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Marantz SA-10 Vs Esoteric K-05Xs

Hello,Was wondering if anyone has compared the Marantz SA-10 and Esoteric K-05Xs/K07Xs players.My current Oppo UDP-205 is a nice player, but I think upgrading to a dedicated CD/SACD player might result in a better sound.Thanks in advance!
milpai

Showing 3 responses by phillyb

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phillyb
403 posts
 
I've had mine for 4 months and it finally broke in thank god that was a long time!.

Using many types of music, the best I've heard was dither off, Filter 1 and noise shaping 3-1. This gave the most transparent, dynamic and superb balanced sound. I used piano, stand up bass, Trumpets, and Vocals. Some all by themselves. These settings were the ones that made it feel like the players were right in the room with the correct tones, weight, and dynamics, natural.

Dither 1 rounds things off and warms things up but in a bright system or unnatural like many systems today that would be a good choice for the dither 1 or 2 which might bring the weight and soul back to the music. After break-in, the SA-10 is outstanding in CD and SACD and USB flash drive files. Burning some music for compilations in WAV and even MP3 playback great and musical, WAV outstanding of course.

Great value and worth looking into grabbing one, my past players have been Esoteric -X1, K-01, Marantz Sa7, Sony SCD1 and others that I had but had nothing but problems, some big boutique names who use OEM parts and some caused issues with other sections of the player, like overheating and shutting down and not reading discs. Stick with the Players that are built and designed from the ground up like Sony's, Marantz, Esoteric and a few others.  Report this    
phillyb's avatar
phillyb
403 posts
 
I owned the K-01 a wonderful CD player, had massive attack and dynamics that put vinyl to shame. Loved it. Got ill so I sold the K-01, and the only player I considered was the Marantz SA-10S1. I’ve not looked back with regret. The K-01 still has more massive in the attack, but the Marantz reproduce the music with a flair, a class to it, does not throw things at you it just there to enjoy the performance. 20K vs. 7K in pricing no contest sound-wise, perhaps weight-wise 40 lbs. vs 80 lbs. both are a bit different but both oh so good. Depending on one’s system and gear you might prefer one over the other. I think in SACD discs the Marantz might edge the K-01. The K-01 power supply is much larger which is why it sounds more massive than it should for 20K. But the Marantz with that Mastering Engine design makes USB to CD sound so natural and real. 
phillyb's avatar
phillyb
403 posts
 

I have fully enjoyed my Marantz SA-10 SACD player, it is very refined. It can sound as good as the disc played, for instance, a disc recorded with tube sounds that were real, full sounding, and body to the music, then today's over-compressed, over-produced crap sounds that way. This replaced my Esoteric K01 and I never looked back or missed the K-o1 and that was a really fine player.  Key to any great SACD player is the power cord used, and you're playing the acoustics of your room. SA10 is a fine player and an overall champ that is also affordable and well-built. I use Dithere 1 setting, filter 3-1. The headphone amp is off, and gain is set to medium and that is important it kicks the sound up a notch and I found this by trying it one day, phase normal (based on my XLR gear pin configuration). Compared to many much more expensive players the Marantz can stand up to them all in sound quality. 

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