Great stuff @jayctoy !
yes, it would seem that at $3000 both pieces are a fantastic deal, and the CD digital audio converter unit might just be a steal. For all the stuff that Audiophile‘s to throwing money everywhere this thing could make a great back up for some people who have even very high in systems.
this might be a bit of a bold statement and I’m not sure I can actually make it: it seems the Ruby gear at $3k cannot easily be matched in build quality alone. I mean, I’m not sure of a whole other devices out there at the $3000 price point there built like this. That’s real value.
|
Will do! I have only used two Class D amps before--an NAD M22 and a Peachtree Nova 300. Both were great but didn't really move me. Let's see if Ken Ishiwata has the mojo!
|
If it is as well made and as nice looking as the Ruby integrated, I'm going to be pleased. Sure it would be.
Folks I know who have experience with it say the DAC is outstanding.
|
@analogj , Yes, there is also Class G. It's been around for a long time but not so popular. I had a Creek that ran the first twenty watts in Class A then moved over to switching--a Class G design. It was super strong and I loved it.
I've had two Class D amps. Both sound super clear and had gobs of power. The body of the music was a bit thin though. The technology has surely changed. I'm excited to try this one from Marantz. And I'm a tube head!
|
The Ruby arrived today.
Opening the box was something special in itself. The packaging is nicely done with attention to detail. I knew I was in for a treat.
This is not some mid-fi integrated. Not by packaging, looks, feel, or sound. I'm impressed. I'll hold off on subjective sound opinions for a bit while it breaks in and I get used to it.
Let's just say I'm going to be up in my music room with a bottle of bourbon all night!
|
Oz, Yes, I have a bottle of Rabbit Hole open right now!
@corelli, yes, I had the Primaluna Dialogue HP, their highest end amp at the time. I probably shouldn't have sold it. It was a good 10 degrees in Chicagoland when the Ruby was dropped off. I should've given it 8 hours to warm up. Instead, I plugged it in after an hour in the house. It sounded a little wonky for the first 30 minutes and after an hour or so the fog cleared.
I'm holding back on making a conclusion or two before I spend some real time with it. Let's just say that I'm having a great time! The phono stage, which Ken I. said was an accomplishment and worthy of Koetsu carts, is spectacular for the money. I have a Manley Chinook and this thing plays closely in many areas in its league. It's probably not quite as good, but damn is it sweet, smooth and BIG sounding. Big, big surprise to me.
|
So, yes, I just left the Ruby on all day and night. Virtually no heat. Dead quiet, nary a peep out of the thing at idle.
This is a wonderful product. I cannot fault it in any way so far. Some things I’ve noted.
- The Ruby is substantial, weighing ~35lbs. It’s a Class D amp too. Quality construction.
- The speaker binding posts are some of THE BEST I’ve ever encountered. I mean it. They are massive, custom copper things. They clamp down on spades like a shark.
- Everything about the product says smooth, tight tolerances, and ergonomically subtle and appropriate. Someone (likely Ken I) really cared about every angle of this thing.
- I wonder if Marantz should have added just a touch more bling to it. It does not need it, but it might help consumers distinguish it more as a truly up the chain product, as compared to their garden variety home theatre/receiver lines down stream. Please don’t misread this to mean it doesn’t exude quality. It does. It’s just from photos and marketing I’m not sure folks would say, "hey, this is like buying a McIntosh or Luxman integrated." Its build quality is that nice.
- Sound wise, I’m pleasantly surprised at how I don’t even think, "Class D" when I listen to it. That’s a testament to its sound signature. I’ve owned two Class D amps and heard a handful (nothing over $5K though). The Ruby has body to the weight.
- The MC phono section that Ken I said was worthy of amplifying a Koetsu is super. I’m running it with two carts--a Kiseki Purpleheart and Benz LPS. It’s totally worthy. Keep in mind I’m used to a Manley Chinook phono pre.
- Because vinyl playback is a bit laborious and nearly wasteful to me for break-in I listened most of the day yesterday to digital sources. However, during my evening session I went back to the MC and all vinyl. I haven’t gone back to digital yet. Soooo satisfying.
- I haven’t really had a non-tube amp solution in this room that moved me when listening to my Klipsch Cornwall IVs. This one does, which makes me want to try more.
- With respect to digital sources, I didn’t buy the Ruby SACD/DAC unit (yet). I’m using a Doge Audio Tube DAC and Audiolab transport--mostly using Roon to the Doge though. Sound is wonderful.
- It’s probably too early for me to try to put the sound into words, which is tough for me anyway. To me, there’s many ways to a bake a cake and I really don’t care if the designer used 1, 2, 3 or no eggs in the mix. If it sounds good, it is good. I really like the big soundstage and 3D quality to it. There’s a huge helping of detail without sounding too precise. There’s a smoothness from top to bottom. While the sound is not fat as some of my tube amps, it is not thin or dry--those are qualities I had issues with in my two previous Class D products. It has real weight.
- The packaging and manual were put together with care and exude elegance. No fooling. It took me by surprise. Marantz lets you know this guy was made in Japan.
It’s amazing that this integrated goes for $4k and Music Direct has it for $3k right now. You get much for your money. Sorry if I sound like an advertisement. I just feel it’s true. Really lovely and fun piece. I’m nervous that I’m going to find a way to put some different loudspeakers in here, like Wharfedale Elysians or Q Acoustics Concepts. Oh lord!
|
Yes, Corelli, I seem to be mirroring your view on this machine. I'm trying to motivate myself to plug the Chinook in to compare the Marantz's phono stage. For now, all I know is that I'm stunned at how good this phono stage is.
I was not in the market for a Marantz and did 0 research on this guy before buying it. I just wanted to try it. I think my confirmation bias was on the low end of the spectrum. I wasn't expecting anything--maybe a slightly dry picture given it is solid state and Class D. It surprised me!
You must have been very pleased to land on this amp, as it sounds great and it solved your issue. Sometimes that an take multiple purchases, returns, sales, etc. to get right.
|
So I did get to hook up the Manley Chinook tube phono stage. It's arguably better than that in the Ruby, but not by much. I thought that I would hear sweeping differences. The Chinook may have a bit more air and space, but on good recordings I cannot tell or miss the Chinook.
What is really nice to hear in my system is the Ruby integrated's ability to play well with my Klipsch Cornwall IVs.
I broke down and bought the Ruby SACD/DAC. I'm surprised these didn't sell out overnight at $3k. Can't wait to get it in the mix.
|
The Ruby SACD/DAC is quite heavy!
Just running it in now...
|
@hedgehog , Sorry I do not know the gain of the phono stage. If I had to guess based on muscle memory (comparing it to my Chinook), I'd bet it's around 50dB or so.
|
