If your Cary is in good working order you'd be better off getting a new separate DAC.
Looking at the guts of the Marantz it doesn't look impressive.
Cary CD 306 SACD player vs newer Marantz SA 10 CD/SACD player
I'm a current owner of an older Cary CD 306 SACD player (non professional version) and have been very happy with the sound quality of it. The CD 306 SACD is Cary's flagship CD/SACD player. This model along with its professional version both have received praises and spectacular reviews from both professional reviewers and users. And the build quality is superb and this player weighs about 45 pounds. The player has been working flawlessly aside from having to replace a new laser assembly last year which was done by Cary Audio itself which is very common with older CD/SACD players or transports. And I think the CD 306 SACD has been discontinued since 2015/2016.
But I'm curious if the newer Marantz SA 10 CD/SACD player, which is also Marantz's flagship CD/SACD player, would sound better or the Cary CD 306 SACD would sound better than the SA 10. Seems like the Marantz SA 10 is most of the time is being offered at discounted price and it makes me want to pull the trigger on one.
What do you guys think? Both the Cary and the Marantz players can used as a standalone DAC and have various digital audio inputs on the back.
Advises, thoughts, suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance.
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I believe that @elliottbnewcombjr presented some excellent options for you. 30 days return policy is plenty of time for a relaxed snd thorough home audition. Ideal opportunity to compare to your Cary directly and just listen then decide. There’s no better scenario than to hear the components yourself. Charles |
True. Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts, advises and suggestions.
The picture of the laser or disc transport assembly that you posted here was that of the older CD 306 that does not play SACD, it plays only Redbook CD. Mine is the latest model of the CD 306 SACD player that plays both Redbook CD & SACD and has completely different transport than the earlier models of the CD 306 that can only play Redbook CD shown in your picture attachment. These two players are completely different design internally, they are totally different machines.
Cary Audio does not repair or service or replace the laser assembly of the older CD 306 models like the one shown in your picture attachment due to the age of the unit and they no longer stock up the laser assembly for those earlier models. However, Cary Audio still stock up on the laser assembly of the CD 306 SACD like the one I have (the latest 306 model). As a matter of fact, I have sent my player in to Cary last year to get a new laser assembly.
I know it can be very confusing and confuses a lot of people regarding the CD 306 earlier and older models that can only play Redbook CD (earlier and older model) and the latest model of the CD 306 SACD (both non pro and pro versions) that play both Redbook CD and SACD like the one I have. The earlier 306 models and the latest 306 SACD like mine are completely different machines and different design and engineering internally. They look different too aesthetically and different build quality. The perform differently too. The latest model like the one I have sounded much better than the earlier and older 306 models.
I will try to get a take home demo or audition of the Marantz SA 10 player and compare it directly to my Cary in my own setup. However, there’s a dealer here in my city that happens to be Marantz and Cary dealers and according to him that my Cary would still sound better and more musical than the Marantz SA 10. He said sure the SA 10 has newer DAC chip but that doesn’t mean anything when it comes to overall sonic quality of the player.
My Cary CD 306 SACD player runs kinda hot or warm due to its class A analog output stage design. That’s the only complain I have. Wonder if the Marantz SA 10 runs hot too? |
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- 13 posts total