colin

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.75 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I bought the Marantz CD-19a by chance when the local agent was clearing it for US$420 equivalent. I had some nasty experiences with other popular models from this brand such as the CD63mk2KI and CD6000OSE and am not prepared to live with them. So you could be sure I was skeptical initially. I also owned a Rotel RCD-1070 at this juncture and comments made below was a result of direct comparison made between the two players. I agreed with other reviewers that the player took a long time to run in as within the first 100 hours, overall sound is warm but flat and lifeless. Once run in though, the strength of the Marantz is evident in its just-right timing (neither too fast nor slow) and its ability to portray musical "wholeness" – timbre, richness in tone of instruments and its ability to evoke the emotions of the listener. Often I find music so involving as though I am at the musical experience myself - so drawn in to the presentation. The Rotel by comparison, although more dynamic (both micro and macro) and has more attack and details, is less musical to me. The Marantz although not perfect, has a fundamental rightness and charm in the way it makes music - “the cerebral type of sound; one that feeds the soul” to quote the very words used by another reviewer. I listen mainly to classical chamber ensembles, jazz and to some extent folk vocalists. If you do come across this model of Marantz, I say buy it and you would not regret having done so later.

Price Paid:  $500.00

Summary:
I upgraded to CD19a from my CD4000 and straight away I could hear the difference. Overall music from CD19a give a "thicker" feeling, all other improvement like treble, bass, clarity, dynamics are very much noticable. I agreed with the previous reviewer that it need a long time to break-in. The sound was flat when I first plugged in but now sound better after playing it close to 50 hours. And it plays all sort of music genre well. The build of the player is solid (6kg) and finished handsomely in gold champagne color. You will never get tired looking at it. I did considered CD7300 but the guy at the store recommeded CD19a over CD7300 as it sound much better without digging out much extra. Overall I'm satisfied with this player. I recommend it to those audio enthusiast like me especially will average budget. And if it's true that playing it more will only sound better,I can only be a happier owner.

Strengths:
Clarity, smooth and thick sound,good soundstage at this price range.

Weaknesses:
vocal could be more outstanding.

Similar Products Used:
Marantz cd4000 Marantz PM7000 Marantz SR4300 AQ copperhead interconnect AQ CV3 cable

Summary:
There're several points in addition to my previous review. I found vdh d120mkIII is best suited to marantz cd 19a, it make it sounds opened up and widen its soundstage. Also vdh d120 make it sounds even sweeter with more detail. With other cables it simply sounds shut in and dull. So it's imperative to have this cable to hook up with cd 19a! It's very close to deliver so called "high end" sound if it is pair with Nad c370. Compare to my friend's
system which comprised of marantz sacd 1, primare preamp and two tube monoblock(forget it's brand) and diapason speakers ( which all are of the audiophile products). Of cource there's difference there, but to mention which system is superior, that is really hard to tell. Despite of the big difference in price, my system seems to be more dynamic, powerful, sounds sweeter! and with better imaging. At this price range, it has
absolutely no competitor. I always think to my self why have to pay an arm and leg to get sacd 1 if sacd 1 can sound this good!!
Also it sound sweeter if compare to nad silver line, sony sacd and sounds faaarr better than 6000 ose.

Strengths:
See my previous review

Summary:
I really wonder why this excellent product received so little attention here. Maybe people tends to bypass it and buy cd 17 or 6000 ose? It't very frustating at fisrt, sounded shut in, highs rolled off, narrow sound stage etc even worst than my pioneer laser player! But belive me after, 300 hrs or more( the
longer the better) it change dramatically with all the strengths describe above. I carefully auditioned the marantz sacd 1 at my friends place, frankly speaking I think cd 19a came very close to it. sacd 1 simply a tad more detail. Compare to other brands
its mids and highs sound sweeter. Oh yes, you have to pair it with a van den hul d 120 mk iii interconnets.

my system:
marantz cd 19a cd player
nad c370 integrated amp(excellent amp)
psb 4t speacker
vhd 120mk iii interconnect

Strengths:
Everything. Very sweet, warm, detail natural sound. Good timbre and sweet mids and highs,tight bass. reads cdr/w. Look good.

Weaknesses:
takes very long to break in 300 hrs+! Very Frustating at the begining.

Similar Products Used:
pioneer laser disc. Miryad mc100. nad 540. marantz sacd 1., 6000 ose. Sony sacd.

Price Paid:  $450.00 from KEC

Summary:
It has a clean outlook. It works excellent with my AE angis 2 and Briston Amp. I love it's sweet vocal and cleariry. Difinately it would be a better choice as comparing among NAD C540 or marantz 6000 by paying a little bit more. However this 19a is not too far from 17KI.

It plays my old CDR as good as CDRW. Smart designer now gives you 2 mode of filters.. one is more musical (conventional marantz sounding) and the other one is natural..that will leave you more punch when playing pop..

Strengths:
Musical and pleasent to my ears.. also plays CDR well and displays CD Text

Weaknesses:
....Slow response remote control.

Similar Products Used:
NAD C540, Arcam 8SE