I love this Marantz!

[Jack in Wilmington]

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.

From the first time I saw Renaissance at the old Robin Hood Dell in Fairmount Park, they opened up with "Prologue" and that has always been my opening song when auditioning audio gear. From the opening bars of John's piano and then Annie's voice just comes in as if from heaven. When I was auditioning my Ushers at Quest, even Steve and his customer from the other room came in to listen. I have a half dozen Renaissance tracks on one of my test discs that I use, but I always listen to "Trip to the Fair" and "Vultures Fly High". My Mary Fahl tracks are varied. One from her days with October Project called "Something More Than This" and two tracks from her solo work The Other Side Of Time. One is called "In The Great Unknown" and the other is the title track.

[frenchmon]

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.

Those Clearfields must be some heavy speaker to have to wheel them out.

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

Well...I've discovered the Canton Ergo and Vento, series of speakers has the bottom end of the Dyns and great mids and a very nice transparent tweeter. If I had to say anything negative about the bass of the Canton vrs the Dyns it that the Dyns are a little bit more refined in the bass. But the Cantons are not that far off....you have to really listen to hear it....they have this DC technology they use with their bass. IF you get a chance look them up. Cantons are a airy speaker so if you don't like air and transparency with your bass its not the speaker for you. Canton's hand made Reference Series must be off the chain.

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.

[Hyfi]

Those Clearfields must be some heavy speaker to have to wheel them out.

86lbs each, but remember, I had back surgery earlier this year and I know moving amps and speakers was part of the cause of the injury.

I use 1" thick granite slabs under the spiked 82s and use the hand truck to move them on the slabs.

[Hyfi]

From the first time I saw Renaissance at the old Robin Hood Dell in Fairmount Park, they opened up with "Prologue" and that has always been my opening song when auditioning audio gear. From the opening bars of John's piano and then Annie's voice just comes in as if from heaven. When I was auditioning my Ushers at Quest, even Steve and his customer from the other room came in to listen. I have a half dozen Renaissance tracks on one of my test discs that I use, but I always listen to "Trip to the Fair" and "Vultures Fly High". My Mary Fahl tracks are varied. One from her days with October Project called "Something More Than This" and two tracks from her solo work The Other Side Of Time. One is called "In The Great Unknown" and the other is the title track.

Good choices. Annie did have a voice of angels back in the day....still not bad today. I still remember seeing them at the Academy of Music in Philly, can't think of a better venue for them.

I have several of her later solo work.
The Dawn of Ananda
Live Under Brazilian Skies
One Enchanted Evening, which was recorded in a little church not too far from me.

She lives in Doylestown and I have seen her at local shows.

[Poultrygeist]

Since this has become a general Marantz thread and their SACD players have been discussed I'd welcome input on my dilemma. My CD players include a Rotel 855, an Integra DPS-7.2 and a Sony CE595 ( SACD ).

I have never heard a SA-8004 but can probably buy one at close to dealer cost but without the opportunity to audition it. I really like SACD and have close to fifty discs but I'm wondering if the Marantz SA-8004 would be a significant upgrade over what I currently own? I've always had the impression that CD players make the least amount of difference in a system but correct me if you think otherwise.

[frenchmon]

86lbs each, but remember, I had back surgery earlier this year and I know moving amps and speakers was part of the cause of the injury.

I use 1" thick granite slabs under the spiked 82s and use the hand truck to move them on the slabs.

Oh...im sorry Hyfi....I did not know. Hope you are feeling better.

[frenchmon]

Since this has become a general Marantz thread and their SACD players have been discussed I'd welcome input on my dilemma. My CD players include a Rotel 855, an Integra DPS-7.2 and a Sony CE595 ( SACD ).

I have never heard a SA-8004 but can probably buy one at close to dealer cost but without the opportunity to audition it. I really like SACD and have close to fifty discs but I'm wondering if the Marantz SA-8004 would be a significant upgrade over what I currently own? I've always had the impression that CD players make the least amount of difference in a system but correct me if you think otherwise.

Poultry....I have Marantz 6001 SACDP and a Rotel RC 1055 CDP. The Rotel can not touch the Marantz SACDP.

[blackraven]

I did an in home audition of the 8001 and 8003. They sounded the same to me. I would bet that the 8004 sounds similar. The 8001 and 8003 lean to the warm side. They lack high frequency detail IMHO. I felt their sound was lacking the sparkle that the 740c and 840c had. Bass did not seem as tight either. I'm not saying that I did not like the sound, it was just that there were better options at the time. I believe the reference series has better sound.

[Glen B]

Awhhh Glen B...that system is a thing of beauty! I wonder why Marantz does that with the connections? But at the same time, if you know how to do it...what is so bad about exterminating one end of your interconnecting cable?

(1) I just don't care to reconfigure my expensive factory-terminated Acoustic Zen ICs just to accommodate one brand of preamp. (2) I would need to reterminate the cables a second time if I ever needed to connect to another brand preamp.

Actually, I would sooner reverse the connections in the preamp, but there is the issue of voiding the warranty if I should need service. I have modded many out of warranty and vintage components, so working on them is not an issue for me.

[frenchmon]

(1) I just don't care to reconfigure my expensive factory-terminated Acoustic Zen ICs just to accommodate one brand of preamp. (2) I would need to reterminate the cables a second time if I ever needed to connect to another brand preamp.

Actually, I would sooner reverse the connections in the preamp, but there is the issue of voiding the warranty if I should need service. I have modded many out of warranty and vintage components, so working on them is not an issue for me.

Here you go Glen...no warranty.

Marantz SC11 S1 For Sale | AudiogoN

[JohnMichael]

I did an in home audition of the 8001 and 8003. They sounded the same to me. I would bet that the 8004 sounds similar. The 8001 and 8003 lean to the warm side. They lack high frequency detail IMHO. I felt their sound was lacking the sparkle that the 740c and 840c had. Bass did not seem as tight either. I'm not saying that I did not like the sound, it was just that there were better options at the time. I believe the reference series has better sound.

You and JRA have mentioned a lack in high frequency detail with the SA8001. I find mine to be detailed and wonder if it is associated equipment or cabling that creates the difference in our experiences. Or maybe my purchase of a first generation player which was so bad that I sold the player and cd's and stayed with vinyl. It was years before I purchased a Sony ES player. I still do not like bright sounding electronics or speakers.

[frenchmon]

Raven...I have the 6001 which I have not listen to as of late, being a vinyl junky. But to night or tomorrow I will put it back into the system and listen to the highs to see what they are like with SACD.

[Feanor]

I did an in home audition of the 8001 and 8003. They sounded the same to me. I would bet that the 8004 sounds similar. The 8001 and 8003 lean to the warm side. They lack high frequency detail IMHO. I felt their sound was lacking the sparkle that the 740c and 840c had. Bass did not seem as tight either. I'm not saying that I did not like the sound, it was just that there were better options at the time. I believe the reference series has better sound.

I'm kinda discouraged being remined of your finding that the Marantz 800x are lacking in high-freq detail. Personally I'd like an SACD player that can cleanly reveal the detail possible from the hi-rez SACD format. I've concluded that my old Sony CE775 player just can't deliver hi-rez results. I have a modest SACD collection and would like to expand it, given that hi-rez downloads are still very restricted vs. classical music on SACD.

For long while I opined that SACD really didn't deliver better sound than well-recorded CD (except multi-channel), but I now thing I was wrong. What changed if for me were hi-rez downloads + a new DAC. E.g. comparing my DG recording of the Kleiber Beethoven 5th on SACD to the HD Tracks hi-rez download, the latter was clearly superior in transparency.

N.B. that the hi-rez download is identical to the stereo SACD from the disc in question -- in fact the 24/88.2 download is a rip of the SACD layer.

[blackraven]

It was night and day comapring the 2 Marantz units and my 740c and 840c. My son, daughter and wife all said the same thing, that the Marantz did not have the high frequency detail that the others had. The Marantz sounded smoother but to mellow. My good friend has the 8001 paired with a Audio Reseach LS1 line stage tube preamp, Nuforce Model 9se monoblocks and PSB Synchrony One speakers. It has great sound in his system but is still lacking HF detail. I think it is holding his system back a little, but he loves the smoother sound.

However, stereophile gave the 8001 a class A rating. And I have to say that the unit has much better sound in SACD then CD. The SACD sound is sweet but still lacking the HF detail. I would still consider buying a used one for SACD and maybe pair it with some silver interconnects.

[frenchmon]

Could it be the speakers? I have yet plug mine in as I am on my smartphone...but if my memory serves me correctly mine was not lacking

[Poultrygeist]

No doubt in my mind that well recorded SACD sounds better than well recorded redbook and Diana Krall's SACDs have the best fidelity of any discs I've heard.

I know if SACD sounds this good on my cheapo Sony the Marantz SA-8004 must take it to another level.

[frenchmon]

Poultry.....I have 2 Diana Krall sacd's....The look of love...and the girl in the upper room...
and they sound fantastic on the Marantz SACDP last I remember.

[Poultrygeist]

If there's detail to be had from the Marantz, the 2a3/OB's will squeeze out every drop.

[frenchmon]

It was night and day comapring the 2 Marantz units and my 740c and 840c. My son, daughter and wife all said the same thing, that the Marantz did not have the high frequency detail that the others had. The Marantz sounded smoother but to mellow. My good friend has the 8001 paired with a Audio Reseach LS1 line stage tube preamp, Nuforce Model 9se monoblocks and PSB Synchrony One speakers. It has great sound in his system but is still lacking HF detail. I think it is holding his system back a little, but he loves the smoother sound.

However, stereophile gave the 8001 a class A rating. And I have to say that the unit has much better sound in SACD then CD. The SACD sound is sweet but still lacking the HF detail. I would still consider buying a used one for SACD and maybe pair it with some silver interconnects.

Ok Raven.....I've finally made it home and plugged the Marantz back into my system. its the Marantz VC6001. Its a Universal Player that I use strictly as a SACDP. Its been a while but I am hearing it for the first time in about a year. This is the first time I have plugged it into the Vincent and am driving it with a pair of Nola Mini's which are different speakers than my Cantons. The Mini's are a warmer sound and not as big in the bottom end as the Cantons.

I am now playing Diana Kralls SACD "The girl in the upper room".

The sound is nice with tube warmness. Most certainly a different presentation than with my SS gear. Now as far as the high frequencies...they are there....and may I say, sounding good. Are they jumping out like my XRAY would do it??? No. But they are hanging in the air. Its more rounded through the tubes but its nice and smooth and warm. The high infrequence fit very well with what Marantz wants I suppose. I suspect that if I put the Cantons back in place they would be a little more pronounced. But I assure you, the sound is very engaging. So yes, the highs are there and they are sounding good. But one should also keep in mind....Cambridge has a totally different sound. I must say....this Marantz sounds really good with tubes....Shoot, I may have to consider a much better Marantz SACDP one of these days.

[Poultrygeist]

The Azur may be comparable to the SA-8004 playing redbook but with the Marantz playing SACD vs the Azur playing redbook it shouldn't be close. The SACD format is just better.

One reviewer who owned the 8003 and 8004 said the latest version sounds better.

[frenchmon]

Well I cant tell you about those models but I am now listening to a Vanessa Williams CD on red book through the 6001 and the sound through tubes is better than I remember with SS. Its the warmth and inner detail of the Marantz that is really good. The combination of the warm smoothness of Marantz SS and the tubes are a very good combination in my opinion. And this is only a $700 Marantz player.....Marantz Reference has to be that and a bag of chips when combined with tubed gear.

[Poultrygeist]

frenchie,

If you're having this much fun with a tube preamp I see a tube amp in your future.

[JohnMichael]

I did an in home audition of the 8001 and 8003. They sounded the same to me. I would bet that the 8004 sounds similar. The 8001 and 8003 lean to the warm side. They lack high frequency detail IMHO. I felt their sound was lacking the sparkle that the 740c and 840c had. Bass did not seem as tight either. I'm not saying that I did not like the sound, it was just that there were better options at the time. I believe the reference series has better sound.

One thing I do not like about the SA8001 is if you insert a disc with both cd and sacd it will default to cd. After insertion I select sacd and start the disc. I would not think this would be an issue with sacd only discs but with two layer discs you could find yourself listening to only the cd layer.

[frenchmon]

frenchie,

If you're having this much fun with a tube preamp I see a tube amp in your future.

I don't have a problem with that....I think Peabodys mono block CJ tubed amps are great....especially when I connected them to the Vincent.

[frenchmon]

One thing I do not like about the SA8001 is if you insert a disc with both cd and sacd it will default to cd. After insertion I select sacd and start the disc. I would not think this would be an issue with sacd only discs but with two layer discs you could find yourself listening to only the cd layer.

Now thats strange! I wonder why? Is there some setting you can select to make it default?

With the VC6001, which I don't think sounds as good as your SA8001.... if its a two layered disc with red book and SACD it will default to SACD and a red light comes on letting you know it. If you want the red book layer, you have to chose it, unless its red book only.

But in saying that...in SACD you do have to select 7.1 or 2 channel play back if you have it set up in a 7.1 or 5.1 configuration which I dont any more.