Marantz SA7S1 owners - stock or modded

hi jgwilson:

i will be getting a marantz 11s2. i am looking to smooth out the treble. i would consider adding a tube analog stage or having caps replaced.

i suspect that the underwood mods render a component more transparent and "faster". i want to go in the opposite direction.

modding classic equipment is like brush painting a classic auto. you may like it, but its very weird to everyone else.

Mrtennis, if you're shooting for purity & silkiness, consider the Reference Audio Mods/Audio Consulting Silver Rock step-up transformer output stage, but installed without the optional op amp buffer section. The SS buffer section adds pace, dynamics, and bass control, but could be omitted if you're more interested in smoothness & refinement. The buffer section could be added later on (preferably with battery power)if you sense any lack of dynamics.

hi dgarretson:

i am looking to darken the sound of the marantz, by attenuating the high frequencies and defocusing the sound, creating more body and less detail, heading towards the cclassic tube sound.

i have heard reference audio mods modifications. i don't like what they do. i would never use them to modify any equipment i own.

Mrtennis, To each his own, but what you are looking for is exactly what the silver transformers sound like without the active buffer stage.