Very good soundstaging. Clear and taught midbass. Midrange is communicative, detailed and pleasing to the ear. Micro dynamics are good. Impressive with accoustic, vocal and slow jazz music.

Missing those very low bass notes. High frequency can sound punishingly harsh with poor system matching. Needs a neutral/musical sounding amp. Can sound dry and unrewarding for rock music. Lack of parts for repairs if damaged.

Beautiful 'cooky-jar' looks. Rock-solid build quality. A bargain if bought 2nd hand at trade prices. Very distinct Marantz family sound - slightly recessed soundstage, well defined midrange(its greatest sell), warm bass, and slightly subdued high frequency presentation. Overall sound plays on safe/conservative side of neutral rather than being too forward. Dynamics shares similar traits as other high-end japanese cds-players with a leaner sound opting for absolute clarity, detail and communication. This makes for great in-depth/analyitical listening, but can rob the sound of its musicality.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz CD63KI Signiture Marantz CD 17 MarkII Wadia 16i Sony XA2ES Amps used in listening: Accuphase E208 Arcam D290 Hafler DH200 Pre/Power

Smooth and soft.
Wonderful outlook and size !
Like playing with LP.

Lack of punch, clear and definition

Suitable for female vocal and chamber music.
Philips CDM-9 pro installed.
Wonderful operating feeling (like playing with LP.)

But it never produces deep and hard punch (ie, Jazz and big band sound.)

Similar Products Used:

Wadia CD23

This is the 'Music Link' series of Marantz audiophile product.It is relatively small in size but big in drawing attention!
Trust me, I had placed it among the big muscles like YBA CD-3 Alpha, Wadia 830 & Musical Fidelity X-Ray...& it gained the most attention from us!
This baby is Marantz but does not look like any typical boxy Marantz ... its top loading design came with a heavy glass cover which makes it looks like a rice cooker more than a CD player.
However, it will cook no rice but sweet music instead.(Pardon me but has anyone seen any rice cooker which costs S$3000...???)

I shall not touch on the technical aspects of this baby because many new CD players of this price range are equipped with more more 'bits' conversion & complicated features.
'Because Music Matters'...quoted by Marantz, so we shall leave all the misleading technical specifications aside & concentrate on the sound reproduction alone.

Various AB tests allow me to conclude that it is a very smooth & sweet sounding player, especially in the midrange.
A little over smooth on the higher frequencies but lots of creamy & expressive details in the mid & bass is pleasingly fulsome.
Vocal is extemely sweet when matching it with valve amplifier & LS 3/5A speakers.
Separation between instruments is highly credible & good soundstage.
Music playback is involving though not able to cope well with the dynamics of a big orchestra work.
String instruments sounded superbly crisp, sweet & controlled.

In short, with careful matching, it sings very well & musically involving. Your wife & kids will love its cute 'cooker' design & certainly it will blends in with your gorgeous furniture perfectly!

Hints: Tape the micro-switch on the top panel & try playing it without the glass cover... the soundstage will opens further. Vocal will be brighter & the higher musical notes more extended!
It is a norm that by opening the cover of most top loading CD players may actually improve the sound quality, thus definitely worth trying.

On the whole, 4.5 stars sonically & 5 stars if including its most adorable looks!