break-in for Marantz SA-7S1

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.

Tinear1, if you are enjoying CD's and SACD's like never before, go try the ultrabit platnium. It will be like it was when you first hit 500 hours of breakin-just as astounding.

I have a SA-7S1 for about 1 year.

It's a great & musical player but I have similar opinion as Tinear1's: "...it's a bit too smooth and relaxed that I sometimes wish for a little more punch...".

This can be accomplished by utilizing its external clock input. After using an Apogee Big Ben external clock, there is significant improvement in dynamics/punchiness without causing any glare or hardness.