Marantz SA-1 SACD player....worth it ?

I think if Krell, Theta and the like bring their first generation SACD players to market they are more likely to be priced much closer to the Accuphase than anything else. It may be quite a while before we have real selection among "affordable" SACD players.

I was chatting with the folks at Resolution Audio regarding mods for my Quantum and asked where they were at with SACD. I was told they "just want to bring a product to market" but don't feel this is around the corner due to the format war. Nor can they afford to play at this point. This must be a frustrating time for other companies with similar niches in the audio world. My guess is that Krell, Theta, etc. will be there first, and soon, but with very expensive players. If nothing else but to begin positioning themselves for marketing purposes. Will we then see the same development of more affordable players, coming close to the big boys at various fractions of their price, as was the case with the CD format? If so, when? Will improvements come fast and furiously once everyone jumps into the water, eclipsing the performance of the super expensive first generation players? My opinion is that due to their performance and price points, the Sony products are the sensible choice in the iterim. Even so, I'm still waiting. Just not enough out there to get me excited enough to take the plunge.

i've owned the marantz sa-1 since last june and i've loved it. it takes a long time to break in, about 400 hours, and i think you also learn to listen in a different way. i use a linn cd-12 for my 16/44 so cd performance is not important to me but it's pretty good. the sa-1 is in league with my vinyl set-up for performance although with 45 rpm vinyl my aesthitix io betters sacd slightly. i've not compared the sa-1 side by side with the sony but those that have seem to prefer the marantz. i agree with other posters that the sony is a better buy; but the best is never cheap.

i would add that a brief demo of this unit would probably be a waste of your time. i generally don't judge any equipment thru brief demos but need to have quality time in my own system for meaningful judgments. this goes doubly with this unit.

is it the best? i don't know. all i know is i am very happy with it.

hope this helps

mike lavigne

Just recently read a review between the 2 mentioned and both persons agreed there was know difference except of coarse the cost.

I heard the Marantz under the most desirable circumstances possible, and was not any more impressed by it than the 9000ES, in fact I was dissapointed. I expected more for such a huge price difference. Of course an A-B test might prove otherwise, but that is difficult to do. Either way, the difference will not be that dramatic. Albert is on the money!

Read the review of this unit in the latest issue of Ultimate Audio which pulls no punches.