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Marantz SA-15S2b, thoughts & opinions

Hey there everyone.
I'm on the fence on purchasing a new Marantz SA-15S2b SACD player and would like a little feedback. I'm not interested in PC, streaming or downloads so please keep the chatter on the SACD player :-)

I've heard the previous version just last week and was really impressed with it. That was with CDs only and CDs will be my primary source of music. After seeing the price of SACDs out there and the wide range of opinion on the sonics, I'll tread lightly if and when I buy any.

Any criticisms or raves are appreciated and please don't be put out if I don't respond to any or all responses as I just need opinions. Alternate suggestions need not apply since I really don't see myself buying another RB CDP. My tastes currently run to world jazz, vocals and acoustic, including small piece chamber music. My amp is a Burson integrated that mostly runs in Class A and my speakers are Tonian Labs TL-D1s with all cabling by Mapleshade and I listen in the nearfield. That should sum up all parameters and help narrow down any responses. And, I definitely will replace all fuses with HiFi Tuning ones or better which will improve sonics and allow me to hear further into recordings.

After talking to Marantz headquarters over in NJ and picking their brains, it appears this unit came out in June/July of 2011 and will be current for the next few years and there will be no discounts given at years end but I may have an authorized online dealer willing to negotiate a bit, but it's a long shot.

Thanks, in advance,
Nonoise
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tboooe's avatar
tboooe
1,009 posts
 
Nonoise, congrats! It's the best when you finally a component that just sounds right to your ears. It really is such a high. Enjoy your new rig and I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts when you get the integrated.
audiozen
831 posts
 
Nonoise, if your seriously considering going with a all in one integrated unit then you should seriously check out the
CODA CSIb built in Sacramento. I have owned CODA gear in the past. Very smooth refined sound with outstanding detail
and transparency. The CSIb peaks at 300 amperes from both channel's.
Thats the highest reserve output I have seen so far from an integrated. Puts out 330 watts into 8ohms and 660 watts into 4ohms. There is currently a used one for sale on Gon for $4300.00 in brand new mint condition. Only has 100 hours of use. Comes with full warranty.
nonoise's avatar
nonoise OP
10,832 posts
 
Tboooe, thanks for the pat on the back. I will get back to you after I've had it awhile.

Audiozen, thanks for the advice but the CODA is way out of my price range. I'm sure it sounds great and has all the output one can ask for but my room isn't that big and my speakers are 95db efficient and the Marantz I'm getting is just at the top of my price point (getting both at discount for being demos helped a lot).

If the Marantz comes anywhere near the performance (and from what I've learned, it does, and more) then I'll be one happy camper. Time will tell and I won't get it until the middle of next week so stay tuned for my next favorable outburst. :-)

All the best,
Nonoise
audiozen
831 posts
 
Nonoise..Since your now using the Darwin silver IC's that Andre holds in high regard, I'm considering jumping on the IC silver bandwagon. I'm undecided between Darwin and Cabledyne. Darwin uses a solid core circular wire through a hollow air tube and Cabledyne uses a solid core square wire that also uses an air tube called Hyflon MFA air tubing. Cabledyne uses a non-magnetic outer sheath made of Inconel chromium alloy which blocks out all magnetic interference. Darwin does not have a non-magnetic sheath. Both companies use cryogenic silver. Cabledyne prices are lower. Have you compared both brands?
nonoise's avatar
nonoise OP
10,832 posts
 
Audiozen, no I haven't had the pleasure of trying the Cabledyne ICs but I'm really taken by the Darwins.

They seem to follow similar recipes of thin, solid core, cryo'd silver with a mostly air dielectric. The similarity ends with the terminations: Darwin doing away with the bronze barrel part of the termination, just concentrating on the actual connector and Calbedyne uses what appears to be a silver plated, bronze barrel termination. You'd have to pay extra for the Xhadow terminations to do away with the bronze barrel which, I'm told, really degrades the sound no matter how it's plated (or so goes the theory behind Darwins formula and the option to use the Xhadow terminations).

As for the non magnetic sheath, I have encountered no problems that I can detect with any kind of interference. Also, capacitance is 11.70pf and Cabledyne is 20pf, which is supposed to mean something but all I know is the lower the number, the better.

I know this doesn't really help as each cable will sound different in every system but from what I've experienced, I like the Darwins.

All the best,
Nonoise
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