Wanted to go with a NAD and but salesperson talked me out of it because they were getting so many back for repairs. Sounds much better than my old Pioneer PD-4100. I didn't expect it to have coax digital out, so that was a nice surprise when i got it home. I have a Denon AVR-2700 AC3 Receiver, so i can connect the digital out and use the Receiver's DAC -- very clean. It plays a CD instantly after inserting it--no delay. I have no idea how it does this so quickly, but it's a nice touch. Bought it for $360 canadian at Bay Bloor Radio in Toronto.
Down sides: The display is extremely bright with thick blue LEDs. I find that aspect of its design quite ugly. Might grow on me, i've only had it a week.
Also, it has tons of features for recording CDs onto cassette tapes, which is something I never do.

I give it 5 stars because of the digital out surprise, and the low cost. I'd recomment it to anyone who is looking for a good deal and doesn't want a cd changer.

very well equiped, marantz pedigree, warm smooth sound, works well with a lot of entry level amps and speakers

buffs the edge of rock tracks, bass could go lower

This was the first real CD player I ever owned. Previous to the Marantz I used a Sony 5 disc carousel but quickly traded it in search of better sound. Marantz introduced the CD-48 in 1996 so the design is over 4 years old and has since been revamped by the new millenium series.

Even now there aren't many players that match this one for features. Coaxial digitial output, fader, cassette dubbing, instant track access on the fascia, remote controlled volume plus a headphone socket with its own volume control as well). The player itself is pretty well built but the transport (sourced from parent company Philips) could slide a little more smoothly.

The sound is typically Marantz. It's not about hifi - it's about music. Treble is sweet and lush but not to the point of being syrupy, midrange smooth and coherent and bass is well defined with no muddiness or thumping of other rivals in the same price bracket. These qualities make the player very versatile. It'll sound good with well recorded mainstream pop, makes a good fist of jazz/classical and dance tracks have a nice groove to them. Its only with ballsey raw rock / heavy metal that the Marantz fails, sounding too smooth and laidback.

5 stars for value, 4 for sound

Similar Products Used:

sony, yamaha, pioneer, technics etc etc