Marantz Player Question

Thanks Rello.

Yes it is under warranty, which is why the company is considering simply replacing the machine rather than doing what would likely be a big repair job at their expense. Local Marantz operation is having some difficulty securing a part and thus the suggestion to change machines. Yes, Mikesinger, this machine was very good sounding unit, and I'm reluctant to replace it with might be a weaker calliber (and certainly cheaper in price) alternative player. That's why I'm curious about how the 9500 sounds and some of the alternatives. Pawlowski, I can't get the 8260 locally, but I can get the SA11-S1, which is only SACD/CD, but I have some DVDs that are primarily for audio and I'd like to be able to play them as well in a high quality machine. The SA12-S1 was excellent for that purpose.

OK. Thanks for the tips, one and all. Rello, I'm going into a MF Tri-Vista so only unbalanced inputs, but does the SA11 also play DVD video? I wasn't aware that it does. I can live without DVD-A for the time being. The problem is that I live in Korea. The piece is actually in the Marantz head office over here in Seoul. They've had it for three weeks already, and getting the part now is proving to be quite difficult. I'll press for repair. If that doesn't work, I'm going to have to push for a higher quality unit on par with the SA12-S1

Hi Baileyincanberra. I'm a professor at Yonsei University doing English rhetoric, culture and lit. I've met a great many of the gentleman at E-Land in Yongsan. Nice group of people over there. All the best in Hoju.

Here's an update. I can't believe this is dragging into the new year, but c'est la vie. Marantz initially tried to repair the machine, but was having trouble in doing so. Now they want to trade the player for the DV-12S2 and have me pay additional money! I did some research on all of this. The SA-12S1 uses 12 CS4397 DAC chips whereas the DV12 uses three CS4392 DACs. The SA-12S1 also uses the higher quality super ring transformer whereas the DV-12S2 uses the more pedestrian EI transformer, as do the 9500 and 9600. Apparently the machine still sits in Japan and for whatever reason cannot be repaired. I received a call from the local office on Monday that they were willing to go ahead and offer the DV-12S2 as a replacement. I told them the results of my research, that the CS4392 DACs in the latter machine were of a lower quality than the ones in mine and that the quality of transformer was liable to affect sonic output as well. I told the caller that the machine should be replaced by an SA-11S1, which has comparable sonic output even while lacking DVD video playback capability. She said that would mean my paying more money for the trade. I said that I shouldn't have to pay anything if Marantz cannot repair their own units. My preference would be to retain my machine, which despite reliability problems has great sound. I have yet to hear back from them, but that's hardly a surprise since they weren't very helpful in responding over the past three months either. Any additional comments or suggestions would be appreciated. my sense is that settling for a DV-12S2 or a DV9500 or a DV9600 would be a step down in sonics. I still cannot believe that Marantz cannot repair one of its product lines. This seems absurd to me.

I should have added that the SA11S1 also uses the Super Ring transformer (so does the SA 17) but it uses a different DAC architecture. My general position here is that if Marantz can't make the repair, they should replace the machine with one of comparable sonic value, since that's my priority, rather than greater video capability.