Marantz

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.

I've owned the X0-1, 5, and 7 Esoterics, and they were/are all excellent spinners, particularly the X0-1 (in my case, modded). That said, my Marantz SA-7S1 is a cut above in the musicality department. It just has a way of disappearing into a soundstage (I know that's a weird phrase) that has eluded the Esoterics in my room. But I'm really splitting hairs. The Esoterics are fabulous machines. 

test

I had an SA-1, and it was a fantastic unit. Sold it in favor of a Goldmund player. Boy, was that a mistake. 

Jafant:

I don't mean to butt in, but I think Samzx12 might've been referring to the S2 version of the SA-11. His opinion of its relative SQ is similar to mine.

FWIW, the Marantz *Reference-level* players have NOT rolled off the top end in any of my systems over the years. They're quite linear, with just a touch of warmth across the frequency band to bring the sound closer to what I hear live. 

Haven't heard the Lite, but the original Pearl was/is a VERY good player. Limited to 500 units, as I understand. A guy I knew had one, and I heard it at his house compared with an ARC spinner (I forget the exact model, but I remember it was MUCH more expensive). He liked the ARC a little better (and eventually sold the Pearl), but I thought the Pearl was a bit more resolving and even more musical. Given the price difference, I thought the Pearl acquitted itself really well. If I hadn't already had an SA-7S1, I think I would've tried to pick up a Pearl.