break-in for Marantz SA-7S1

Phaser, the Marantz SA7S1 may represent exceptional value for the money, yet it does not pretend to be the ultimate digital front end. . . I have had the opportunity of A/Bing Marantz SA7-S1 with Playback Designs MPS-5, and the latter with TEAC P-03/D-03/G-03 combo. . . all magnificent players in their own right. Yet, as we moved up in the $$$ progression, so did I discover significantly increasing musicality, authority, refinement. Does even TEAC tristack constitute the ultimate digital front end? I doubt it, as even if it had the better G0Rb Rubidium clock, things are in so many ways matters of personal preference. Would the tristack equal your analog rig? Truly no idea. G.

I have a Marantz SA-7s1 and for the money it is very nice.
Is it in the same league as the other players that cost 3 to 4x the price? Of course not, but it's not to far off.

Place it on a good platform and use good components downstream and you will be rewarded. The player is balanced,smooth,detailed,and,neutral. It is definitely not hard sounding. Mrtennis pointed out bad recording still sound somewhat bad, and that's exactly how I want my source to be TRUTHFUL !

If I want a warmer sound I'll just change the tubes in my Pre-amp for some warmer ones. Do you want to see everything through rose colored glasses, I don't.

Whatever information you loss at the beginning of the chain you cannot get back downstream. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

To answer the question I think 200-300 hours or so should do it. Mine was a demo so I can't be sure but it's always sounded good.

I'm not sure what CDs and associated equipment other people are listening to when they say a Marantz SA7S1 is "too focused", has "unnatural timbre", is "precise", is "hard sounding" or "analytical". Something else is really wrong. None of that is evident on a good system. I couldn't stand the sound of most CD players until I got this one and never bothered getting one until this came along.

I'd hit myself over the head hard with a tennis racquet before I'd try a tube buffer stage or anything else drastic on this unit. Note that every other piece of equipment in my system IS SERIOUSLY / INSANELY modified even all my Pass Labs stuff (although I may not quite as fanatical as Dave -- how about TX2575s everywhere next?).

This player is resolving but very musical, has a wide and deep soundstage and has almost perfect tonal balance. SACD is wonderful & CD can sound great with a good recording but is sometimes a bit less engaging and listenable. The one consistent failing is that deep bass lacks weight & impact (my subs are flat to below 20Hz). There might be just a smidge of transparency that's lost with this but I'm guessing.

If you own one of these you've made a good choice & should be very happy once it's broken in.

In response to Mrtennis, having heard an SA11S1 through my own system I would not have qualified opinion of that player. If you are hearing a hardness through your system, fair enough. I can tell you that there is nothing hard or glaring about my SA-7S1, and none of the reviewers have either. I have a Krell KCT preamp connected by CAST to a Krell 400cx. There is nothing in that chain that would forgive glare - on the contrary, it's incredible transparent, and a little on the sterile side. The SA-7S1 makes it sound lovely. If there's a weakness to the SA-7S1 is that it's so smooth and relaxed that I sometimes wish for a little more punch, but glare or hardness are not even remotely to be found.

as mr g has so eloquently stated, one person's perception of "hardness" is another 's perception of "smoothness".

i am never surprised when a component is described differently by more than one owner or listener.

such descriptions are not the truth. they are opinions based upon perception.