SA-11S2 SACD Reference Player
First: I am a "performance" first person, looks mean nothing, so long as the
product performs.
But The Marantz is Truly a piece of Beauty.
The Passion lives strong in Japan, it would seem.
Even the remote is a fine machined metal, not cheap plastic like even
the costly DCS, Cary 306, Wadia, EMM, etc..?
The sound cold out of the box, exceeded my previous players abilities;
I have a Sony XA-7ES with a Benchmark Dac-1, with a few tweaks.
My wife never speaks about Audio, except when she said the Sony/Dac-1
combo. "sounded better than anything she had ever heard".
So, I took notice when she exclaimed that the Marantz freezing cold (from
Canada) "sounds Better, than the Sony!"
Music is very personal, like what we wear, and the car we drive;
We buy what suits "US".
This Marantz suits me just fine as it is, knowing it can only get better,
I am scrambling to regain about 200 Discs, that I loved.
I feel like every CD I play, I am hearing it ALL for the first time.
No going back now!
I say this for 2 reasons, first, my wife is not an Audio lover at ALL!
And even she is impressed by the music the Marantz makes.
2nd, The shocker is, my wife, not me, Surprised me, by ordering it from
Walter, with the L-2 Underwood mod.
My wife was obviously paying more attention, when I spoke to Walter, than
I thought.
How is that for spousal "Support" in Audio!(clever girl!)
"Blind-Sided!" by my wife!
I am so very Thankful.
The player needs 200 hours to "burn-in", but right now,
I am hearing what sounds like an "Original Master Tape Player" not a CD
player.
Every positive attribute You can give a player, The Marantz delivers is
Spades!
It just makes Beautiful music...
The definition of "Synergy" is the PS Audio stuff with this Marantz, Wow!
We ALL hear differently,as this is not for everyone, but for my ears,
they never have been more happy, actually "Hearing" music as it was
Recorded, nothing at ALL is missing.
I am still in shock, as I only Dreamed of one day having a "Perfect Source",
or as close to it, as possible.
For me, and what I have, NOTHING has sounded as fine as this Marantz.
Players heard:
Best of Sony
Best of Denon
Wadia
Spectral
many other
Love Your Music!
Saul, I know You would be very Proud.