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SA-14 Construction/TOC Issues

Hello,

I just bought a B-stock unit from Cambridge Sound Works that has the full warrantee and had them ship it to me (I live in Canada). The date of manufacture is December 2001. I have never seen a SA-14 before except via pictures.
Just two questions:

1. The top and sides of my unit are made out of a black plastic material that are riveted in place. I had assumed that it would be a metal of some sort (probably aluminum). Is this the normal top and sides?

2. The CD player that this is replacing is a Sony SCD-C555ES player. In the year that I have had it, it has never had a TOC or skipping problem. On one SACD in particular (Jacintha - Lush Life) the SA-14 has a TOC problem and when eventually loaded, skips on the latter tracks. The CD is spotless and not a problem with the Sony. Anyone else have this type of problem?

I have had this unit only for a couple of days now and can return it via their 45 day trial.

Thank you in advance for your input.

Regards,

David Berry
david_berry

Showing 4 responses by david_berry

david_berry OP
211 posts
 
Thank you for your responses. I was aware that there was a TOC issue in their earlier run (I believe pre-April or May 2001) and thus did not expect it when I asked for the date of manufacture from the salerep. I also did not expect that once the disc was read, that it would skip.

The plastic top just put me over the edge when I saw it. I am going to attempt to get them to pay for return shipping as I was led down the garden path.

There have been many positive remarks about Cambridge SoundWorks in this forum and in others, but unfortunately, I cannot add to them.

David
david_berry OP
211 posts
 
"My concern would be if other units from different dates
were built with metal top and sides, and if so why?"

Exactly, Attila. I held my unit under a bit more scrutiny than normal due to its B-stock status. As such, the reason for the question about its top plastic-like material vs. what I was expecting - an aluminum top. It is good to know that the top and sides of yours seems the same as mine.

My concern was that of misrepresention of the product (i.e. not just B-stock but exterior (and possibly interior) changes), not particulary about the sound output.

Please do post your findings.
david_berry OP
211 posts
 
My player weighs 26.7 lbs (12.2 kg) without packaging (I have an accurate, fairly large scale in my lab). This does match what Marantz has published about its weight (26 lbs), although I don't imagine the top part would influence its total weight too much.

Perhaps, based upon what Attila has said, I am mistaking the aluminum with this finish as a plastic-like material. If so, don't I feel silly! I believe that I still have to get the firmware update, though.
david_berry OP
211 posts
 
I am currently not using any power conditioner. The only thing that I have done is install a dedicated 20 amp circuit to power my 2-channel system. It seems to have worked fine for the Sony SCD-C555ES player and other CD players before it.
Thank you for the power off suggestion, however, my way of thinking is that for a ~$3000 US MSRP CD player and one that has such a high level of engineering, it should not be that finicky.

David
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