the "best speakers on the planet." I contacted B&W and they said not to do it.

I did it; and WOW, what a fabulous transformation. I will never be able to afford a better speaker. (The only one that gave mine a run-for-the money was over $75,000)

Just my opinion,
Richard (an SA14 owner)

Lawyerman,
Thanks for your comment. You do have a nice rig there. Hearing quite a few WP7, and a couple MaxxII and X2 combos, although I haven't heard MAC and WP7 combination before, I guess it is good.
I currently have one SA-14 being modded by TRL. It is good to know SA-1 is a strong contender/player in stock form. I was wondering whether SA-1 could be further improvement by mod because (to me) TRL's mod, though to be revolutionary, seems to be more 'complimentary' compared to other modders. What I mean is that other modders seem to prefer replacing many parts, output stages, and/or even almost the whole entire circuitry. In contrast, TRL's approach seems to preserve the strengths of the player and augment them, then other 'secretive' mods to rectify shortcomings in order to bring the player to the final augmented state.
As you have said, SA-1 has a quite 'complete' design with only few minuses, I wonder and presume SA-1 may benefit more by TRL mod philosophy because most of its strength would be preserved and/or further augmented (if possible) and the weaker area would brought to the level as the rest of the player. Do you find SA-1 or TRL14 to be sensitive to PCs and ICs? By the way, welcome to the group!

Jack,
I guess we are on the same page. :) If you do get a SA-1, I would love to hear your input as well. By the way, if you get a chance, please swing by TRL and take a listen of my SA-14. I ask Paul to incoporate a few more 'tweaks' and replace one part in mine,which is being burn-in during the weekend for eval. If you get to hear it, please let me know of your impression (either good or bad). Thanks.

To clarify the little bit remarks on the Marantz SA-1 I am dead set against the Modification. I have not heard the Mod but doing research and Marantz America's advice to leave the SA-1 stock is your best bet. Both from a present owner and anybody that may buy one preowned in the future. Marantz America told me that the SA-1 is highly sought afte in the Asian market. And they said even 10,20 years down the line audiophiles will be seeking to find an SA-1. Only 1000 units were ever made, and less than half were shipped to the USA for Marantz America distribution.

Now they were not my words that the stock SA-1 was lame. They were the words copied and pasted from "Reference Audio Mods" website about the Modification. Of course they are going to say the Mod is going to make the SA-1 sound fabulous. They charge over $2900 for the basic Mod and if you go the full mod from "Reference Audio Mod" you can speand over $8000 which would include a nice wood cabinet for the SA-1.

So to reiterate the Marantz SA-1 stock alone is incredible. And what I am trying to say is that you can take a full modded up Marantz SA-14 and it will still not come close to a stock SA-1. Again it is unfair to make the comparison regarding the Marantz SA-1 was a no holds barr design to begin with at $7500 msrp. While the Marantz SA-14, SA-14mk.2, SA-12si, SA-11 were all in the $3K price range and massively produced by Marantz. Plus the SA-1 was so limited very few were discounted while the step down SA-14, SA-11 .. were found new under $2400.

Talk to Marantz America (Co inventors with Sony). Actually Philips invented the hardware and Sony the software , just like over 20 years earlier with the 16 bit CD technology. Marantz America will tell you honestly that SACD technology doesn't get any better that what is in the SA-1. And that whoever has one should be lucky and hold on to it, for the future demand will be very high.