TRL Marantz Sa-14

Hi All,

Wanted to jump in on the TRL action here. The break in question is a very good thought provoking issue. From my own experience I was following the break-in period on my TRL Sony 2000es and my log shows a significant change at 310 hours.

I wish it was my imagination but its not. Its like reporting, several eye witnesses see the same thing you can pretty much take it to court.

Some of you who just had the update are witnesses and soon will know. Some modders are free with their part changes while others keep it private. Too bad there is formula.

But there is curiousity about everything and why they work that way. Its only natural to ask what TRL is doing to get this kind of sound.

On the question of what modification I am doing on my transport, its really experimentation at this point.

I am planning to CNC a few parts with my material. And as for the static sheets I have not been able to get a response from the overseas company. I would recommend for those who wish to try this tweek go to your local Radio Shack or order on line the Static pad ($24.99) which is used when working inside any electronic device.

If it does not work, its easy to return the item.

Hello again,

I wondered if anyone has any impression of the Marantz SA-11 before and after the TRL mod? After so much anticipation I was hoping there was some info. I love the looks of this player but will not sacrifice the Sony 2000es TRL if it does not respresent a quantum leap in performance.

Any suggestions are welcome. I am shying away from the SA-14 for now due to the age of the player.

LKdog-

Thanks. I look forward to hearing from others who may have the Marantz SA-11. I might give Paul a call on this and
see.

Jack, have you heard this player?

Hi Cuz,

Glad to be back on the scene. I am starting to look around for my next upgrade. I would not mind hearing the APL 3910 but its really out of reach for me. The Exemplar player looks interesting and within reach. Its hard to find a problem with the Sony 2000es TRL (after some additional transport support) sound so an upgrade to the SA14 or SA11 has to be another level up.

Don't know where I will land next so any feedback from users on any of these players are welcome. The SA-14 is a sure winner I just want a current player.

Nice reporting Sbayne. Too early to pass judgement and perhaps your keen ears are indeed on track. Microdynamics is part of coherency and synergy. I am sure it will come thru eventually.

If it does not then SA-14 is the next stop where by all reports its no slouch in that category.

Jasonwells-

Which transport are you using with your DAC?

LKdog- or any SA-14 user. How would you rate the TRL SA-14 to past players or transport/dac combination you ever had including turntables?

And is this player really sensitive to power cords?

Lkdog-

You seem to have had many opportunities to listen before deciding on the TRL. Like others here I went with what was said on this thread in making a decision. It was APL or Exemplar but the TRL is so reasonably priced I could not resist. No regrets at all on my decision.

Not many used SA-14 in the market so I plan on sending my Sony 2000es TRL for an update. Apparently there is no other players that Paul recommend at this time that exceeds the performance of the SA-14.

Shuang-

Paul was not very specific about the update but I will report back here the improvements assuming there will be.

LKdog-

Still waiting for one of you to place your TRL SA-14 for sale. So far you guys are "in love". If the person whome I just contacted is reading this, will you please hurry up and get bored of it so that I can make you an offer.

For now I will continue to love my Sony 2000es. Some improvements in the system have up the ante and everything sounds great. Plan on sending Paul this unit in for update sometime next weak.

Jes45 and Family,

You guys are just killing me! My TRL Sony 2000es is sitting here playing great music and all I can hear is how great the Marantz TRL SA-14 is. Furthermore, I was told that the TRL SA-14 is so superior to what I presently listen to it should be a reference.

What did I do to deserve this? I am now searching for a TRL or unmodded SA-14 v2 Marantz. I hate being left behind like this.

Cheers

TRL Family & friends-

First off I love my Sony TRL 2000es player.

My persuit of the Marantz SA-14 V2 stems from my listening to the Marantz SA-1 player at my friends place. Its a great machine!! No I did not compare it to my TRL 2000es but what I heard made it very clear to me where the strengths of the expensive Marantz is compared to the modestly priced Sony player. It had more body, air and defined bass.

Folks I must say in defense of the TRL Sony 2000es, the player is no slouch. It overachieves in areas that expensive players fail. It has terric tonal balance. Above average bass performance considering the modest power supply and its very tunable and responsive to isolation and power cords. Its more defined in characterless fashion than some players. It reproduces music in a convincing fashion when you have it dialed in properly.

No complaints just a yearning to satisfy my growing appetite for better music and in my opinion the SA-14 will soon be my reference.

Cheers

Lets not forget some of the recordings Paul has been involved in. I hope to hear them soon.

Hi Bob,

Make sure you get back to this thread with your impressions. I hope to have my unit soon also.

Jack-

This is a nice thread. Good information sharing without the big egoes.

Hey Cuz,

I will have a TRL SA-14 here very soon. I hope that I will have a chance to compare to the MARANTZ SA-1.

My winter listening is all set. What isolation gizmos if any are being used out there? Is this transport rock solid?
Any advantage when using the balance outputs vs. RCA?

Jack-

Do you think I should send Paul my preamp for his mod? Meitner Switchman pre.

Ok Lawyerman-

You certainly convinced me that the Marantz SA-1 is a contender. However, I do not share your opinion that the player is "lame" in stock form. Naturally I have not heard one modified by RAM but sitting next to an analog system set up, the stock unit was very impressive.

Like so many things out there a player can be a terrific performer or a plain shoe that just does not fit irrespective of price. I would imagine for those folks who are in this group any upgrade will be an improvement if they are committed to the player. Most of us know that Sony and Marantz added unique output stages that when removed improvements abound. I completely agree that this player should remain in stock form.

This is the very point why some of us on this thread share in a common respect and admiration for Paul's sense of economic scale. The TRL SA-14 may not be the best player out there but it certainly is impressive enough.

This is a fun hobby when an item's performance can be raised to an unexpected level with very little investment as opposed to the opposite. The TRL mod in this case is more sensible don't you agree?

Lithojoe-

Which player beats the TRL SA-14?? I will let you know. My plan is to compare it to two Sony players, one is modified and the other is in stock form. After that I have a friend who does have the stock Marantz SA-1 that I mentioned earlier (love this player).

I refuse to enter into a "shootout" with other players in the mix. The biggest problem is there is no standard testing procedure in place. If we were to select one important criteria for determining the superiority of a product perhaps we can use the "Neutral" term.

But the closest I have ever heard a "neutral system" was at Sony headquarters testing facility where I heard a special crossoverless design speaker system in an anechoic chamber. It was so impressive that I could not describe the sound to you. Its nothing I have ever heard both or since at home or at a live concert event. Therefore I have concluded that this must be what a neutral system should be.

Latest News-

Just received my TRL Marantz SA-14v.2 and I am happy to say its a pleasant surprise. Its performance is far better than the TRL 2000es in some respects and with time I am sure other areas will fall into place once its broken in (200 hours).

What a sound! Are most of you running the player thru the balance outputs?

Jack/LK,

Thanks for giving me the timeframe. Compared to a fully broken in TRl/Sony 2000es, the TRL/Marantz SA-14 v2 sounds like a lightweight instead of a middleweight Sony. So knowing there is a way to go is encouraging since in most other aspects this thing sounds more musical.

I am leary placing anything on top of the Marantz except for a soft sexy cloth. I have a tuning set of feet (my own design) that works fine under my SET also. But thats me.

Clio09- Is this the solid state amp that Paul claims sounds better than his previous top of the line tube amp?
Look forward to hearing your final impressions.

Jack--I am losing sleep all over again. Late night fun is back and the player is gorgeous sexy to look at. I have been switching back and forth between rca and balanced and at this point they are both very close in sound with a slight edge to the rca.

BIT is 230 hours counting...

Cuz,

Not there yet hope to have BIT at 300 very soon. I have tubes now so I don't run the system all the time.

However they are doing it everything on the TRL Marantz SA-14 is stellar. Its funny you mentioned the ERS cloth. Since the player just reached the 200+ break in mark, the addition of the ERS cloth elevated the sound especially in the midband to upper frequency area.

The sound is more refined with the cloth. No I have not opened the player to peak at the mods as I did with the Sony 2000es but I will say this, I don't feel the need to since the music is all I care about.

I am using the old Focal tweeter (made famous by the old Wilson Watt system) and its very unforgiving if the source is not balanced at the top. The TRL Marantz is very balanced.

Just wanted to add my recent observation. I pulled out an old Line conditioner and connected the Marantz Sa-14 TRL and I must say this changed things significantly.

This is an old Transformer type conditioner that buzzes in a seperate room away from the listening area but boy o boy this thing doubled by soundstage lifting the imaging off the speakers and creating a surround sound effect. I am over joyed!

TRL family Holiday

I am running full balance output by the way.

Lkdog-

I remembered one day a moder that I used to communicate with saying that the digital front end will not sound right without a filter. This was several years ago. I am a believer now.

I don't turn on my Player without turning on the Conditioner, can't go backwards.

Rich-

Its a very old transformer type conditioner . I would suggest looking at the PS Audio line of conditioners. They have several types, regenerator, transformer etc.

IMO any of these will do the job. In my case I had mine sitting in the closet for a long time. It was originally made to protect the computer.

Hi Guys,

For those of you that still have the Marantz SA-14 TRL, the new cable in my system has improved things tremendously.
But first an update. I have gone to tubes all around. The set up is Full Image Pre replacing the Meitner Switchman and my powerfull and elegant SET showing off the muscle power of 8 watts! It packs a wallop on these speakers.

Its driving a pair of Rosinante Gabriel full range speakers at 95db. With the addition of the Oritek X-1 music is now playing in my room every night.

In addition, I will be adding a device to the mix that hopefully will remove any last hint of digital. This device comes recommended by a reputable source known for sniffing out these low cost items. The claim is that the sound is analog for under $200.

Stay tuned.

And last but not least, I have alot of respect for what Paul has done especially with the Sony NS900. But I am afraid the Marantz SA-14 TRL is here to stay simply because of its performance and aesthetic appeal. I am sure the NS900 is far better musically but I will keep the Marantz SA-14 TRL especially with the addition of the Oritek X-1 and the prospects of additonal improvements from the disc treatment itself.

Lkdog-

It made everything very articulate and coherent. I compared it to the Acoustic Zen Matrix II. While the Zen adds more body, bass and warmth, the Ori cable is wonderful in speed, balance, and low noise. Of the two, the Oritek is more neutral. It also adds more emotion, you just feel more connected to the sound.

The Oritek X-1 noise level is very low so there is alot of "air" around instruments especially cymbals, saxophone (try Antiphone Blues cut 2)and guitar strings. Very involving indeed.

Enyas voice (Watermark) is more articulate, I can understand her words. Very nice improvement especially at the used price found on Audiogon. Its a keeper.

Lkdog,

Thats great to hear. I was wondering if I really needed to consider making another change and frankly I wanted to settle with something good. And the TRL Marantz SA-14 is really good! The one thing Paul mentioned was that the Sony NS900 had even lower noise (less digital noise). So I worked on the Marantz and it has improved in this area.

ClioO9,

Lkdog says the Sony NS-900 is different than the Marantz TRL. Is this your opinion also?

Let me know how the X-2 works in your set up. I might make the same move to the X-2. There is something 'just right'. The ship has arrived response with the Oritek in the system is very satisfactory.

Clio09-

You have X-2's? Thats great news. Very interested in your opinion now that you have the X-1s. And I appreciate if you would let us know your impression of the Sony TRL.

Lkdog-

Thanks for the response. Everything at this point is system dependent not to mention personal taste. I did not like the Sony's appearance compared to the Marantz.