2. digital
  3. 1249768256

Shocker - CAL CL 15 vs Marantz KI Pearl SACD

I have recently auditioned the new Marantz SACD player and I was shocked when I hooked my old CL -15 back up to my system. There was no comparison in my humble opinion in my system. The CAL was so much better at doing things that I like that the Marantz is back in the box. WOW. I never knew the CL-15 was so good. It is much more emotionally satisfying. I do not have many SACD's. The SACD player in the Marantz is very good. Boy am I glad I listened to both. I saved myself 3 grand. The Marantz sounded great, but it did not do the little things as well. The Timbre of the instruments, sense of air, and bass is better on the Cal to my ears at least. Call me crazy but I will not be buying a new player anytime soon. I just learned because a CD player is older does not necessarily mean it is not as good as the new technology. I found that out.
tzh21y
snopro
392 posts
 
Tzh21y,
Does the Marantz have a few hundred hours on it?
My SA-7s1 sounded much better after break-in.
bulldogger
277 posts
 
Cal was way ahead of it's time. My friend made the same observation with his Cal player and sold a Marantz SA-11s2.
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
It is a fairly newer unit. That is for sure. The break in period is definitely not even close to complete. I was very suprised. The CAL is more liquid in my opinion. Maybe I will listen to the unit after it has been broken in. It is very new in all fairness. but the Cal player is stunning to say the least. I am going to buy the interconnects they gave me to use. They sound wonderful. JPS Labs Alluminata. I guess the difference is this: when I have Celine Dion on with the Cal, i get goose bumps, that is not the case with the Marantz. But maybe I have to give it a chance to break in. I still think that it will never sound as rich and liquid, and involving as the CAL. This already the 5th player I have tried. Maybe my Cal is trying to tell me something.
More to discover