Brad.......

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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.

KI is a very nice chap and very enthusiastic about music and the youth generation. I happened to be demoing the Marantz reference series when he came into the shop and sat down next to me. We chatted about the music, the products and he evidently really wanted feedback from his potential clientele.

Here's the Ken Ishiwata quote I was looking for but couldn't find a few days ago..."In truth, I much prefer working in the budget arena. That has a much wider audience".

Got my new SA-KI-Pearl player hooked up yesterday. First CD was Chicago Transit Authority Sony Japan gold audiophile version which started out sounding a shade retiscent compared to what I'm used to. Near the middle of the disc the sound started opening up more, and by the end it was evident that those were the horns I'm accustomed to. For second disc, loaded in a new Patricia Barber's "Verse" Mobile Fidelity SACD. Incredible tight deep bass without using subwoof, vocals sounded silky smooth, muted trumpet sounded like it was being played right there in the room. Rim shots were forceful and sounded just right to me, brush on symbols had incredible amounts of detail. SACD is fast becoming my digital vinyl source (sorry Two Dot). This player is built like a shick brithouse, so far very pleased with the sound, looks, build, and value.

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Main: McIntosh C500C/T, MC501(2), MCD500, MR85, Marantz SA-KI-Pearl, Magnum Dynalab MD-108, Klipsch La Scala II, JL Audio F-212, Audioquest, PS Audio, Billy Bags.

Man Cave: McIntosh C46, MC252, MCD301, MR85, Marantz SA-15S2B LTD, Klipsch Cornwall III, JL Audio F-113, Denon DVD-1600, Mitsubishi 55", Audioquest, PS Audio, Sanus.

Office: Rotel RC1082, RB1080(2), RCD1072, RT1080, RLC1040, Magnum Dynalab DT-5, Marantz SA15S2, Luxman K-111, Klipsch Forte II(4), RSW-10d, Audioquest, PS Audio, Sanus.

MBR: Luxman R-115, Denon DBP-2010CI, Klipsch Chorus II, Sony 52" NX800, Audioquest, PS Audio, Sanus.

How does the Pearl sound compared to their best player, Sa7?

I haven't listened to the SA-7, but I can tell you with reasonable certainty that as good as my SA-KI Pearl sounds, their flagship reference model is going to sound better. Does an SA-7 sound $3K better than a Pearl? You should be the one making that call

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Main: McIntosh C500C/T, MC501(2), MCD500, MR85, Marantz SA-KI-Pearl, Magnum Dynalab MD-108, Klipsch La Scala II, JL Audio F-212, Audioquest, PS Audio, Billy Bags.

Man Cave: McIntosh C46, MC252, MCD301, MR85, Marantz SA-15S2B LTD, Klipsch Cornwall III, JL Audio F-113, Denon DVD-1600, Mitsubishi 55", Audioquest, PS Audio, Sanus.

Office: Rotel RC1082, RB1080(2), RCD1072, RT1080, RLC1040, Magnum Dynalab DT-5, Marantz SA15S2, Luxman K-111, Klipsch Forte II(4), RSW-10d, Audioquest, PS Audio, Sanus.

MBR: Luxman R-115, Denon DBP-2010CI, Klipsch Chorus II, Sony 52" NX800, Audioquest, PS Audio, Sanus.

Actually...yes.

Fellow 'audio enthusiast' friend has the 15S2, and I have the Pearl - and we did a comparison thru his Anthem rig using older MIT ICs.

For SACDs - practically identical.

For CDs - I'd give the nod to the Pearl, but not by much.