I didn't realize the CD player has Digital In.

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Mike
~Your pet is your best investment~

Preamps/tuners:McIntosh C50, C46, MR88, MR73, C2200, C22ce, Cary SPL-98L
Integrate amps:McIntosh MA6100, Denon PMA2000ivr
Amps: McIntosh Mc602, Mc2000, Mc275 MK-V, Cary 805ae mono blocks.
Speakers: JMLab Mezzo Utopia, Focal Twin6 BE, Tannoy Mini Autograph
Headphones: Sennheiser HD800, Beyer T1, Denon D7000, Grado RS1i, Sony MDR-SA5000, MDR-Z1000, AKG K701, and many many more
Digital Sources:Sony SCD-1 & SCD777es, CDP-XA7es, 2010 Mac Mini Music Server, Amarra Mini player, Musical Fidelity V-Link & M1 DAC, Apogee Mini-DAC & Duet 2

Both the SA-15S2 and Pearl do.

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I heard that the Pearls aren't selling as well as they had planned.

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Mike
~Your pet is your best investment~

Preamps/tuners:McIntosh C50, C46, MR88, MR73, C2200, C22ce, Cary SPL-98L
Integrate amps:McIntosh MA6100, Denon PMA2000ivr
Amps: McIntosh Mc602, Mc2000, Mc275 MK-V, Cary 805ae mono blocks.
Speakers: JMLab Mezzo Utopia, Focal Twin6 BE, Tannoy Mini Autograph
Headphones: Sennheiser HD800, Beyer T1, Denon D7000, Grado RS1i, Sony MDR-SA5000, MDR-Z1000, AKG K701, and many many more
Digital Sources:Sony SCD-1 & SCD777es, CDP-XA7es, 2010 Mac Mini Music Server, Amarra Mini player, Musical Fidelity V-Link & M1 DAC, Apogee Mini-DAC & Duet 2

DJ.......Perhaps the SA-KI Pearl SACD Player would have seemed more attractive to perspective buyers with balanced outs in addition to the RCA outputs, and a coaxial digital input in addition to the single toslink optical digital input. I don't look at the player as that special when balanced outputs have been omitted.

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Dan


Living Room System: McIntosh C2300, MC601 (2), MCD1100, MS750, MR85, Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD-40, Ortofon 2M Black, Sonos ZP90, Oppo BDP-83SE Blu-ray, PMC EB1i, Fathom f113 w/ Sound Anchor stand, Power Plant Premier (2), PS Audio Soloist Premier SE (3), Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Kimber 8TC with WBT Solid Silver Angled Locking Banana Connectors.
Studio System: McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MCD1100, MR88, Michell Gyro SE w/SME 309/Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonos ZP90, PS Audio Power Plant Premier, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, Sonus Faber Amati Anniversario, Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireword Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Wireworld Silver Eclipse speaker cable.
Studio Home Theater System: McIntosh MX120, MC452, Oppo BDP-95 Blu-ray, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, JBL LSR-6332 (2), JBL LSR-6328P (3), McIntosh XLS112 (2), Sony 52XBR9, Tributaries Silver IC's, Wireworld PC's.
Vintage: McIntosh MA5100, MR74 tuner, JVC XL-Z1050 K2 CD player, Wyred 4 Sound DAC2, Tandberg 3008A and 3026A, JBL4312A , McIntosh 4300V for deck speakers.

Curious where you heard that, although I would likely agree. And for the most part I think Marantz did a good job of marketing them, their special EU website is really cool. Not a single negative review on either unit, and really for the money they're outstanding units.

That music direct combo package is an excellent deal, they probably should have done that from the beginning.

It is my opinion they operate optimally together.

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Marantz Pearl Duo - Kimber 8TC/Hero - Usher BE718 - Sound Anchors

JT3...how long have you had the Pearls (i remember you posted pics when you first got them a few months ago I am guessing it was)? Do you find that the integrated amp has enough juice to drive the Ushers with ease? I believe the BE718 are rated as 87dB sensitivity but when Sterophile reviewed the unit, John Atkinson's measurements found them to be closer to 85dB sensitivity. But his measurements also showed that they stayed above 6ohms throughout the bass and midrange frequencies, dipping below 6ohms briefly in the treble region (looks like between 2.5kHz and 4kHz). There is a combination of 5.7ohms and -41 degrees electrical phase angle at 2.5kHz that presents a bit of a tough load for the partnering amp that prevents it from being rated an easy load for partnering amp according to JA. Just wandering what your experiences have been with the Marantz Pearl amplification? From your comments above, I am guessing you are enjoying them which is as it should be

Here's a link to the measurements section of the review on Stereophile: Stereophile: Usher Audio Technology Be-718 loudspeaker

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Cyril
Speakers/Amp/Preamp: Thiel CS2.4 / ARC Ref 110 / ARC Ref 3
Sources: Basis 2001/Graham2.2/Nagra BPS/Benz Micro Glider SL, ARC CD7, Oppo BDP-83 SE
Cables/Power/Other: Nordost Heimdall ICs, SCs / Shunyata Hydra 8, Shunyata Python Helix PC / VPI 16.5, HRS Nimbus isolation system

I think part of that is until recently Ken Ishiwata received very little press in the US. In Europe his name is well know as the British rags have reviewed several Marantz units that he has tweaked for the UK market.

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AMP's: D'Agostino Momentum's
Pre Amp: Mcintosh C-1000 & C-1000P
Sources: McIntosh MCD-1100 & MS-300, Olive 4HD, SonoS, Pro-Ject 6 PerspeX
Speakers: MBL 111F
Cables: Transparent Ultra MM2 & Reference MM2 & Powerlink MM2x

I didn't have a problem driving my Magnepan 1.6's with the Pearl. It's a nice amp...

I think you made a wise decision, especially if resale value is an issue. I love the Marantz gear too and owned a ton of it. It was my gateway to highend audio when I was very young. Always wanted a 10B tuner. Very fond memories !

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System Marantz MA9S2, SC7S2,SA7S1, Thiel 3.7's, Nordost, Furman 2ea Elite 15i

cmalak, thanks for the info. The Usher's do have a reputation for being power hungry, but the Pearl has no trouble driving them. Physically it's quite a robust integrated.

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Marantz Pearl Duo - Kimber 8TC/Hero - Usher BE718 - Sound Anchors