Annoying newbie CD/SACD player question

cd lens cleaner (as other members mentioned)

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/best-buy-essentials-laser-lens-cleaner-blue-white/6463814.p?skuId=6463814&extStoreId=531&utm_source=feed&ref=212&loc=20074418866&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAibeuBhAAEiwAiXBoJMTzgRmoie7umVk1rzAMvbCV-1fN0i6hsYT8qws_W2VhFWLO5xRRoRoC0sUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I was assuming you had one of these and tried it.

IF NOT, buy one, you will need it in the future anyway.

I cannot believe how many of my friends who will spend far more on equip/cables/etc do not have this simple tool.

I use mine, get them back to working, might solve yours.

I had a Marantz SA 8005 and I upgraded to a KI Ruby. Interesting comments about the high frequencies of the 8005 - that was not my experience. The frequency response was very flat as far as I could tell. I compared the 8005 directly with my PSA PerfectWave MK II DAC and they sounded very similar. I would easily recommend the 8005. It is built well and will last many years.

The one caution I would give you is to make sure that whatever SACD player or transport you buy uses a brand-name transport. Marantz makes its own transports so you are safe with them and since Denon is owned by the same company their transports will be good quality as well. Two other well known transport manufacturers are TEAC and Phillips. The Phillips transports are no longer in production but you can find players with them on the used market (some of the top end transport makers still use them from new old stock). I would avoid any transport manufacturer that doesn't specify exactly where they get their drive units. There are several companies that use cheap computer grade drives that fail quickly.

Thanks so much for the helpful information, and letting me know I’m not annoying.  😀. I was a bit intimidated by posting on this site because I’m really not educated well as an “audiophile.”  I have had a solid two channel stereo system since I first purchased one in 1992 but have never known much on the technical side.  Everyone has been very nice and helpful on this site.  Thanks!

I feed dsd over hdmi from a Sony 1100es to my Moon 390, but you're right: you can't output the sacd layer without a breakout box. If you want to hear the sacd layer you will need to rely on the player's internal dac so that part is very important. Cheap Sony bluray probably not going to do it for you. 

Good luck!

I have a Sony 5400ES on a shelf in my basement, unplayed for probably 5 years.  It had one annoying trait, in that every SACD would start about 3 seconds into the first track.  Redbook CDs not affected.  I should probably plug it in and see what it does now