Thread: Opinions sought: Marantz SA-KI Ruby vs Luxman D-05U replacement

I know that the people on this forum probably have a built-in preference, but I'll ask anyway:

My Esoteric SACD player died catastrophically, & my turntable was already out of commission, so at the moment I have no way to play music. Unfortunately, this is bad timing for me to make a big expenditure on anything. The only candidates I've come up with in my current price range are the Marantz SA-KI Ruby or the replacement for the Luxman D-05U, which probably won't be available until September at the earliest.

Obviously, no one has yet heard the D-05U replacement, but has anyone heard both the D-05U & the Marantz SA-KI Ruby? If so, how would you compare them? If I opt for the Luxman, it would mean 3 months with no music for me, so it would need to be significantly better for me to wait. What do you think? Or any other alternatives? (The Ayon CD 10 II no longer supports SACD.)

I own the Marantz SA-10 and have listened extensively to the Ruby. The Ruby is outstanding. I have not compared it directly to Luxman, but I am certain the Ruby would not disappoint. Good luck in your selection.

Originally Posted by Crumhorn

I have actually wondered how the Ruby compares to the SA-10 (sound-wise, not features.) I would love to know your thoughts...

Thanks to all!

The SA-10 has the same sonic character as the Ruby. The SA-10 just offers a bit more of everything. Piano has more weight, soundstage is wider and deeper, everything is just a bit more real. I think the SA-10 is a really special piece and the Ruby isn’t far behind at significantly lower cost. It is a real value for how great it sounds. I use my SA-10 as a DAC through its digital inputs most of the time, but it really sounds best spinning discs. You can’t go wrong with either option.

I've had the SA-10 for over a year and love it. I think it's equally proficient as a DAC, too, though I haven't used usb.

That said, I may swap to Luxman just for the heck of it in the near future. I'm more interested in trying a different integrated amp versus the Marantz PM-10 and I'm thinking Luxman, thus the change to a Luxman disc player. But I think the performance of the Marantz SA-10 is superb and I'm not looking for improved performance from a disc player. I like it better than my Esoteric K-01x from a few years back.