Marantz 5400 CD player

therockman

I would really like some opinions on this CD player because it is one that I am seriously considering buying. I really need a stand alone CD player, and this model fits my price range.


Rocky

F1nut

Rocky,

I don't know about that Marantz, but thought you might want to look at this,

http://www.upscaleaudio.com Click on "AH! Njoe Tjoeb 4000."

It's a modded out Marantz and with the upsample board it's suppose to be a killer CD player.

F1

shack

I wasn't aware this player was available in the US. There are several very good single disc players in the $500-$600 (MSRP) range from NAD, Cambridge Audio, Arcam, Rotel and Music Hall. Steveinaz recently picked up a CEC CD3300 that he really likes. GOOD reasonably priced CD only players are becoming harder and harder to find. A couple of decent changers that can be had for less than $300 are the Denon DCM380 and the Sony CA70ES. Both are nice sounding changers. I have had very little experience with Marantz CD players and what I know was prior to them being bought by the group that owns Denon. What I've heard has been less than favorable on their CD and SACD players in terms of SQ and reliability. This new CD5400 may be a new direction for Marantz and it may be very good. BTW what is the price range you are looking at?

therockman

Thanks you guys. The exact price range is about $400 to $500, with just maybe a little slack if I fall in love with something that cost $550, but that would have to be my limit. And yes, I am looking for a decent CD only player, no combo player for this component.


Rocky

gacole2000

Rocky,

FYI. Did you see this? maybe this would work for you.

Good luck- Greg

http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17666

therockman

Thank you very much for the link to that thread. This just might be the kind of player that I am looking for, and I will definately look into it.

Thanks again,
Rocky

gacole2000

That's what it's all about. Happy to help!

Greg:)

pjdami

Hi Rocky.

I haven't heard that particular Marantz cdp but got a email yesterday about a great price on it and a nice review from What HiFi:

http://www.amusicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?sku=AMARACD5400

I couldn't find any information about the DAC besides it being a 1 bit DAC.

In your price range, the new Cambridge Audio cd players look really nice too:

http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/540c_cd.html

This cd player has 24 bit / 192 khz DACs.

Yes, that is my Rotel for sale in the flea market. It has 18 bit / 96 khz DACs.

All this DAC stuff is pretty confusing. I wonder if its just a spec or an audible difference there? In other words the only way to really tell is to listen to them (which is what ultimately matters anyways). I thought more bits were "better" but the Marantz has only a 1 bit

Ah well, the last spec comparison here, my Rotel weighs 11.3 lbs and the Marantz weighs 8.1 lbs. More weight = better build + construction?? I know, really makes one wonder. Hard to tell without an in home demo. If you are seriously considering purchasing it and are willing to pay for shipping I can ship the Rotel to you so that you can compare it to the Marantz. In my experience, its really the only way to tell for sure.

therockman

As you said, an in home demo is really the only way to tell if I like a particular player, but I was reading about the Rotels (the absolute sound magazine) and I have read that they have a "clinical" and "edgey" sound, that I am not sure if I want in my CD playback. I like "detailed" but not clinical, and I like "spaceiousness" but not "edgey." There were a couple of other adjectives that the reviewer used that did not suit my likes. But thanks for the offer.


Rocky

danger boy

Rocky,

I have the Marantz 5 disc carousel player.. it's the 4300 i think. while it's nothing special exactly. it appears to be well built. and this is my first carousel player. i haven't had any problems with it.. had it for about a year now.

like everyone is talking about DAC this and DAC that. I don't use the DAC's in the Marantz. I use an external tube DAC and is sounds much better than the DAC's in the player or in my receiver.

just thought i'd pass along the tid bit of info in case you were concerned about DAC's and sound quality.

therockman

Thanks Danger Boy for that info. This purchase of mine is going to take at least a month or more for me to settle on a model, but I am sure that I will read more about DACs. As far as Marantz, I have heard such good remarks regarding their build quality, that I might be leaning in that direction, though nothing is absolute right now.


Rocky

setzer808

I know its an older player, but my recently acquired Marantz CD40 has nice build quality and sounds far better than any other CD player I've used. Went to a local Marantz dealer this weekend and was most impressed with the newer stuff.