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Marantz - SA-15S2B or Yamaha CD-S2000 or iPod

Hi All,
The rest of the system: Vandersteen 2Ce Sig2, (don't laugh, it is an excellent piece) JVC A-X55 integrated amp from your student years and a Denon tuner.

Room is about 400 sq feet. Classical music, e.g. Bach's partitas by Mullova or WTK by S. Richter - so clarity/serenity is appreciated. Classy jazz on a rare occasion is enjoyed too.
I can get Yam for $1500 new, there is an open box Marantz for about the same price.. And a friend promised to loan his CD8004 as a reference point for comparison, tells me this is all I need. I am more into music, so if the CD8004 is 'enough', I will settle on that and save some money. That is why I ask the collective wisdom before I start 'buying' and returning stuff.

Sometimes I think that an iPod may be able to deliver the same at a lower cost. Correct me, if necessary.

Thank you,
George
apdxyk

Showing 3 responses by nonoise

nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,579 posts
 
If you sent those three amps packing, then you must really like the sound of the JVC as they are of some repute. Good for you for following your ears.

I was in the same boat (kinda) as you and went and got the Marantz SA-15S2b.
Trust me on this one, it's a keeper. If you can try it out and send it back if you don't like it, believe me, it will be worth the effort. Let in break in before you decide (you've got 30 days).

Also, it raised the level of my CD collection considerably. I only have a few SACDs and since they're hit and miss and costly, don't worry if you don't amass a large SACD collection: that would be missing the point of the Marantz.

All the best,
Nonoise
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,579 posts
 
Zd542,
What I mean is that with its ability to extract all the info and pass it on results in a very convincing recreation. Whether it's the DAC implementation or the robust power supply or just the sum of its parts, it recreates a very convincing musical event.

Nothing is smoothed over. In fact, everything is laid bare. It doesn't do it for all, older CDs, but they are the exception to the rule. I have quite of few older CDs that I've just given up on and now I can listen to them again. With some, I can still hear the limitations but it more than makes up for it.

All the best,
Nonoise
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,579 posts
 
Larrybigbird26,

Happy to hear you're enjoying the Marantz SA-15S2b. It's truly a wonderful player and easily rivals the sounds I heard at the last Newport Audio show. It may have been different, but in no way lacking. The way it resurrects and rescues older CDs is amazing.

The CD format has a long life ahead of it thanks to players like the Marantz.

All the best,
Nonoise
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