The Marantz Pipeline

Arcamguy,
I'm with you when it comes to digital music and feel, from personal experience, that it takes more money and effort to get comparable sound with what I have now and even more to get better sound. I gave up on it after getting my feet wet and am waiting for some kind of standardization to happen and since this format is still quite young, I feel it will be a long time before I'm comfortable with it.

Having said that, I've read the same things about the NA7004, both good and just so-so. Music Direct has it on sale for half off so it might be an indication of sorts. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

All the best,
Nonoise

Nonoise....
Pivoting my own thread to something else; can one hijack his own thread...?
At any rate, I'm a DAC newbie; you seem, like me, to have an affinity for Marantz.
Music Direct has a Marantz NA7004 at half-price. I'd like to buy it but would be interested in your opinions; my own research has shown some people like it, some don't. I'm a beginner here with digital music....is this a smart purchase?

Thanks much,
Jeff

No problemo. My good old Tonian Labs TL-D1s. Breaking in both the Marantz and the Darwin Silver ICs not long after gave me some pause as it was very detailed yet favored the upper end over a balanced presentation.

It turned out I was simply impatient and the mids and bass (what there can be with the Tonians) came along just fine and are deeper than I would have imagined, yet so taut and tuneful. It makes me wonder just how big and meaty it would all sound with a true full ranger that could reproduce down in the 30s.

All the best,
Nonoise

Hello Nonoise,
I read your review on that amp and enjoyed it; I found it very informative.

You wrote the best line I ever read about an amp, and I'm paraphrasing: " this amp excavates music; it needs a permit." Outstanding.

The plan right now is saving up for two, which I plan to bi-amp with my B&W 805's.

I will ask my local dealer if he's heard anything about what's coming down the road; glad you're enjoying your PM-15S2B.

Jeff

Nonoise, what speakers do you have this paired with? Sorry to thread jack.

I wouldn't call myself an expert but I have the Marantz PM-15S2b and love it. Check the threads and you'll see my mini review. It's an absolutely wonderful integrated that Ken Ishiwata tweeked with some upscale parts and some minor circuit revisions.

The word I got from Marantz in NJ was that nothing new is coming for a few years but who really knows? This amp is built like a tank, has a refined feel and look to it, and though some do look down their noses at it, ignore them. This will get you off the merry-go-round and is a serious product.

My advice is to ask around at the authorized online dealers and see if they have any demos for sale. I got mine from Music Direct for a great price and they were a pleasure to deal with. For some reason, other online dealers have a hard time keeping them in stock and I've only seen one for sale here on A'gon. That might mean something. Good luck.

All the best,
Nonoise