Arcam, Cambridge Audio or Sony: Most musical??

Sunnyjim, I just came back from listening to a Marantz SA-15S (just minutes ago) and was sorely tempted to lay down the cash for it. It was a demo and had the champagne finish (which you can't find anywhere new) and had they come down to match some online demo prices, I would have bought it.

It is a very musical player and lacked none of the detail I look for. I made sure to bring my own CDs and listened for close to an hour and despite having to listen through their equipment, after a while it became apparent, to me, that this unit is what I want.

Some say that the Marantz lacks detail or smooths things over but I beg to differ. At most, it gives the music a burnished imaged, albeit slight, and much less the effect of a tube device. It's just not solid state sounding and I could listen to it all day long. It's that it sounds like music would, to my ears, especially female vocals (sublime).

I'm sorely tempted to drive back over the hill and just get it but I've learned to wait and see if I can get a better price, which I can if I want to buy it online but it would be in black and I wouldn't get to see if there are any marks on it while this one is pristine.

Oh, the agony.

Good luck in your search,
Nonoise

How far apart are you on price? If you add shipping costs, are you in the vicinity of the price you would be paying locally?

I'm curious about why you wouldn't consider the Oppo 105.

Audiojan, not to hijack this thread more than I have but if your question is to me, I can get a demo for $1500 with free shipping and the one I like for $1700, locally. I have to admit that the champagne finish is to die for but I could easily live with the black one.

In fact, I may just wait until the next Black Friday to see what I can get one for brand new. Now that I know what it sounds like and that I really like it, the trick is to not be my usual impulsive self. It's eating at me.

And if the other question re: OPPO 105 is directed at me as well, my TEAC PD-H600 sounds better than my OPPO 103. Better enough to not even be close, to my ears. I know the 105 is supposed to be the end all to end all, but I really don't see it competing with the Marantz but I could be wrong.

All the best,
Nonoise

Overall, I agree with Sandstone. I have an Arcam 33 myself. I don't use it as my main player, but I like it very much. Its one of those CD players that you can listen to all day. As far as the Ayre goes, I think its much better than the Arcam. But that doesn't mean you will like it better. Thats a personal choice that you have to make based on your taste in equipment. They sound very different from each other.

Also, I don't really want to tell you what to do, but I would recommend that you don't rely so much on equipment reviews. Its very easy to get caught up in them. I know its a lot more work, but you will get far better results if you make the decision and not the magazine. Eventually you'll find that you don't really need them at all.