Price Paid:  $1500.00 from Singapore

Summary:
This CD/SACD player is, when comparing dollar to dollar, could hardly find a competitor at this pricing.
It sounds detail, lively and with good bass presentation. For SACD the sound feels more smoother.

Strengths:
1)Solid and Rigid design to minimized the vibration.
2)Smooth tray movement.
3)Sound Clear, Detail with rich bass.
4)Having 3 sound setting to suit everyone's preference.
5)With Balanced and Unbalanced output for better sound connection.
6)SACD Playback is more smoother and detail in the mid/high region.

Weaknesses:
1)SACD only provides stereo playback, no multichannel playback capability.
2)The mid should sound more lively when compared with Ayre Cx7e and Cary 306 SACD.

Similar Products Used:
Sony CDP507ESD, Sony CDP338ESD, Marantz CD6002

Price Paid:  $3200.00 from advanced audio Cary

Summary:
This is one unbelievable cd, sacd player. It upgraded my system from good to outstanding., just by changing the source. Sound on redbook cd is amazing: bass is deaper, highs are clearer, sound state is wide and accurate. As good as cd soound,is SACD is at another level even higher.! I always thought my system was good, but it missed something and Sa11 provided it. Music comes to life, but in a natural sounding way. It sounds like music.

My System : Acurus A250/ Yamaha cx2. Yamaha px-3 with grace f9e. Yamaha tx950
Infinity Reference Standard II .

Strengths:
natural sound like music sounds like.Not overblown . this is a player for true audiophiles, people who listen to the music not the equipment. Engages you in the music, you move your feet with the music.,,. As said in previous reviews buy it.
It is the best value in cd/sacd pleyer even at full list price. Built like a tank,weighs 30 lbs. Chassis is copper plated.looks gorgeous, all buttons link to relays..Sounds even better

Weaknesses:
on SACD playpack, you can notice transport noise at the beginning of the Disc on quiet
passage or between tracks. This is my second unit, both exhibit same behavior

Similar Products Used:
Marantz 63SE, retired, Rega Apollo. Rotel RCD1072,neither sounded much better than my 63se.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Maybe one the Worst CD players I have ever owned..and I have owned some of the best.( Wadia, Sony SCD-1, Arcam 23, Linn Karick).. Has no focus..No depth ..and worst of all..Muddy..!!! Playing thru custom Horn rig, Krell Pam-1 preamp and Accuphase mono Amps...What disappointment..!!! Had Marantz CD23 which was much better than this..I don't get it ..!!! There is nothing to rave about here...Switched over to Goldmund Dac thru Old Marantz DV-8300 transport...And what an improvement..!!!!....Please reconsider before making this purchase...Give a listen if you can.....You maybe sorry..!!!!!!!

Strengths:
NONE..!!! Other than nice looking player.....and killer remote...

Weaknesses:
Too many to mention....!! lacks Bass..Lacks focus.. lacks depth..!! Sounds like my old portable Sony Walkman....from 15 years ago...What a true disappointment..!!!

Similar Products Used:
wadia..Sony SCD-1...Linn Karick

Price Paid:  $2400.00

Summary:
I had been going through a series of upgrades on my two channel system as I had been not so keen on the musical performance of my system. I had been using an Arcam CD72 as my CD source and had always felt it was becoming and anchor to my system.

First listened to an Arcam CD33 and had that old phrase pop in my head “You only get a fractional improvement of sound for the multiples of dollars spent”. It was only marginally better then CD72, unconvincing of the cost of upgrade. The dealer had then placed the Musical Fidelity A5 in the system and I was quickly impressed by the player and felt that it had brought enough to the table to consider cost. The dealer also had the Cary CD303/200 in the room, which in itself proved to be quite competent, but had a different perspective over the MF. The Cary had a stronger dynamic range, while the MF provided some more midrange prominence. If I had spent a bit more time, it would have been fun picking out the difference in presentations of these two very good players.

The Marantz came out last, but had become my first choice. Bass was deep and taut, horns sound that fully rounded out, with highs coming in clearly with better dimension. Cymbals and high hats had gone from being in the mix to being there.

The fact this it was balanced made my decision easier as my Pass Labs amp and preamp would allow me to get the best of the balanced outputs.

Strengths:
All the options in the filtes allows the player to get the most of your good or not quite as good recordings. SACD is a bonus, for the few titles out there.

Weaknesses:
I think I would have to spend far more to find a so called one.

Price Paid:  $2000.00 from Shadow Audio U.K.

Summary:
My previous CD player was a Naim CDX, it was getting a bit long in the tooth and I was looking at a replacement CD player which would last me another 5 years, not so much an upgrade but something as good as and would be brand new.
I was happy with the CDX as it performed faultlessly and I liked the sound so when I started auditioning different CD players from £1500-2k I wasn't expecting much of (if any) an improvement. Cd players I demonstrated included AVI Lab series, Naim CD5X, Primare and musical Fidelity CD5 (?). All of which were very good and I would have happily lived with, but then they brought in the Marantz SA-15S1, it was superb. This was the only player out of the above that actually got my feet tapping. The top end was crystal clear, bass was taught and deep and it was more musical than the Naim!. Where it did lose out was overall smoothness.

After borrowing the SA-15S1 for a week I decided to go for the top of the range SA-11S1, as this should give me the smoothness of the Naim as well as the Sa15's attributes.It did, and more!

Initially plugging in the SA-11S1 it became clear that it was far smoother than the SA15S1 with deeper bass (Again!) and overall a more analogue feel to the sound, but it wasn't all good.
These Cd players need burning in, the SA11's bass is uncontrolled for the first week, in fact you could describe it as flabby. I put it on repeat for a week 24/7 and things tightened up considerably.This is a gorgeous sounding CD player.
I bought this as a Red Book player and it excells at this, I now own 4 SACD's as things improve still further, basically the sound gets nearer to a lush turntable sound on SACD, everything is a lot smoother.I have to add at this point, that as with CD's there are rough sounding SACD's out there but get good well recorded DSD and it's sublime.
All I wanted was a repplacement of similar quality for the same money and I got a LOT more, just goes to show how tecnology is advancing on a rapid scale.

I would definitely recomend the SA-11S1 to anyone wanting a CD player at this price level the SACD ability is an added bonus as I'm not confident in the longevity of this medium, but it's worth £2k as a red book Cd player alone.

Build quality is superb, almost Wadia territory apart from the top lid which feels flimsy and needs damping compared to the rest of the player.

Sensitive to mains quality, it pays to get a half decent mains cable as it improves leaps and bounds!!!!

Strengths:
Superb sound, crystal clear top end, extremely musical and lets you just listen to the music and not just your hifi.

Weaknesses:
Wish it had a sturdier top plate/lid. That's it!

Similar Products Used:
AVI Laboratory series
Musical Fidelity CD5 (A5? not sure)
Naim CDX5
Naim CDX
Primare