Time travel - opening a NIB Marantz SA7S1

[Dpod4]

My friend Jennifer Crock of JENA Labs brought over her modified Marantz SA7S1 sacd player a while back. Best digital I have ever heard. One of those revelatory listening sessions where I hadn't been as transfixed with the sound since I was 16 listening to my new Maggies driven by a modified Hafler amp with nad preamp and Empire 698 turntable with grado cartridge (playing Rickie Lee Jones - Pirates).

I started to scour planet earth; took out wanted to buy ads, putting my best research skills to work. Nada. Those who had one were unwilling to sell or I could buy a Asian or European voltage one from overseas. Then, the audio gods looked kindly on me and led me to a Marantz dealer on the east coast who had one new packed in a box as a "B" stock received from Marantz. I pounced on it. It came to me today, earlier than expected. Unboxing it was a treat. Like the dealer said, this looks brand new and might have been an overstocked item I am not sure but just inspecting it not a scratch or blemish or fingerprint or RCA jack used look anywhere on it. Amazing. I will hand this over to Jennifer to modify it. I must say the Marantz reference gear from this era (eg my MA9S1 and 2 monos) is superb. I wish I had stumbled on this years ago.

 

[apdoc2004]

Darrin,
It is great to see Marantz Reference gear getting some love especially from someone who has tasted the ultra high end (I am referring to your Constellation gear).
I love my Sc7s2 preamp -- the sound quality is exquisite and the looks & build quality are to die for! When I am listening to music, I just enjoy looking at it sitting in my audio rack. I am never selling it.
It is a pity that Marantz reference products did not get enough recognition and acceptance that they deserved from US audiophiles. I wonder if Marantz will ever bring back the full Reference product line to US shores.
Enjoy your SA7 player!

Anshul

 

[cmalak]

Congrats Darrin :thumbsup: So what's the deal with the current Marantz Reference line (CD/SACD players and integrated amps)? Any good or is the one generation old Reference line that Darrin has recently bought the top of the line?? And how come they are not selling separates (pre and amps) in the current Reference line? Just not familiar at all with the Marantz product so apologize if I am asking dumb questions...

 

[apdoc2004]

Congrats Darrin :thumbsup: So what's the deal with the current Marantz Reference line (CD/SACD players and integrated amps)? Any good or is the one generation old Reference line that Darrin has recently bought the top of the line?? And how come they are not selling separates (pre and amps) in the current Reference line? Just not familiar at all with the Marantz product so apologize if I am asking dumb questions...

Cyril,
They withdrew the top of the line Reference line CD player, pre and amps from the US market because of not enough sales. The CD player that Darrin has was significantly more expensive than the current reference line CD player (before it was discontinued).
Anshul

 

[joeinid]

Darrin, this is so cool. I wanted to buy the Ref Marantz gear many times. Love the look too. I am glad you are loving it.

 

[Mike]

Darrin - thanks for sharing the story. What a beautiful looking piece! It sounds like it was meant to be!


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[Dpod4]

Thanks guys I will keep you updated on how it sounds before and after the mods. This CD player weighs about 65 pounds - amazing build quality. I am listing my ModWright 5400es for sale this weekend. Cannot justify keeping two and need the funds to pay for the mods. Just getting a full check up from Modwright. DP

 

[cmalak]

Cyril,
They withdrew the top of the line Reference line CD player, pre and amps from the US market because of not enough sales. The CD player that Darrin has was significantly more expensive than the current reference line CD player (before it was discontinued).
Anshul

Anshul...thanks for the info. It's too bad that they have done so, if the gear is as good as you and Darrin seem to find it to be. Sounds like great value. Have they set up their own import/US distribution system or do they go through a 3rd party importer? If they go through an importer, it could be that that outfit has just not done a good enough job of establishing proper distribution, getting proper marketing coverage/investments into the business, thus resulting in lower sales. I have no idea what the reason is but it sounds like there should be quite a market for their gear if it has high build quality and great sonics as you and Darrin both seem to be suggesting. Too bad.

 

[cmalak]

Congrats again Darrin. Sounds like the player will mate very nicely with the recently purchased mono amps. Will you be using it direct into the amps (does it have a volume control) or are you going through a preamp?

 

[Dpod4]

Congrats again Darrin. Sounds like the player will mate very nicely with the recently purchased mono amps. Will you be using it direct into the amps (does it have a volume control) or are you going through a preamp?

I will be running it thru my airtight preamp. It would be cool to get Jena labs to add a volume control so I could go balanced to balanced inputs on the monos which have two pairs of RCA inputs and one pair of balanced inputs. But my air tights adds so much soundstage and harmonic depth i don't want to take it out of the chain. I demoed the matching Marantz reference preamp (first generation) and I liked my air tight 2001 better. Will try the sc7s2 one day and see if that is on par as it would be cool to have all Marantz. But the air tight beat the arc ref 40 ... It js special.

 

[cmalak]

I will be running it thru my airtight preamp. It would be cool to get Jena labs to add a volume control so I could go balanced to balanced inputs on the monos which have two pairs of RCA inputs and one pair of balanced inputs. But my air tights adds so much soundstage and harmonic depth i don't want to take it out of the chain. I demoed the matching Marantz reference preamp (first generation) and I liked my air tight 2001 better. Will try the sc7s2 one day and see if that is on par as it would be cool to have all Marantz. But the air tight beat the arc ref 40 ... It js special.

Wow...impressive. I have always liked the look of the Air Tight gear but haven't had the chance to hear it. Enjoy Darrin and thx for the response.