New Marantz disc spinners’ first-class performance and lavish engineering make mockery of their modest price tags
Those seeking the delights of high-end stereo replay, though without the equally elevated price tags should take a look at Marantz’s new SA7001 CD player, and its enhanced SA7001 KI sibling.
The SA7001 incorporates engineering lessons learnt during the construction of the company’s flagship SA-11 and SA-15 components. In fact, the SA7001 uses the same 24-bit/192kHz, CS4397 ‘Super DAC’, from respected manufacturer Cirrus Logic, as found in the Marantz SA-15. This multi-bit, Delta Sigma D/A converter incorporates DSD as well as PCM conversion, meaning the SA7001 can play not only conventional compact discs, but also Super Audio CDs. And this isn’t the only audiophile-grade component the SA7001 uses.
You’ll find a raft of customized components in the SA7001, despite its modest price tag, including bespoke capacitors, Shottky diodes, and Marantz’s Current Feedback HDAMs. These proprietary devices – High Definition Amplifier Modules – replace single chip, ‘off-the-shelf’ Op-Amps, operating as a buffer amplifier and as a Low Pass Filter. With dramatically improved slew rate they outperform the regular IC Op-Amps and help preserve the music’s dynamic structure, tonal quality and stereo image.
All these components are housed in a dual-mono, symmetrical circuit. This topology – with short, direct and mirror imaged signal paths – provides precise stereo imaging by implementing separate, though identical, right and left channel architecture.
To further improve sound quality, all digital, analogue and control circuits are separated and shielded in their own enclosures to prevent cross-talk and other unwanted interference. Just as importantly, independent power supplies for each dedicated system block secure maximum separation, clarity and dynamics. Also improving sound quality are a zero impedance matching joint – a copper plated bracket across the output terminals which significantly improves signal to noise ratio by providing excellent grounding – and an optional ‘display off’ function, which minimizes high frequency noise interference.
And as the SA7001 was built from the ground-up, Marantz took the opportunity to completely redesign the mechanism. The servo and decoder are mounted on a four-layer glass epoxy board for lower noise interference. This is aided by a box construction incorporating the chassis, which shields the design from external noise. The tray is finished with a coating that also dampens vibration, while its black color means minimal effect on laser diffusion.
These electronics sit on a specially designed low-resonance, acoustically damped, highly rigid chassis. This solid metal casework – which is available in black or silver – takes in a thick anodised aluminum front panel, extensive bracing and shock-absorbing feet. The result is the perfect foundation, which minimizes any sound-degradation mechanical vibrations that can disturb sensitive audio circuitry. Finally, completing the package are electrical and optical digital outputs.
The SA7001KI is the first Super Audio CD player to be fine-tuned by Ken Ishiwata and, while embracing all the features above, sees significant improvements over the standard SA7001 model.
This player can be added to the personalized range produced by Ken Ishiwata that represents the cutting edge of design and engineering expertise. Each component is individually selected and painstakingly crafted to obtain the highest audio quality. It is tweaked up to reach fast bass, but with a warm mid band and clear, but no harsh highs. Ken Ishiwata has combined craftsmanship and performance to enable this wider stage to the SA7001 and created the KI version without any compromises to the original quality in sound.
The design embraces complete copper-plating of the chassis and rear panel to reduce signal-degrading electromagnetic radiation. Also offering extremely low electromagnetic radiation is a high-grade power supply centered on a toroidal transformer. This transformer has a much higher efficiency due to the very low impedance of the windings and has a fast, high current delivery capability for maximum separation, clarity and dynamics.
About Marantz
Marantz employs more than 1600 people in over fifty countries and is a part of D&M Holdings Inc. The company can trace its roots back to the dawn of the first mono LP, when Saul Bernard Marantz, a native of New York, was unhappy with the equipment available to play his cherished record collection on. So he to built his own! Saul officially founded the Marantz Company in 1953. Then, as now, the company’s cornerstones were quality and innovation. For over half a century Marantz has been developing unique technologies and bringing landmark hi-fi and home entertainment products to market through its tireless and extensive R&D programmes. Such commitment to audio and video excellence ensures each Marantz design delivers class-leading performance. Additional information is available at www.marantz.com.
D&M Holdings Inc. is based in Tokyo and owns the Denon, Marantz, McIntosh Laboratory, Boston Acoustics, Snell, D&M Professional, ReplayTV and Escient brands. Denon, Marantz, McIntosh and D&M Professional are global industry leaders in the specialist home theatre, audio/video consumer electronics or professional audio markets, with a strong and long-standing heritage of manufacturing and marketing high-performance audio and video components. Boston Acoustics, with its signature Boston Sound, is a leader in premium loudspeakers for home and audio markets, and Snell is a super premium speaker brand. The ReplayTV and Escient brands represent award-winning technologies in digital home entertainment. Additional information is available at www.dm-holdings.com.