I love this Marantz!

[blackraven]

I would love to have the top of the line Marantz reference CD/SACD player.

MUSICDIRECT - MARANTZ - SA-7 REFERENCE SACD - CD PLAYER

[Jack in Wilmington]

I've been looking at the Marantz PM-15S1. Are their integrateds as good as the other reference pieces?

[frenchmon]

I've been looking at the Marantz PM-15S1. Are their integrateds as good as the other reference pieces?

Yes...But keep in mind, Marantz Reference is warm and can pass for tubes in the right system. Sorta like Bel Canto. And in my opinion the Marantz Reference is excellent for Acoustic and Electric Jazz and most acoustic music as well as being outstanding with classical. While some do, but most die hard hard rock/metal fans stay away from Marantz are not happy and satisfied with its warm musicality. That group tends to go for something like fast race cars like a powerful fast Krell or Jeff Roland.

Jack are you looking to replace your tubes?

[Jack in Wilmington]

Yes...But keep in mind, Marantz Reference is warm and can pass for tubes in the right system. Sorta like Bel Canto. And in my opinion the Marantz Reference is excellent for Acoustic and Electric Jazz and most acoustic music as well as being outstanding with classical. While some do, but most die hard hard rock/metal fans stay away from Marantz are not happy and satisfied with its warm musicality. That group tends to go for something like fast race cars like a powerful fast Krell or Jeff Roland.

Jack are you looking to replace your tubes?

Not to replace so much as to supplement. Sometimes when I'm in a rock mood, I may not be getting all the emotion that I was looking for from my tubes. Maybe the Krell is more what I'm looking for, or something like that.

[frenchmon]

Not to replace so much as to supplement. Sometimes when I'm in a rock mood, I may not be getting all the emotion that I was looking for from my tubes. Maybe the Krell is more what I'm looking for, or something like that.

Have you rolled your tubes? And also keep in mind, there are many romantic speakers. Example...Peabody and I have a Vanessa Williams CD that we like to listen to as we listen to different speakers. She has this voice that is really warm as in making you feel good in side...make you have that look on your face as you get all up in the smoothness of the sound..some times that voice brings goose bump...voices like Shirley Horn, Chaka, Roberta Flack and a few others. IF the speaker does not move me with those voices I automatically know its not for me. If it does, I listen for other parts of the sound, but it begins with the voices for me.

Yesterday, while listening to the Canton Vento 809 DC at $5000.00 a pair...they where all that and a bag of chips. Then we listened to Vanessa Williams and I was moved. I knew that speaker was romantic. But then we listened to the Canton Ergo 902 DC and I was just like wow! Absolutely moved and stired up inside. Even Peabody thought they where Romantic...and that was through a Marantz AV 7005 Pre/processor and driven with a Theta digital 7.1 power amp. My point???? Its more in the speakers than the amp or preamp.. I hate a sterile speaker.....but thats my opinion. Now tubes are romantic as well....tube rolling may give that to you as well.

[Jack in Wilmington]

Have you rolled your tubes? And also keep in mind, there are many romantic speakers. Example...Peabody and I have a Vanessa Williams CD that we like to listen to as we listen to different speakers. She has this voice that is really warm as in making you feel good in side...make you have that look on your face as you get all up in the smoothness of the sound..some times that voice brings goose bump...voices like Shirley Horn, Chaka, Roberta Flack and a few others. IF the speaker does not move me with those voices I automatically know its not for me. If it does, I listen for other parts of the sound, but it begins with the voices for me.

Yesterday, while listening to the Canton Vento 809 DC at $5000.00 a pair...they where all that and a bag of chips. Then we listened to Vanessa Williams and I was moved. I knew that speaker was romantic. But then we listened to the Canton Ergo 902 DC and I was just like wow! Absolutely moved and stired up inside. Even Peabody thought they where Romantic...and that was through a Marantz AV 7005 Pre/processor and driven with a Theta digital 7.1 power amp. My point???? Its more in the speakers than the amp or preamp.. I hate a sterile speaker.....but thats my opinion. Now tubes are romantic as well....tube rolling may give that to you as well.

I did roll my output tubes to Gold Lion KT88. That gave me more bass, but not as well defined. I was going to try the KT120's but after some discussion with some of the other AR members, I decided against it.

As far as female voices go, I agree with you. That is the first test I give to any worthy speaker. My choices are Annie Haslam and Mary Fahl. If it gets those two right, it's passed the first test.

[Hyfi]

As far as female voices go, I agree with you. That is the first test I give to any worthy speaker. My choices are Annie Haslam and Mary Fahl. If it gets those two right, it's passed the first test.

Interesting choices. What Annie tracks in particular and Mary Fahl tracks?

Last night I decided to hand truck the Clearfields out and roll the Audience 82s back in. I also decided to leave the Counterpoint in play to drive the Danes.

Man, all the lacking bass has returned, but at the slight loss of the outrageous Mids of the Clearfields. But, the Dyns are an awesome speaker once you reconcile the sound change and re-appreciate what they do good.

I first spun several tracks from the Morglbl Groteskue disk...I was surely in a Bass mood. Next up I played track 3, LA Underground from Larry and Lee which has a slamming opening as well as a deep bass line that many speakers reproduce as mush.

I then played Markus Miller's live version of Mile's Tutu...awesome. Next up it was several tracks off of trick of the Tail which was really enjoyable.

I then wanted to hear some female vocals and put on Sarah Mclachlan - Afterglow. What a beautiful disk. The wife went to bed so I had to turn it down a bit. I switched the VAC to Passive and really enjoyed the overall sound combo.

[frenchmon]

I would love to have the top of the line Marantz reference CD/SACD player.

MUSICDIRECT - MARANTZ - SA-7 REFERENCE SACD - CD PLAYER

Yeah you and me both.

[Feanor]

I would love to have the top of the line Marantz reference CD/SACD player.

MUSICDIRECT - MARANTZ - SA-7 REFERENCE SACD - CD PLAYER

Me too, but I'd be pretty content with an SA8004 like JM's.

[Ajani]

Me too, but I'd be pretty content with an SA8004 like JM's.

JM's is the older model - SA8001... When I was considering buying my DAC1 back in the day, I had to fight the urge to get a SA8001 instead... Had I been more interested in SACD than computer based audio, then I would own the Marantz... I still have fond memories of my old CD5001...

[Feanor]

JM's is the older model - SA8001... When I was considering buying my DAC1 back in the day, I had to fight the urge to get a SA8001 instead... Had I been more interested in SACD than computer based audio, then I would own the Marantz... I still have fond memories of my old CD5001...

Right you are re. the 8001 vs. 8004.

I have a fair number of SACD and would buy more. I've proven that my old Sony CE775 doesn't reproduce the transparency that SACD can deliver.