I love this Marantz!

[poppachubby]

frenchie, 02audionoob and I listened to those units with the KI-SACD Pearl at AKFest. They were using Paradigm speakers and it was my vote for best in show. I have never forgotten the way that system impacted me, and all listening after that point had to meet the new gold standard. Thanks to that encounter, I now have a system which moves me everytime I listen to it.

Compared to what was at the show that day, I think it was considered pedestrian to vote for Marantz/Paradigm but guess what? It owned!! They were playing a slow blues rock number and the immediacy/emotion was so intense. I was sitting in front of 02 and turned around at one point, without talking we shot each other the same confirmed look. "Yep, this is the real deal".

[Ajani]

frenchie, 02audionoob and I listened to those units with the KI-SACD Pearl at AKFest. They were using Paradigm speakers and it was my vote for best in show. I have never forgotten the way that system impacted me, and all listening after that point had to meet the new gold standard. Thanks to that encounter, I now have a system which moves me everytime I listen to it.

Compared to what was at the show that day, I think it was considered pedestrian to vote for Marantz/Paradigm but guess what? It owned!! They were playing a slow blues rock number and the immediacy/emotion was so intense. I was sitting in front of 02 and turned around at one point, without talking we shot each other the same confirmed look. "Yep, this is the real deal".

I loved that show right up... Always nice too see a really positive experience with mainstream audio brands... Not that there's anything wrong with boutique gear, but I do think there is a certain amount of snobbishness that prevents many audiophiles from even considering anything remotely popular...

[frenchmon]

frenchie, 02audionoob and I listened to those units with the KI-SACD Pearl at AKFest. They were using Paradigm speakers and it was my vote for best in show. I have never forgotten the way that system impacted me, and all listening after that point had to meet the new gold standard. Thanks to that encounter, I now have a system which moves me everytime I listen to it.

Compared to what was at the show that day, I think it was considered pedestrian to vote for Marantz/Paradigm but guess what? It owned!! They were playing a slow blues rock number and the immediacy/emotion was so intense. I was sitting in front of 02 and turned around at one point, without talking we shot each other the same confirmed look. "Yep, this is the real deal".

PappaC....that is what I am talking about.. perfect synergy!
I have heard both Marantz Reference and Paradigm Speakers, but not together... but I know the sound Characteristics of both. The warm full bodied sound of Marantz combined with Paradigms Signatures Richness and luxuriousness of the mid section and liveliness of the upper ranges is to my ears all ways a perfect match...that is always the Passionate, romantic sound I live for in audio. (I have a pair of Nola Mini's, while being a little soft in the bottom end, they give that richness and liveliness I desire.) But notice..the warmness of the preamp (not to warm which may be boring) with lively speakers that not only have a bottom end and top end liveliness, but also have a midsection that is busy, but not to recessed! That will give you goose bumps and make your eyes water over. In my opinion... I believe gear should have a little coloration to it.... I just don't get that from a completely sterile system.

One time Peabody and I listen to a system that cost all most 100K. It was one of Peabodys friends. It was all Jeff Roland and Esoteric gear. He had these big Conwall speakers the fit into the corners of his room perfectly. He had expensive Cardas Cables and said to us his goal was to build a system that was free of any coloration at all. This guy even had this very expensive key board plugged into this system. He put on a Bob James CD and then turned on his Key boards and was playing every note that Bob James was playing, so he was literally playing along with the band and the key board sound was coming through the same speakers as Bob James...the guy was in the band with his Key Board. This system was extremely loud...I think it was something like 700 watts of power from all his mono Jeff Roland and Esoteric amps. Peabody was sitting right next to me and we could not hear each other talking. The system was fabulous, but it was sterile and really did nothing for me but gave me that feeling like I was at a really loud rock concert. No...give me a little simple humble set up with some emotion and romance any day not loud and sterile.