Marantz SA7S1 owners - stock or modded

hi dgarretson:

i am looking to darken the sound of the marantz, by attenuating the high frequencies and defocusing the sound, creating more body and less detail, heading towards the cclassic tube sound.

i have heard reference audio mods modifications. i don't like what they do. i would never use them to modify any equipment i own.

Mrtennis, To each his own, but what you are looking for is exactly what the silver transformers sound like without the active buffer stage.

Mr T, I would suggest you try a Shunyata King Cobra V1 power cord...that should darken/sweeten the sound to your taste.

John

Folks, trying to help MrT is like trying to grow Kentucky bluegrass in the Sahara.

Try as hard as you like. Nothing will take root.

I own an SA-7S1 and have heard several modded versions. All I can say is, just be careful. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with modding, and I support it in many cases, but IMO the Marantz 7 and 11 are such wonderfully balanced players that the wrong mods can actually hurt rather than help. The modded players I’ve heard definitely CHANGE the sound—no doubt about it—but whether that change is a good thing or not is open only to the listener. I personally didn’t care for any of the modded units, and I’m keeping mine stock until I hear a mod that unequivocally IMPROVES the sound in ALL parameters. Just my opinion, of course. YMMV.