Masrantz Sa-11S1 /w RAM Full upgrade?

Phaelon, call David Schulte at the Upgrade Company. He will have a bunch of info regarding the new Marantz units plus other people you can call and talk to regarding the upgrades. Go and look at the review on the Linn Schulte modded CD12. There is a reason why this man went with the Upgrade Company and not Ram and it was not a money issue. Earflapin's system is over a 100k. You could get the same upgrades that went into the Linn for about $1500 and it is totally safe. I have an upgraded Marantz SA12s1 and it destroys the stock Marantz SA-1. Both the Sony scd1 and sa1 have rolled off highs and are flat compared to the upgraded units. The new Marantz units are very good so do not be fooled by the pricing. The new Marantz units outperform the older Marantz units after upgrading. Stock wise who cares! Marantz units also need a good power cord and vibration control. It is critical what they sit on, not good on there own feet. I use BDR cones and pucks on 1" maple wood. David has also upgraded a bunch of Esoteric gear including the X01's which are over rated. Theta compli and Denon 5910ci sound better after the same modifications are done. Maybe you can talk to that person who owned all of them. The X01 also had the master clock generator and still could not compete. Again don't let the prices fool you. The x01 and generator were sold. Also my Marantz does not have the Schulte Signature upgrades in it like the Linn does. I am waiting to see now what unit I want to go with, maybe seperates. I also have an upgraded Denon 2900 that is excellent. No problems what so ever! The results are huge after upgrades especially if your other gear is up to the task. Right now I am using Nuforce 9.02 amps and p8 pre along with JM LAbs electra 936's. By this time though you may have made your decision. No need to bother with the 3910.

Music Matters!

I have a battery powered SCD-1 modeled on the RAM upgrades,plus some of my own mods, and have compared this head-to-head with a stock SA-1. The modded SCD-1 beats a stock SA-1 hands down my any measure.

Dave

I don't really think so. I think they all have their strength and weakness. I was there with Dave when we did the comparison. In fact, I think the stock SA-1 performs really good when compared to the highly modded SCD-1.

Jazzmeup, you have had the opportunity for months now in your shop to compare a stock SA-1 to your own SCD-1 modded with many SOTA Audiocom components as well as extensive replacement of piece parts in the Analog section. Please comment specifically on the relative merits of these two players. Are you saying after all this work is done that neither CDP surpasses the other? If after all this work modding and listening to incremental changes (some of which were considered quite dramatic at the time), you are only observing a "distinction without a difference," then perhaps it's not worth the trouble.... My perceptions were very different.