Marantz SA-15S2b, thoughts & opinions


Hey there everyone.
I'm on the fence on purchasing a new Marantz SA-15S2b SACD player and would like a little feedback. I'm not interested in PC, streaming or downloads so please keep the chatter on the SACD player :-)

I've heard the previous version just last week and was really impressed with it. That was with CDs only and CDs will be my primary source of music. After seeing the price of SACDs out there and the wide range of opinion on the sonics, I'll tread lightly if and when I buy any.

Any criticisms or raves are appreciated and please don't be put out if I don't respond to any or all responses as I just need opinions. Alternate suggestions need not apply since I really don't see myself buying another RB CDP. My tastes currently run to world jazz, vocals and acoustic, including small piece chamber music. My amp is a Burson integrated that mostly runs in Class A and my speakers are Tonian Labs TL-D1s with all cabling by Mapleshade and I listen in the nearfield. That should sum up all parameters and help narrow down any responses. And, I definitely will replace all fuses with HiFi Tuning ones or better which will improve sonics and allow me to hear further into recordings.

After talking to Marantz headquarters over in NJ and picking their brains, it appears this unit came out in June/July of 2011 and will be current for the next few years and there will be no discounts given at years end but I may have an authorized online dealer willing to negotiate a bit, but it's a long shot.

Thanks, in advance,
Nonoise
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Showing 13 responses by nonoise

Thanks Tomcy6.
It is indeed eating at me that progress is rapidly outpacing the time slots that models usually occupy but most of it seems geared towards streaming and such. The only caveat is the huge amount of data that DSD takes up, requiring lots of storage and managing that storage. I just like spinning those discs.

This is not an inexpensive player but one that I hope will satisfy for the long run as I plan on continuing to buy CDs and now that I've checked out some SACD sites, trying them out as well. Both formats are said to sound wonderful on this player.

It sounds like I'm just looking for confirmation for what I'm about to do.
Thanks for the gentle push.

All the best,
Nonoise
Just ordered the Marantz SA-15S2b through Music Direct and got a great deal on a demo. They don't come up that often as just last week the one they had already sold. Timing is everything.

A big selling point was the assurance that if I don't like it, I can return it, no problem. Full warranty and a patient, knowledgeable and understanding agent made this an easy choice. Great company to deal with.

Can't wait :-)

All the best,
Nonoise
Thanks Milpai.

Expect to hear me gushing about it in a week or two. :-)

For the present time, I won't be streaming any HiRez. I plan on immersing myself in all that those shiny discs have to offer. After all, it's the original form of DSD that everyones going ga ga over with their PCs and streaming.

I may plan on getting a iMac or PC notebook sometime far off in the future or maybe an Airplay and stream what I do have through the Opt/Coax when funding comes back to somewhat normal levels.

This is a fun hobby.

All the best,
Nonoise
Charyo,
Thanks for the recommendation! I didn't know Yo Yo Ma did a solo performance. I already have "Dialoghi" with Elinor Frey and love her playing as well as the sonics.

And the price is right!

All the best,
Nonoise
Tomcy6,

Thanks for the nod. It's nice to know that there's still some of us who like to spin those discs. Suggestions are appreciated as I find it time consuming going over the reviews, prices and trying to find a site besides Amazon that allows one to hear samples. Jazz is so broad in taste as is Rock but anything that can steer me in the general direction is welcome.

Right now I'm waiting for Yamamoto's "Midnight Sugar", Brubeck's "Time Out" and Norah Jones "Feels Like Home" to start things hopefully this weekend. I'm also planning on getting Sinatra's "Where Are You?" and "No One Cares" along with Jacintha's "Best of Jacintha".

Boy, these things add up.

All the best,
Nonoise
Hey Bigbird, our flock seems to be growing :-)

I originally thought of trying out the SA-8004 myself as it and the PM-8004 have gotten some really good press. Then I read where Absolute Sound ranked it and my TEAC PD-H600 (along with some others) as great buys under $2000 so that led me to audition the SA-15S2 and it did so well that I had to take a chance.

If I'm not mistaken, the K1 Pearl was an upgrade from the SA-15S2 and the SA-15S2b is a distillation of the K1 Pearl, made more affordable. Every step is appreciated.

Yes, cables are very important and can limit the potential of a component if not properly matched and evaluated. Can't wait to hear it and let you know what I think of it as well as hearing what your impressions are.

All the best,
Nonoise
Milpai,
That SA-11S3 is quite the player. I don't know if it does DSD via USB but if I could afford it, I'd seriously consider getting it. I've corresponded with an online reviewer who's listened to and reviewed both units and although he loves the SA-11S3, he got the SA-15S2b as he feels it's got the best price to performance aspect going for it. YMMV.
The DACs in the SA-11S3 are DSD capable so it should stand to reason it could be done. That would make it a great hub for all your needs.

All the best,
Nonoise
I thought I'd post an update on the Marantz SA-15S2b which I ended up buying.

I'm keeping it.

It has that classic Marantz house sound without going retro. Simply put, it carries a lot of weight and gravitas yet still lets the details (more than I have been hearing, actually) shine through. Mellifluous and beguiling without the bloat or smear.

I burned it in by running it for 7 days straight. Out of the box it was quite a letdown but after 5 hours it started to reveal itself. At the 10 hr mark it made another leap up in resolution and continues to impress me. I've had a few CDPs and a couple of DACs and I've never had one fail to impress upon first hearing, only to get incrementally better. This Marantz will confound anyone who won't take the time to let it mature.

One word of advice: careful cable matching is paramount with this, more so than any other device I've had. I used to use and love Mapleshade Ribbon ICs and when first hooked up, I had unbelievable mids and bass. It didn't take long to realize I had too much, at the expense of detail, micro dynamics, and nuance. Nothing I had on hand seemed to work so I settled on a pair of Darwin Silver ICs and everything came into focus beautifully. This pairing of SACD player and ICs are just about the perfect match, for me. Coherence is the best way to describe it. That, and serendipity.

I think Marantz has a hit on its hands and I'm seriously considering going deeper into debt with the matching integrated and calling it quits for many a year to come. As much as I like detail, nuance, subtle shading, and texture, I also love (and have missed without realizing it) the Marantz take on musicality: slightly warm, engaging, and comforting. Just a rich and full presentation that I can, and do, listen to for hours at a stretch.

The soundstage seems bigger and deeper. It's like I got a bigger amp or somehow grew another driver on my speakers. Intelligibility is greatly increased and now it's much easier to follow lyrics (which has always been a problem for me). What really gets me is how much more bottom end info I can follow. It used to be just a kind of noise, suggesting something going on down there but now it's just as defined as the rest of the spectrum.

Soundstage seems wider now, all the time, with proper height and weight. It's all upsides so far (except for that nagging urge to get the matching integrated). I'd be remiss for not mentioning the build quality. If you like vaults, tanks, and monoliths, you'll like this. It kind of grows on you (you really have no choice since it dominates the equipment rack). Buttons feel very solid and responsive and the drawer opens and closes very quietly.

With all the trending to PC audio I've found respite in disc spinner heaven with the Marantz. CDs take a great leap up in performance but bad recordings can, and do, sound worse with this player so be prepared to sell off the bad ones. I've only tried 3 SACDs and the step up in presentation is an eye opener. There is a greater sense of everything as long as the recording is good.

Call me a heretic, ban me from the audiophile club. I'll happily take my ball and go home and just listen to the music from now on. I haven't forsaken PC audio but have yet to latch onto it as I feel that it's got some ways to go before everything settles down so spinning discs it is for me.

Ken Ishiwata gets it. Now I do.

All the best,
Nonoise
Thanks, Chayro.
Yes, I've "quit" smoking many years ago as well so point well taken.
:-)

All the best,
Nonoise
I just had to post that yesterday, somewhere around the 240 hr mark, the sound blossomed. Maybe bloomed. It's beyond words right now but it's almost intoxicating, like I'm drinking one song after the next. Supposedly it gets better up to the 400 mark so I'll be in need of a designated driver for the next two weeks or so. :-)

Oh, I liked the SACD player so much I went and ordered the matching integrated. Call me foolish, call me crazy, but just don't call me if I'm listening.

All the best,
Nonoise
Tboooe, thanks for the pat on the back. I will get back to you after I've had it awhile.

Audiozen, thanks for the advice but the CODA is way out of my price range. I'm sure it sounds great and has all the output one can ask for but my room isn't that big and my speakers are 95db efficient and the Marantz I'm getting is just at the top of my price point (getting both at discount for being demos helped a lot).

If the Marantz comes anywhere near the performance (and from what I've learned, it does, and more) then I'll be one happy camper. Time will tell and I won't get it until the middle of next week so stay tuned for my next favorable outburst. :-)

All the best,
Nonoise
Audiozen, no I haven't had the pleasure of trying the Cabledyne ICs but I'm really taken by the Darwins.

They seem to follow similar recipes of thin, solid core, cryo'd silver with a mostly air dielectric. The similarity ends with the terminations: Darwin doing away with the bronze barrel part of the termination, just concentrating on the actual connector and Calbedyne uses what appears to be a silver plated, bronze barrel termination. You'd have to pay extra for the Xhadow terminations to do away with the bronze barrel which, I'm told, really degrades the sound no matter how it's plated (or so goes the theory behind Darwins formula and the option to use the Xhadow terminations).

As for the non magnetic sheath, I have encountered no problems that I can detect with any kind of interference. Also, capacitance is 11.70pf and Cabledyne is 20pf, which is supposed to mean something but all I know is the lower the number, the better.

I know this doesn't really help as each cable will sound different in every system but from what I've experienced, I like the Darwins.

All the best,
Nonoise