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Review NaN of
Price Paid:
$900.00
from local retailer Summary:
This review covers the new SA8001. Rrosev is absolutely correct - I also have an LP12 and the two sound remarkably alike. In the SA8001 Marantz has made significant refinements. Having had both 8260 and 8001 in my system, I can say the latter outperforms the former in all categories except transparency. Though quite good within their price class, neither machine is really all that transparent when compared to the best. But the 8001 at least has decent bass, timbre and dynamics, and reads TOC properly. The transport also runs quieter. The 8260 is a respectable $1K player, but the new 8001 tromps the competition. It outperforms the Rotel, comparably priced Vincent, and virtually all of the British competition, and is on par with most $1.5K-$2K machines. If weight is any indication of quality, this player weighs 17 lb and sports a toroidal power transformer much bigger than the measly e-core in the 8260; in fact it is almost as big as the one in the SA14 and SA11. The only under $1K player I prefer to the 8001 is the Jolida JD100A, but 8001 sounds flatter and has better bass. This has got to be the last word in solid state CD players under $1K. Strengths:
Good bass, dynamics; good soundstaging; absolutely neutral timbre; handsome cosmetics Weaknesses:
Confusing, cheap looking remote Similar Products Used:
Arcam, Rotel, Sony, Cambridge
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