To me most high-end players stink on RB compared to AN DACs. SACD is obviously another story. But I've never heard the SA7 (owned a S11 1 as I said).
4musica, those are impressive systems.
4musica, those are impressive systems.
The Ultimate SACD Machine
I'm considering getting an SACD player again. I have a number of SACDs but abandoned the format a couple years ago in favor of vinyl.
I am considering mainly the EMM Labs CDSAse or a Marantz SA11S2 or SA7.
Critical information:
- I'm concerned really only with jazz. 40s-60s jazz. (All the new titles on the format has me interested again.)
- As per above, my priorities are truth in timbre and tone and total lack of HF grain or glare. "Analog-like" may have become a cliche but it's what I'm after: though vinyl as a medium is shirley flawed (yes, I meant to call you Shirley), for me it has always given the best sound - meaning the most natural, realistic, and fatigue-free sound.
I expect that the EMM Labs machine has a gap over the Marantz in these qualities. It should, for the price. How large is the gap, for those who have heard both extensively?
Is there another machine I should consider? ($5K used would be absolute top budget and a bit of a stretch.)
I am considering mainly the EMM Labs CDSAse or a Marantz SA11S2 or SA7.
Critical information:
- I'm concerned really only with jazz. 40s-60s jazz. (All the new titles on the format has me interested again.)
- As per above, my priorities are truth in timbre and tone and total lack of HF grain or glare. "Analog-like" may have become a cliche but it's what I'm after: though vinyl as a medium is shirley flawed (yes, I meant to call you Shirley), for me it has always given the best sound - meaning the most natural, realistic, and fatigue-free sound.
I expect that the EMM Labs machine has a gap over the Marantz in these qualities. It should, for the price. How large is the gap, for those who have heard both extensively?
Is there another machine I should consider? ($5K used would be absolute top budget and a bit of a stretch.)
- ...
- 35 posts total
Paulfobrecht - Thank you. My obviously SUPER UNDERSTANDING wife would say they are irrefutable evidence of my addiction! She is of course right. I hope you find the player that meets your needs. If you had asked for redbook only CD player recommendations I would have suggested the ARC CD7, which I find to be better than even the Ayre. Good Hunting! |
This is a great question, I have auditioned or owned the Ayre, The McIntosh MCD-500 & MVP-861, the Linn Unidisc, a Marantz 11, And a Marantz 8260. And a Pioneer Elite DV 79. The player that did the best SACD was & is the Sony SCD XA-5400ES. It sounded better in my system than all of the others mentioned above. Just my 2 cents. |
I just read a bit about the 5400. I have always liked the Marantz SACD house sound but this player seems to really impress a lot of people. (Of course, in this game hearing "component x is the best thing ever" from one or two or even three people does not necessarily mean anything but when you read it from 5 or 6 or 10, there might be something there.) It seems American Theater sells them for under $1200 brand new even. Wow. |
Just as a heads up...the Luxman D-05 SACD/CD player was voted a Writer's Favorite for 2010 on 6Moons. |
- 35 posts total