The Marantz Reference players are special. I've had my SA-7S1 for a LOT longer than I've owned any other previous digital player. As others have stated, if you're looking for a sharp, hyper-detailed sound, look elsewhere. But if you want a player that gets all the fundamentals of the music right, and presents them in an amazingly coherent, musical whole, then the Reference players are an excellent choice, particularly on the used market.
Oh, and lest you think these players aren't detailed, rest assured: they deliver BOATLOADS of detail--but that delivery is so natural and so relaxed (in a good way) that it makes many other comparable players sound forced and hurried.
The fuse suggestion is a good one; it does make a significant difference. And these players, though built like the proverbial Panzer, do respond well to quality isolation.
Oh, and lest you think these players aren't detailed, rest assured: they deliver BOATLOADS of detail--but that delivery is so natural and so relaxed (in a good way) that it makes many other comparable players sound forced and hurried.
The fuse suggestion is a good one; it does make a significant difference. And these players, though built like the proverbial Panzer, do respond well to quality isolation.