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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.

dilatante
silverlakejim's avatar
silverlakejim
10 posts
 

I faced the quandary you faced. MY Cary CD 306 SACD Pro stopped working after 16 wonderful years. Here on Audiogon I bought a used Marantz SA 10 CD/SACD. The Marantz was so superior to the Cary I never even bothered to take the trouble  to A/B them. The highs with the Marantz were sweeter and less harsh. It wasn't clear to me till I got the Marantz, but there is a sort of undefined hole in the lower midrange in the Cary that was fixed in the Marantz. Overall the Marantz had a more sophisticated sound than the rough and gruff Cary CD 306 Pro. The Marantz is most definitely an upgrade. 

caphill
678 posts
 

@silverlakejim

I own the Cary CD 306 SACD pro in my living room setup with the Cary SLP-05 tube preamp and a pair of Cary monoblock tube power amps. Couple yrs ago my audiophile buddy brought over his Marantz SA 10 SACD player and hooked it up in my all Cary system (Cary tube pre and tube power amps). The Cary 306 SACD pro still sounds better in my all Cary setup with Cary tube preamp and tube amps. My speakers are also on the warmer side. The Marantz SA 10 lacks detail, resolution, air, transparency, scale, authority and dimensionality compared to the 306 Pro. The SA 10 sounded way too warm in my all Cary system setup, which is already sounding warm to begin with. It’s all about system synergy. I bet the Marantz SA 10 will sound better and will be a better match in all solid state or neutral sounding system setups.

In my all Cary setup I don’t find my 306 SACD Pro sound bright or harsh, it’s quite the opposite actually. The whole system sound perfect with the Cary 306 SACD Pro in the chain, it’s a perfect match. When I inserted my friend’s Marantz SA 10 the entire system sounded too recessed too warm too syrupy warm. The SA 10 isn’t a good match for this system. All Marantz gears are always voiced warm, smooth to begin with, too recessed at times depending on your system setup.

silverlakejim's avatar
silverlakejim
10 posts
 

Your experience makes sense. The Cary 306 SACD Pro, i'm sure, was developed to be used with Cary amplification, which I have owned, which is lovely sounding and  indeed on the warm side. I'm using a Line Magnetic LM 845 Premium tube integrated amp & Dali Epicon 6 speakers. My system is on the neutral to bright side; the Marantz made sense in my system. So much of our impression of sound is system dependent. 

caphill
678 posts
 

Yup, couldn’t agree more. It’s all about system synergy and system dependent. My all Cary system that consists of the 306 SACD Pro, Cary SLP-05 tube preamp & Cary tube monoblock amps sounding smooth, very musical, warm fully fleshed out full body with sweet highs and smooth midrange bloom. I have no doubt that the CD 306 SACD Pro was voiced together using all Cary amplifications (pre and power amps). 
 

When I inserted my friend’s Marantz SA 10 SACD player in my all Cary setup it didn’t sound right to me. The whole system is somewhat obscuring or masking details a bit and sounding too slow lacking speed, attacks, slam, dynamic, scale and authority. The system sounded less dimensional compared to when I have the CD 306 SACD Pro in the chain. 

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