Marantz CD or SACD

machone

Hey guys. It's been an interesting year considering at this time last year I barely had a functioning stereo.

In one year I had my Hafler 500 and 110 upgraded by Musical Concepts, joined this forum and completely rebuilt/upgraded my SDA 1A's. Replaced aging cables and connectors with new (will still upgrade them in the future). I also added AC filtering and protection.

Happy with these changes I decided to add a new digital source using my laptop>Korg DSDAC100>using Starlight usb cables. I even added a Yaqin CD3 between the DAC and the Halfer 110 preamp.

I have listened to this digital source for a while and have changed my mind. I don't like it.
It's strange. Sometimes it sounds great really pulling me into the music but most of the time it does not impress.

The Yaqin smooths things but looses impact.
The Korg seems thin or maybe it is the combination of the laptop/cables/DAC.
The laptop makes too much fan noise (very irritating).

I decided to switch back my cheap Sony DVD player plugged directly into the preamp and the resulting sound is really good.

Maybe when I switched to the new digital source I imagined I was getting better SQ or maybe I am going crazy?

At this point I am willing to admit defeat, change course and select another source. Surely I can do better than a cheap Sony DVD player!

I have been reading that most people are happy with Marantz products. I hear them say they are detailed but warm. This interests me. I have been looking at the SA8005 or the CD6005. I could use them to spin discs and use its DAC with the laptop connected via USB (I could compare it to the Korg). By the way I don't own any SACDs as of today.

SA8005 or CD6005 or maybe Oppo?

What do you guys think? I could use the advice.

cnh

For the price the SA-8005 is a top performer. That's where I'd go.

YaQin tube buffers give varying results, they won't resolve all the original shortcomings of your DAC, and then there is the question of what TUBES are in the buffer, tube rolling will make a difference there as well. But your safest bet is the higher model Marantz. More will chime in.

heiney9

Have you considered a better stand alone dac? I don't see anything about the Korg that makes it particularly good at what it does. Typical, run of the mill pro hardware. You could do a lot better. Having all you music on/thru the computer at your finger tips is much easier than loading a single cd.

H9

voltz

If you pick up a SA8005 SACD you can use its DAC for you computer stuff, for now its my main DAC when I play files of my PC using JRiver media.

machone

Considered a different dac but would have to build a quiet computer to be happy. The convenience is nice with the computer.

voltz

gotta love what a PC can bring to the table. I use to burn my own greatest hit CD's and such but with the PC and a DAC yor got a ton of easy to make & play playlist... does beat flipping CD's in and out of a transport all the time.

just notice you said you don't have any SACD's...check out there prices as they will set you back some serious $$$ if you buy alot.

heiney9

machone wrote: »

Considered a different dac but would have to build a quiet computer to be happy. The convenience is nice with the computer.

No, you wouldn't. A good dac will do wonders if implemented correctly. But it's just a suggestion. You seem to already have made up your mind to go back to a stand alone cdp.

H9

deronb1

^^^^
This. I am using my Marantz NA 7004 as a dac with my nothing special Sony 5 disc SACD player as a transport. Big difference for the better. Low end is tighter and more pronounced. Overall, better presentation.

F1nut

Get the SA8005. Great player, which will cover all your needs. There are plenty of reasonably priced SACD's to be had with more coming out all the time.

As for the convenience of a PC verses a player......I don't get it, but then again, I'm old school and don't have the patience of a gnat.

Mikey081057

F1nut wrote: »

Get the SA8005. Great player, which will cover all your needs. There are plenty of reasonably priced SACD's to be had with more coming out all the time.

As for the convenience of a PC verses a player......I don't get it, but then again, I'm old school and don't have the patience of a gnat.

+1

[Deleted User]

I would go for DSkips "Marantz SA-14s1" and never look back.
If you want to use a PC for a while the iFi offerings look real interesting.
AFA DACs the Emotiva BigEgo is on sale for not a lot of scratch and
would certainly buy you some time to reach for something better
in the CD/SACD realm.

OTOH, some would say you are crazy not to go media server as
the should should always beat the spinning disk. Great threads
here on that.

Good luck

rpf65

Go with the 8005, even if you never plan on listening to an SACD. Starting with the power supply, almost everything is superior on the 8005. Just because the use the same DAC, doesn't mean the performance is similar.

gudnoyez

If your going to splurge for the SA8005 then spend the extra $800 for Skips SA14S1 you will be glad you did you will love using the DAC in that Marantz with your laptop that's all you will need best way to get your digital fix in, I use laptops hooked up to my Oppo 105D and my Marantz 15s2b and that's as far as I want to venture into the digital part of this hobby.

I have to say SACDs sound fantastic and there are bargains out there on them I now own around 30 SACDS. I have bought them on the forum, Ebay, elusive disc, Best Buy, and other places. I would consider Skips Marantz it's because of him I own my 15s2b he talked me into it over the SA8005 and I cannot thank him enough for helping me with that decision.

[Deleted User]

^^^^
good advice.

If you want to stay in the SA8005 range and are looking for an alternative:
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamcds2000bl/yamaha-cd-s2000-stereo-sacd/cd-player-black/1.html
Smooth delivery, good detail and deep bass.

The S2100 has a built in DAC. They somehow got this player
to have that Yamaha sound from days gone by. It might be
a tad more forgiving to badly mastered CDs.

oh, @halo has a good write-up on A4L if you think you might go that way.

machone

"If your going to splurge for the SA8005 then spend the extra $800 for Skips SA14S1."

I see the SA14S1 at double the SA8005 list price of $1,200 but that's online and not visiting a dealer.

It does seem like the SA8005 has all the features that I would need.

Thanks for everybody's input.

slbenz

Having done a similar route as you. PC with DAC and using a Yaqin tube buffer vs. a Marantz stand alone SACD player, I would go with the stand alone. Sounds better than the PC combo. Though using the PC was convenient, there was a sacrifice in audio performance vs. my Marantz SACD player. I am currently still using my Marantz DV-9600 to this day and it provides that warm sound with great detail and life-like reproduction to two-channel recordings. Using the SACD discs, the sound is very realistic and at times, almost eerie, in a good way.

gudnoyez

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/170500/skips-get-it-gone-sale#latest

This 14sa1 is pretty much a demo unit for $800 more it would be the last stand alone you will ever need.

voltz

I normally play either SACD's or vinyl...but I been working on a Laptop running JRiver full of FLAC's and so far the SA8005 is my DAC when using the laptop.

just got a iFi USB Power & iFi Micro iDSD DAC from Skip and the Rack to hold them. So far since Thanksgiving I been on Vacation and playing to much to compare the 2 DACS but so far I'm liking the iFi just fine for a even more portable setup that will be easy to transport. It won't replace the SA8005 but that not why I got it.

Upstatemax

I'm a big fan of the functionality of the Oppo units and their customer service.

They put a lot of thought into them and build a quality product.

I also like the Blu-Ray audio playback ability. I've listened to a few BR Audio albums and they sound great.

machone

I assume that the dac in the SA8005 has its own internal power supply. There should be no need for the 5 volt circuit in the usb cable to the computer unless there is a handshake required for everything to work. It would be nice if there was no power connection between the computer and the SA8005. Does anybody know the answer to this?

machone

This is from Marantz and answers part of my question.

"The USB-B port also features our unique ground isolator circuit design that prevents PC-originated ground plane noise transfer."

machone

I mentioned at the beginning of this thread that I would be upgrading cables at some time in the future.
My current interconnects are Interlink Reference II cables from the 80's.
How do these compare to today's cables?

F1nut

That would depend on who you ask and what other cables you compare them to. Are there better? You bet!

tonyb

machone wrote: »

I mentioned at the beginning of this thread that I would be upgrading cables at some time in the future.
My current interconnects are Interlink Reference II cables from the 80's.
How do these compare to today's cables?

How do vintage monster cables compare to todays cables ?? Oh dear....hardly a comparison at all if you ask me.

Seems like your having trouble finding synergy in your digital. Don't write off using a USB cable either as most seem to like it better over other digital connections.

What do you need as far as digital goes ? DSD capabilities....USB connections, remote ?
How many inputs ?

You can go with a cdp that has digital inputs to try and kill 2 birds with one stone, but imho that only comes in the way of the higher end cdp's for success.

Yes, cables do matter, dump the Monster stuff and look up some Mit shotgun S3's, definitely not thin sounding by any stretch. If your using Monster speaker cables as well, I'd dump those in a heartbeat too. Many other brands that will best what you have also for cheaper than MIT.

machone

No need to convince me that cables matter.

I plan to move ahead with the Marantz SA-8005 in the next few days and I have Starlight 7s to connect my laptop to the usb on the Marantz.

It's the interconnect between the Marantz and the pre-amp and the interconnect between the pre-amp and the amp that I want to upgrade.

Speaker cables are 10 ga Beldin 5000 and I will deal with them later.

I would hope to exceed the performance of the Interlink Reference II without breaking the bank. Best bang for the buck.

F1nut

MIT Shotgun S3's can be had for less than $300.00 new, even less used.

machone

Thanks F1. I was hoping for something about half that cost.

Upstatemax

machone wrote: »

Thanks F1. I was hoping for something about half that cost.

I've been very happy with Signal Cable interconnects:

http://signalcable.com/analog_interconnects.html

I have the Analog II's and I've tested the silvers. Love them both.

If you mention that you're a Club Polk member when you check out, you get a discount refunded. The owner, Frank, is a really good guy.

Nightfall

machone wrote: »

Thanks F1. I was hoping for something about half that cost.

This is pretty close to half...

http://mitcables-clearance.com/collections/weekly-special/products/shotgun-s3-interconnect-1m-1

tonyb

So you need 2 sets of interconnects ? Both for around 150 bucks or for each set ?

motorhead43026

What Upstatemax suggested, also check out Audio Art Cables IC-3 interconnects.
Both very acceptable budget cables. I have used both and prefer the Audio Art.


http://www.audioartcable.com/