Marantz SA-8001, Marantz SA-15S1 or Marantz DV-9600?

VXR8 · February 2008

G'day all,

I'm looking only at Marantz for my next CDP and obviously want to purchase this with SACD compatibility. As a dedicated CDP, is the new SA-8001 up to the same standard as the Reference Series SA-15S1? The SA-15S1 is still a few hundred dollars more and I am wondering if it still supersedes the newer SA-8001 with quality inclusions?

My other option would be to purchase a DV-9600, which would give me the option of DVD-A as well, plus multichannel SACD. Is the DV-9600 musically as good as either of the other 2 units listed above? I know the picture quality on the DV-9600 is astounding, that aside I am looking at quality of the audio and if it was, this would probably be the best option.

I can purchase a SA-15S1 for about $1450 AUD ($1330 USD), the SA-8001 for approximately $1150 AUD ($1055 USD) or the DV-9600 for $1382 AUD ($1270 USD) all BNIB. Any hints and tips would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

m00npie · February 2008

VXR8 wrote: »

G'day all,

I'm looking only at Marantz for my next CDP and obviously want to purchase this with SACD compatibility. As a dedicated CDP, is the new SA-8001 up to the same standard as the Reference Series SA-15S1? The SA-15S1 is still a few hundred dollars more and I am wondering if it still supersedes the newer SA-8001 with quality inclusions?

My other option would be to purchase a DV-9600, which would give me the option of DVD-A as well, plus multichannel SACD. Is the DV-9600 musically as good as either of the other 2 units listed above? I know the picture quality on the DV-9600 is astounding, that aside I am looking at quality of the audio and if it was, this would probably be the best option.

I can purchase a SA-15S1 for about $1450 AUD ($1330 USD), the SA-8001 for approximately $1150 AUD ($1055 USD) or the DV-9600 for $1382 AUD ($1270 USD) all BNIB. Any hints and tips would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

I currently have the DV-7600 on my HT rig and the SA-15S on my 2-channel. In comparing both players on my 2-channel setup, the SA-15S is better than the 7600 period. I'm not sure how much better the DV-9600 is as compared to the DV-7600. I have no experience with the SA-8001

I demoted the 7600 to a transport. It feeds an external DAC in the HT rig. I like both players but I will say the DV-7600 is a little fussy when it comes to less than pristine CDs. In other words, minor scuffs will make some CDs not playable.

As for the VQ on the 7600, I never bothered since I have other sources for that.

AndyGwis · February 2008

I have a SA-8260. It sounds really great to my ears and recently equaled / bested a couple players I thought would beat it.

From reviews I've read, the SA-8001 has better reliability, better/tighter bass, and is an all around better product than the 8260.

If you're on a budget, I think the SA-8001 would be a great choice for 2-channel.

venomclan · February 2008

Why only Marantz? Just curious.
I liked my last Marantz cdp (cd5400), but it did have a louder transport than my cheap Tosh dvd player.
Venom

AndyGwis · February 2008

Maybe as an Aussie, he has access to Marantz and not many other brands.

VXR8 · February 2008

Thanks all for your replies.

I am leaning more towards the SA-15S1 or the SA-8001, so really need to know which is the better of the 2. Although the SA-15S1 is an older model, as it is part of Marantz's reference series of players, you would tend to believe it is the better of the 2 players??

Also reading reviews Andy, the SA-8001 has incorporated some of the learnings from the reference series, so maybe the SA-8001 is the better option. Venom, as for why Marantz only, I can get these models at a hugely reduced price and I like the Marantz sound - it will also match my SR-8001 receiver.

As Andy states, we certainly don't get the variety that you do in the USA, but I from these forums did purchase an Oppo DV-980H from the Oppo website, after reading the reviews and comments mentioned here in these forums. The PQ is amazing, but I also compared the upscaling qualities of the Oppo and the upscaling qualities of the PS3 to 1080i and thought the PS3 was better (same Eagles DVD compared).

I am sure after reading some of F1's comments in other threads, as good as the DV-980H is for the price, I feel I am lacking in sound quality not having a dedicated 2 channel SACD player of the standard of the mid to high end that Marantz offers.

Anyway, thanks again for your contribution and if you want to add more, please feel free to do so.

Marantz SA-8001, Marantz SA-15S1 or Marantz DV-9600?

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