Marantz CDP's

smglbrth

I "was" going to upgrade my SDA 2A crossovers but now my NAD C542 is starting to really give me fits. It took me 20 minutes today to get it to play anything. About the only thing I didn't do was hit it with a hammer.

So..., a new CDP is going to take major priority at this point.

I've been researching CDP's in my price range and my search always kept going back to the Marantz line. I've looked at the NAD line since I like the way it sounds but that's when it works. After a year of owning it I started to have little issues but kept it going all these years. In short NAD is out.

The question - Looking at the CD6004, 5005 & 6005 I'm not sure which would be better as sound quality goes. I know everything is subjective, however. I don't use usb anything, it would be mainly used as a CDP, at least for the foreseeable future. My main question, is the build quality of the 6005 worth the extra cost over the other two? Like I said, I don't care for the usb port or the digital inputs but I do want better internals (who doesn't right?). I'll probably get a refurbished unit.

Has anyone here owned possibly all three to give me any insights? Any info would be greatly appreciated!

nooshinjohn

If I may recommend this...
http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649167690-nad-m5-universal-player-excellent-and-upgraded-box-remote/

motorhead43026

I own a CD6005 and I have been very please with the sound quality. Is it any better that the other two mentioned, I doubt much if any. If you are on a budget it is a good machine too consider.

Conradicles

DSkip wrote: »

Id seriously consider the streaming option before dropping money on a dedicated cdp.

You sir don't get it.

gudnoyez

Having a large collection of CD's a cdp player is necessary got a Marantz CD 5003, and a Marantz CD 5004 great bang for the buck players, you will be happy with any of those you mentioned one of these days I will get the Marantz SACD player. As far as streaming also a good Idea, but for the price of those Marantz players your talking about a good investment.

smglbrth

This place can be funny at times...

A plain example when comparing the 5005 & 6005. Some websites say the 5005 has the same DAC as the 6005, other don't. Does it matter? Maybe, maybe not. Some also mention the better power supply/capacitors for the 6005. Are they the same for the 5005? Does it matter? Maybe, maybe not. I hate it when there's conflicting information on various components on the web. I mean, someone has to be wrong, right?

tonyb

If your going to stick with spinning discs, get the best disc spinner you can afford. If the 6005 is in your budget, grab it. Yes, it makes a difference.

gurot1

I have the 6004 and it has worked great for me. I was suffering from upgraditis when I got it to replace my older yamaha that was at least fifteen years old and skipping.
So far it has played everything I have thrown at it including burnt cd's. I cant comment on the sound quality because I don't really have an ear for what is really good, just can tell if something is sounding junky. I found the yamaha a little 'warmer' sounding than the marantz.
I got the marantz as B stock from gibbyelectronics in Ontario. It is a nice looking piece and the power cable is much thicker than any of my other components.

Emlyn

If you look on the Marantz site you can best see the differences between the CD5005 and CD6005. It seems that elsewhere the reporting of differences is a bit overblown. The CD6005 has a front panel USB port that is iPhone compabile. The CD5005 has pitch control which allows a user to vary the speed of playback on a CD or PCM file, which is supposed to be something a musician may want to have. Except for those things the two are the same. Both have a discrete headphone amp section and use the same DAC. If buying one for CD playback only I'd go with the CD5005.

[Deleted User]

I have a old NAD 5440 that isn't doing anything. If you want something to tide you over for a while PM me.

smglbrth

Maybe someone should tell Marantz to update their website. It says the 5005 has the same DAC as the 6005 but in the specifications section it says a different DAC, duh...

Thanks for the offer red - Hopefully the next time it will work with little effort or it might stop altogether, who knows at this point. I don't get a ton of time to listen to music but when I do all bets are off. Playing with a CDP for some of that time irritates the s**t out of me...

Faustin

I have the CD5004 and have been quite pleased with it. I paid around $300 new last year. If you are looking for a "basic" cd player, it may be worth a look.

Emlyn

smglbrth wrote: »

Maybe someone should tell Marantz to update their website. It says the 5005 has the same DAC as the 6005 but in the specifications section it says a different DAC, duh....

Yes, looks like that's a typo that carried over from the spec sheet for the CD5004 which used the CS4392 DAC. The owner's manual also says the CD5005 uses the newer CS4398 DAC, which is also used in the SA8005 model and the CD6005, and Marantz's description of the CD5005 says it uses the slightly newer DAC chip. The CS4398 DAC has been around since 2003 though. It has a slightly higher dynamic range and lower distortion level than the CS4392 and better capabilities with high resolution audio, but probably not enough for most users to tell the difference in real world use with a CD player.

steveinaz

DSkip wrote: »

Id seriously consider the streaming option before dropping money on a dedicated cdp.

Couldn't agree more for many reasons: 1)Many newer BluRay players support streaming/HDD attachment. 2)You could always stick with spinning the disc if you want to. 3)There's a smoothness to the music that comes from being sourced via hard drive that I've never been able to match with a CDP. 4)Having the swiss army knife universal playback of the right BR player can kill alot of birds with 1 stone.

I know you "think" you'll never computerize your music...I did to...but once you experience the convenience of your entire library at the click of a remote, it's pretty hard to ignore.

Think about it....

steveinaz

Rick, your TEAC looks suprisingly similar to a C.E.C. CD-3300 I have in storage.

voltz

for anyone who is set on getting a CDP I say Rick's Teac is the WTG!

But Steve & Skip make a lot of sense for a lot of people!

grimmace19

I'm on my second marantz player. The first was an 8260, then I sold it to get a BDP / Combo and am on the 7006. Great player, does SACD, budget friendly. I will say however that there is a VERY noticeable difference when feeding the signal into my hegel dac vs just straight to pre. The player has been very reliable for about 3 years now, plays anything I put into it. The back plate is also very versatile with 7.1 analog out.

F1nut

Rick, can you comment on the reported 2-3 second pause or gap between tracks on SACD playback?

smglbrth

The Teac looks like a sweet machine. I like nice and simple as well. I don't have any SACD's however, and never got into that format.

Steve - Wow, you still have that C.E.C.? I remember when you purchased that 'cause I was looking at them too when I bought the NAD. Better keep it in storage and pull it out every once in a while. Who knows, it might be worth something someday!

F1nut

Thanks Rick, I look forward to your report.

F1nut

Hmmm....I wonder why it was designed that way?

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it....

LOL

Thanks for checking it out.

gudnoyez

Hey Rick I had considered one of these Teacs what about the tray not opening up very far is that a non issue, those two issues on Amazon reviews that I read lead me to wait and get a Marantz SACD player do you consider these non issues? It looks like a very nice player for sure their new turntable looks like a nice one also.

F1nut

I don't recall ever having a disc player where the disc was 100% exposed when the tray was open. Non-factor, IMO.

Nightfall

Is the gap between tracks there on live discs or something like Dark Side of the Moon where tracks are supposed to play seamlessly?

voltz

If I had known about the Teac I would have bought it over the Marantz SA8005 because of the $$ difference, but having bought & used the Marantz a lot I would have to say that I love it and its DAC and I am glad I did get one!

erniejade

Do you have dark side of the moon? That would be a good test.

steveinaz

smglbrth wrote: »

Steve - Wow, you still have that C.E.C.? I remember when you purchased that 'cause I was looking at them too when I bought the NAD. Better keep it in storage and pull it out every once in a while. Who knows, it might be worth something someday!

Yessir, she's too pretty to sell, and the AES/EBU dig/analog OUTs are a rarity for a CD player.

tonyb

Ya know Steve, you should dust off that puppy and put it back in the system for a week or so. I used to do that with my cdp just to gage how the digital side was progressing.....or not progressing.

steveinaz

tonyb wrote: »

Ya know Steve, you should dust off that puppy and put it back in the system for a week or so. I used to do that with my cdp just to gage how the digital side was progressing.....or not progressing.

I have in the past, just love that player but digital seems to have the slightest of edge in smoothness; not to mention a serious convenience factor. Just can't bring myself to sell it. It's literally in "like new" condition. This player really shines when the XLR dig out is used with a DAC that has a XLR dig input. Later version Benchmark DACs dropped the XLR dig input.