HELP: how to compensate too laid-back source

For 100.00 you can get an Audioquest Opal 1M on here. You can spend 500.00 on Interconnects and do worse. You can do better for 500 also but point is for 100.00 they are a fab bang for your buck.

My speakers were a tad laid back. I thought I needed to buy new speakers. Instead, I changed cables and the dynamic envelope was hugely improved.
Definitely your I/C is your weakest link. Since you already have AZ Satori, why not go for AZ interconnect? You will be pleasantly surprised.

Since Philips builds Marantz, some of the things that i've found to work well on my SACD 1000 may also apply to your unit.

With that in mind, you might want to try a Chris VH "flavour 2" power cord and dig up a set of Magnan III interconnects ( or something similar ). This really seemed to open the top end up while retaining all of the warmth and midrange liquidity that the machine was capable of producing. I'm sure that there are other combo's that will do something similar, but that is what i had handy and obtained good results with. If buying used, both of these would set you back under $150. What type of footer you use will depend on the type of rack the equipment is resting on. Sean
>

i have the sa8260 in a all solid state system.

you might want to give it 3-4 weeks to break in (leave it on all the time) and have it on a very stable platform.

btw, you cant make a comparsion with your interconnects......dont get me wrong, i use monster 2.4s with my alon II's ( it is their only decent cable), but you dont know what you are missing with those PIS interconnects.

as far as interconnects i have had very good results with wireworld eclipse 5(unbalanced) between the 8260 and my audio research ls-12 and xlo signiture II's( seconds from fatwyre) running balanced to pse studio v mono blocks.

both are pretty amazing cables and are synergistic in my system in that combination. the xlo is the most neutral cable i have heard to date with incredible bottom end-imaging and grain free. the wireworld eclispe 5 does amazing things in the midrange and plummets the depths of bass. again that is MY system and my taste....

i have tried different cardas models (from golden cross to neural reference) and wasnt a good fit, differnt taras, transparent ( very cohearent cable but too rolled off), and coincident, harmonic,zen...etc looking for sonic nirvana..

if you want to run all the same kind....i would have to reccomend the wireworld eclipse V...it is revealing, detailed, but without being bright.

hope that helps !!!

mike

Just don't get me wrong, I didn't intend to save on interconnects! :) I haven't yet chose which ones I need (I asked this question about my recent NAD, and as a result I sold the NAD, but didn't get the ICs :). I was thinking about AZ Matrix Ref mkII, but with Marantz I guess they are way too warm. My purpose now is to find IC that can open mid- and top-end without being bright or grain, and retain the beautiful midrange and amazing bass (never thought my Revels M20 can do THAT bass).
Just curious, how Nordost Blue Heaven would be there?