Thiel Owners

sdecker

2nd Note:
A long-winded review is certainly welcome here anytime.  Your impression on CD playback from the SA-11S2 mimics my impression of the Esoteric DV-60. Each of the (3) CD filters did nothing for my ears.
On the flipside, SACD playback is excellent. I found it ( and still do) a strange interpretation of the music. I simply could not find the (CD) groove?  I wonder if CD playback improves on the upper-tier Esoteric models?  
There are enough Audio and owner reviews on the Marantz SA-10 Reference player across several forums. Overall impressions and thoughts are positive on CD/DAC/SACD playback. To date, I have not read a negative/poor review.  Not bad for a sub $10K digital machine.

Happy Listening!

Well the SA10 is twice the price of the SA-11S2 and designed nearly a decade later, so I would certainly expect it to sound better, especially following the critical feedback Marantz got from their relatively murky sonics back in the day.  The front panel ergos are improved, there are digital inputs, their in-house transport is two generations newer, and PCM is immediately transcoded to DSD.  I'd venture to say these players could well be sonic apples and oranges. 

You found the SACD format as a whole to be a "strange interpretation of the music" or Esoteric's playback of it?

CD playback should now be as good as the format allows on any player over $2K.  Low-rez PCM ought to have been figured out by now.  Different flavors and approaches, sure, but pulling everything off the CD should be understood -- I may be wrong.

I spent a day listening to the dCS Puccini SACD player nine years ago (vs other units, including my own DAC FWIW): that was the best SACD playback I've yet heard, and I'm sure a decade later newer designs sound as good for less money.

sdecker

not to mention  the several SA-10 filters for CD/DAC and SACD playback. Crazy options!
I found the Esoteric's CD playback "strange" in comparison to its inherent SACD playback. CD was bad. SACD was excellent.

Another strange twist, the previous 11S2 owner did step up to the dCS Puccini.  The SA-10 would be a very strong contender in this regard.

Happy Listening!

Tom,

I don't know if it's been mentioned yet in this thread, but the buzz is back concerning the youtube documentary:

One Man's Dream - Ken Fritz Documentary

Absolutely insane dedication by a brilliant audiophile to making a massive home system.   He mentions you and Jim several times, saying he did some work for you (Theil cs5 as I remember, baffles?) and that he took your advice for an element of his wall construction.

I don't suppose you've heard Mr. Fritz's system, have you?

prof

Thank You for citing the documentary. I will check it out as well.
I am thinking that there are not many Audiophile documentaries in circulation?

Happy Listening!