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Review 5 of 5
Price Paid:
$400.00
from Bill Hutchison, (hi fi shop) bought secondhand Summary:
I bought my player secondhand in 1994 for £250 (£1000 new). Marantz refered to it as part of its "audiophile" range and it is distingushed from lesser Marantz models by its polished rosewood cheeks. Although these look nice, they make the player 3 inches wider than standard so make sure it will fit in your equipment stand.The player is also quite heavy, so make sure any shelving to be used is securley fastened to the wall.
It is well spec'd with both optical and co-axial digital outs and has the nifty FTS system. It has a very clear, full function remote.
My machine gets very heavy use and it has had no faults to date. I have had the machine over 6 years and it is about ten years old. Its build quality is excellent and it will read cd's my other players won't even look at!
Sound quality is very good. Punchy bass and mid, though treble perhaps not up to the standard of todays £1000 players, it will outperform anything available new between £150 & £300. I tried using it as a transport with a Roksan DA 1 (no improvement) and an arcam black box (different sound, but perhaps no better. Comparing the cd85 with other players on a different amp channel showed it had a lower output voltage than many others (perhaps a consideration for tube/valve enthusiasts?) to get a true comparison turn the amp up a bit!
I've upgraded every part of my system (some 3-4 times) over the past 6 years, but the cd85 still remains my main cd player. I spent more on my cartridge than the cost of this player! At $400 dollars (secondhand) it is a real bargain! Strengths:
Excellent build quality, Classy looks, good sound. Weaknesses:
Lower than average output voltage.Needs to be switched on for at least a day to sound at its best. Width and weight. Similar Products Used:
Marantz cd65, Phillips cd104 (x2), Roksan DA1, Arcam Black Box
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