I thought I'd post an update on the Marantz SA-15S2b which I ended up buying.
I'm keeping it.
It has that classic Marantz house sound without going retro. Simply put, it carries a lot of weight and gravitas yet still lets the details (more than I have been hearing, actually) shine through. Mellifluous and beguiling without the bloat or smear.
I burned it in by running it for 7 days straight. Out of the box it was quite a letdown but after 5 hours it started to reveal itself. At the 10 hr mark it made another leap up in resolution and continues to impress me. I've had a few CDPs and a couple of DACs and I've never had one fail to impress upon first hearing, only to get incrementally better. This Marantz will confound anyone who won't take the time to let it mature.
One word of advice: careful cable matching is paramount with this, more so than any other device I've had. I used to use and love Mapleshade Ribbon ICs and when first hooked up, I had unbelievable mids and bass. It didn't take long to realize I had too much, at the expense of detail, micro dynamics, and nuance. Nothing I had on hand seemed to work so I settled on a pair of Darwin Silver ICs and everything came into focus beautifully. This pairing of SACD player and ICs are just about the perfect match, for me. Coherence is the best way to describe it. That, and serendipity.
I think Marantz has a hit on its hands and I'm seriously considering going deeper into debt with the matching integrated and calling it quits for many a year to come. As much as I like detail, nuance, subtle shading, and texture, I also love (and have missed without realizing it) the Marantz take on musicality: slightly warm, engaging, and comforting. Just a rich and full presentation that I can, and do, listen to for hours at a stretch.
The soundstage seems bigger and deeper. It's like I got a bigger amp or somehow grew another driver on my speakers. Intelligibility is greatly increased and now it's much easier to follow lyrics (which has always been a problem for me). What really gets me is how much more bottom end info I can follow. It used to be just a kind of noise, suggesting something going on down there but now it's just as defined as the rest of the spectrum.
Soundstage seems wider now, all the time, with proper height and weight. It's all upsides so far (except for that nagging urge to get the matching integrated). I'd be remiss for not mentioning the build quality. If you like vaults, tanks, and monoliths, you'll like this. It kind of grows on you (you really have no choice since it dominates the equipment rack). Buttons feel very solid and responsive and the drawer opens and closes very quietly.
With all the trending to PC audio I've found respite in disc spinner heaven with the Marantz. CDs take a great leap up in performance but bad recordings can, and do, sound worse with this player so be prepared to sell off the bad ones. I've only tried 3 SACDs and the step up in presentation is an eye opener. There is a greater sense of everything as long as the recording is good.
Call me a heretic, ban me from the audiophile club. I'll happily take my ball and go home and just listen to the music from now on. I haven't forsaken PC audio but have yet to latch onto it as I feel that it's got some ways to go before everything settles down so spinning discs it is for me.
Ken Ishiwata gets it. Now I do.
All the best,
Nonoise
I'm keeping it.
It has that classic Marantz house sound without going retro. Simply put, it carries a lot of weight and gravitas yet still lets the details (more than I have been hearing, actually) shine through. Mellifluous and beguiling without the bloat or smear.
I burned it in by running it for 7 days straight. Out of the box it was quite a letdown but after 5 hours it started to reveal itself. At the 10 hr mark it made another leap up in resolution and continues to impress me. I've had a few CDPs and a couple of DACs and I've never had one fail to impress upon first hearing, only to get incrementally better. This Marantz will confound anyone who won't take the time to let it mature.
One word of advice: careful cable matching is paramount with this, more so than any other device I've had. I used to use and love Mapleshade Ribbon ICs and when first hooked up, I had unbelievable mids and bass. It didn't take long to realize I had too much, at the expense of detail, micro dynamics, and nuance. Nothing I had on hand seemed to work so I settled on a pair of Darwin Silver ICs and everything came into focus beautifully. This pairing of SACD player and ICs are just about the perfect match, for me. Coherence is the best way to describe it. That, and serendipity.
I think Marantz has a hit on its hands and I'm seriously considering going deeper into debt with the matching integrated and calling it quits for many a year to come. As much as I like detail, nuance, subtle shading, and texture, I also love (and have missed without realizing it) the Marantz take on musicality: slightly warm, engaging, and comforting. Just a rich and full presentation that I can, and do, listen to for hours at a stretch.
The soundstage seems bigger and deeper. It's like I got a bigger amp or somehow grew another driver on my speakers. Intelligibility is greatly increased and now it's much easier to follow lyrics (which has always been a problem for me). What really gets me is how much more bottom end info I can follow. It used to be just a kind of noise, suggesting something going on down there but now it's just as defined as the rest of the spectrum.
Soundstage seems wider now, all the time, with proper height and weight. It's all upsides so far (except for that nagging urge to get the matching integrated). I'd be remiss for not mentioning the build quality. If you like vaults, tanks, and monoliths, you'll like this. It kind of grows on you (you really have no choice since it dominates the equipment rack). Buttons feel very solid and responsive and the drawer opens and closes very quietly.
With all the trending to PC audio I've found respite in disc spinner heaven with the Marantz. CDs take a great leap up in performance but bad recordings can, and do, sound worse with this player so be prepared to sell off the bad ones. I've only tried 3 SACDs and the step up in presentation is an eye opener. There is a greater sense of everything as long as the recording is good.
Call me a heretic, ban me from the audiophile club. I'll happily take my ball and go home and just listen to the music from now on. I haven't forsaken PC audio but have yet to latch onto it as I feel that it's got some ways to go before everything settles down so spinning discs it is for me.
Ken Ishiwata gets it. Now I do.
All the best,
Nonoise