AudioAficionado.org - Marantz pm10 and SA10 Review

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Quote:

Originally Posted by LovingMusic (Post 902813)

I received an SA-10 last week. I have been using a Wyred4Sound DAC which has the latest update including the ESS 9038PRO chip along with the old Marantz Reference, the SA-7S1. The SA-10, however, has taken things to a much higher level. It's more musical, precise, clean, realistic. Sibilance I thought was from the music is much reduced or gone. By far the best my CD's, SACD's and music files have sounded. Very happy with it and it will stay in my system

Downsides? Not many. Though the construction is very solid, it is a step down from the SA-7S1. The buttons on the front have a decent feel to them but are not near the same quality as on the earlier unit. I rarely use them however since the remote is much more convenient. I don't judge a component on its weight, but Marantz makes a deal about the copper construction and its heft, but it weighs close to ten pounds less than the SA-7S1. The disc tray is very smooth though it doesn't seem as solidly constructed as the 7S1. I've had the 7S1 for close to 10 years and it works as well as when it was brand new. Amazing unit. I'm hoping the SA-10 proves to be as reliable.

Agree with all your points raised. My SA-7S1 is now in pastures new, as I was offered more for it than I paid (!). The SA-10 I trialled went back to the dealer.

My SA-10 is not going back to the dealer, could not be more pleased with sale price and performance.

The ND-8006 the dealer used to demo the McIntosh MA252 certainly sounded good. If the SA-10 is better then it must sound great.

I purchased a Marantz SA-10 after my dealer loaned it to me for several days.
Previously I had bought a DAC from heim and returned it as 'being no better than my current bought used for $250 DAC... So he knew I would not be pleased with some trivial upgrade.
The main thing I wanted to hear was the SA-10 DAC used with a separate transport, playing CDs.Well I bought one. The sound of CD was way better, primarily the treble. But also all music attack, and pace. And all this still using a bought used $40 five disc changer via Toslink to the Marantz SA-10.
Now, several months since purchase, I play 98% of all CDs via one of the five disc changers to the SA-10 as DAC.
The SA-10 spinner is a little better sounding directly, but not enough to get me to give up the ease of the five disc system. I also use a single disc other CD player via SPDIF. and it is a tiny bit better than the five disc via Toslink. with both using the SA-10 as the DAC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beet Farmer (Post 936585)

What else do you like about the sound?
It seems like a really interesting disc spinner/dac.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnrmf1971 (Post 936633)

What else do you like about the sound?
It seems like a really interesting disc spinner/dac.

I am not good as a reviewer. Sorry. I find the Marantz SA-10 really moved my system up a notch. I got it after I moved from Magnepan 3.6 to 20.7s. and it was a hint that I could go a lot further. I also got the latest powercords of my favorite brand. And then decided to try some fancy duplex outlets.
So now, the realism is far better.
It is really only in the details.. HF sound, better clarity, more "THERE" than before.
And CDs clearly now have different mastering quality. Where before they all pretty much seemed the same. Now I can notice 'superdiscs, just like some LPs are way better. So are some CDs.
ADDED: I should mention I own very few SACD, but own lots of CDs. I enjoy using various five disc changers. I was able to audition the Marantz SA-10 at home, and got to hear it with my changers connected via Toslink. I bought it based entirely on how it sounded playing CDs as a DAC, via Toslink from a CD changer.
So as a SACD player, for people who own a lot of SACDs.. I cannot say much. But for a player which raises CD playback to an entirely new level, yes.
The Marantz's own spinner, compared to my others, is better playing CDs. But so little it does not matter to me vs the convenience of the five disc changers. So I am 'saving' the SA-10 transport for critical moments.. and day to day (I listen to music about 10 hours a day) listening with the changers to the Marantz used as a DAC. (the Marantz is also nice as if the Toslink or SPDIF has a data lock, the Marantz lighting will stay off all the time. So I can leave it on 24/7 and it never has a display showing. Only a very tiny single red dot.)