My Marantz SA-11S3 SACD Player/DAC review is live!

[Andre Marc]

http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-audio-sources/dvd-audio-sacd-players/marantz-sa-11s3-sacd-player-dac.html

Brand new review..the $4000 Marantz Reference Series SACD player.

 

[mep]

Andre-I read the review and thought you did a pretty nice job. Did I miss it or did you discuss whether the Marantz will accept a DSD input from any of its digital inputs? If so, will it accept both DSDx1 and DSDx2?

 

[Andre Marc]

Andre-I read the review and thought you did a pretty nice job. Did I miss it or did you discuss whether the Marantz will accept a DSD input from any of its digital inputs? If so, will it accept both DSDx1 and DSDx2?

Thanks for the kind words mep, very much appreciated.

The Marantz accepts up to 192 Khz PCM on TosLink, Coax, and Async USB.

FYI, the current crop of Marantz's digital products are all firmware based and can be upgraded. So who knows about DSD in the future.

 

[NorthStar]

---- Cool Andre (your review). ...No Multichannel? ...HDMI?

 

[mep]

Thanks for the kind words mep, very much appreciated.

The Marantz accepts up to 192 Khz PCM on TosLink, Coax, and Async USB.

FYI, the current crop of Marantz's digital products are all firmware based and can be upgraded. So who knows about DSD in the future.

Andre-I asked the question because it seems to me that in today's market if you are going to have a $4K SACD 2 channel machine with digital inputs, you really should have the ability to accept DSD on your digital inputs in order to remain competitive.

 

[TBone]

I auditioned this player not long ago. I enjoyed it. I was not nearly as impressed with it's SACD playback, but that may very well have been software related. Certainly, it's CD performance was quite revealing, tonally darker and a tad thicker sounding than what it was compared against. To my ears, it's one of those "very musical mid-range" type players, considering I didn't find it's frequency extreme resolution as well defined/reaching/extended (esp the top end) as some. Although it had decent dimensionality, it wasn't one of those "pin-drop" types that clinically defined venue structure as if recently surveyed, nor did it separate band members and their instruments as independents, rather it manages to convince on a musical whole.

That said, it's level of "musicality" maybe a matter of tonal taste, and system synergy must be considered ... but it's certainly a worthy audition.

tb1

 

[Andre Marc]

Andre-I asked the question because it seems to me that in today's market if you are going to have a $4K SACD 2 channel machine with digital inputs, you really should have the ability to accept DSD on your digital inputs in order to remain competitive.

mep, I have to respectfully disagree. DSD files are as rare as ham in a synagogue. The fact is, it is that "DSD ready" is a marketing buzzword du jour.

I would be a perfect customer for the Marantz player. I could connect all my digital sources and play SACds and CDs.. I have ZERO, I mean ZERO interest in streaming DSD from a computer.

During the review period I spoke to a number of people I know who enjoy SACD they all expressed zero interest.

 

[Andre Marc]

I auditioned this player not long ago. I enjoyed it. I was not nearly as impressed with it's SACD playback, but that may very well have been software related. Certainly, it's CD performance was quite revealing, tonally darker and a tad thicker sounding than what it was compared against. To my ears, it's one of those "very musical mid-range" type players, considering I didn't find it's frequency extreme resolution as well defined/reaching/extended (esp the top end) as some. Although it had decent dimensionality, it wasn't one of those "pin-drop" types that clinically defined venue structure as if recently surveyed, nor did it separate band members and their instruments as independents, rather it manages to convince on a musical whole.

That said, it's level of "musicality" maybe a matter of tonal taste, and system synergy must be considered ... but it's certainly a worthy audition.

tb1

I think you nailed it..the variability of the quality of SACDs is a huge consideration.

Also, in general I agree findings, but I did not find it so midrange slanted.

I really appreciate your comments!

 

[mep]

DSD files are as rare as ham in a synagogue.

That's pretty damn rare! However, if you want to "future proof" a product, not having the ability to decode DSD files is a sure way to get there quick. DSD file downloads are becoming far more common and I believe will continue to do so. Playback Designs has been offering the ability to decode DSD files for how long?

 

[Andre Marc]

---- Cool Andre (your review). ...No Multichannel? ...HDMI?

Thanks NorthStar!

No, no multichannel or HDMI. This ain't an Oppo!

 

[Andre Marc]

That's pretty damn rare! However, if you want to "future proof" a product, not having the ability to decode DSD files is a sure way to get there quick. DSD file downloads are becoming far more common and I believe will continue to do so. Playback Designs has been offering the ability to decode DSD files for how long?

mep, I have the MyTek DSD DAC in house for review. I have done a week of research on available DSD files. Of all the music I downloaded, I would not pay a red cent for any of it. Don't get caught up in the marketing hype.

Look, if Sony and Analogue Productions decided to make their SACD catalogs available as DSD files..count me in!

But it is pure fantasy. Marantz does not chase phantom markets. They have been in business for 60 years because of this.

Plaback Designs..and HOW much is that player???

 

[TBone]

but I did not find it so midrange slanted.

To be fair, I was comparing it to a "wide bandwidth" type player that's tonally leaner from top to bottom. In analog speak, kinda like comparing Grado vs Lyra ... both sound different, yet both can be just as "musically" involving ... based on the synergistic requirements I alluded too.

tb1

tb1

 

[Andre Marc]

To be fair, I was comparing it to a "wide bandwidth" type player that's tonally leaner from top to bottom. In analog speak, kinda like comparing Grado vs Lyra ... both sound different, yet both can be just as "musically" involving ... based on the synergistic requirements I alluded too.

tb1

tb1

Understood. Interestingly, I just read Ken Kessler's review of the player in HiFi News and was surprised at
how similar our reviews were. He thought SACD made it sound the best. He did not spend too much time evaluating
it as a DAC. But overall he was very impressed.

 

[Andre Marc]

To be fair, I was comparing it to a "wide bandwidth" type player that's tonally leaner from top to bottom. In analog speak, kinda like comparing Grado vs Lyra ... both sound different, yet both can be just as "musically" involving ... based on the synergistic requirements I alluded too.

tb1

tb1

What do you think of mep's point, which I disagree with very much, that a SACD player must be "DSD Ready" to be competitive.

 

[NorthStar]

What do you think of mep's point, which I disagree with very much, that a SACD player must be "DSD Ready" to be competitive.

I think that Mark has a valid point, for him, but not for everyone else. :b

 

[Andre Marc]

I think that Mark has a valid point, for him, but not for everyone else. :b

Um, ok.

 

[NorthStar]

Um, ok.

Andre, some people believe in direct DSD, others can't tell the difference between it and converted to PCM.

It's a 'religion' thing; what's hard to comprehend in that.

Me, personally, hi-res audio in the PCM form is fine. ...If I want pure DSD I'll get something else (already had).

 

[Andre Marc]

Andre, some people believe in direct DSD, others can't tell the difference between it and converted to PCM.

It's a 'religion' thing; what's hard to comprehend in that.

Me, personally, hi-res audio in the PCM form is fine. ...If I want pure DSD I'll get something else (already had).

But Bob, it PLAYS SACDs......pure DSD. I don't understand this manic drive to separate music from media.

 

[mep]

How much does the cheaper Playback Designs machine cost?

 

[Andre Marc]

How much does the cheaper Playback Designs machine cost?

Which machine?

They have $6500 DAC..NO SACD/CD transport.

Their SACD player is $17,000.