Upgrading a CD/SACD player with integral DAC

Hello Skyscraper,
     I figured that I would put my two cents in on the SA-KI Ruby. I recently picked one up on Audiogon about a month ago, for only  $ 2600.00. It took a long time to burn in; but I have been enjoying it ever since. I think that the best advantage is how it up-converts CD playback into a 11.2 Mghz DSD signal. I don't like to play the numbers game; but the SQ of this Marantz conversion is legit, being one hell of an impressive implementation. The SA-10 does the same; however, at a considerable higher cost. The sound-stage is wider, deeper, and instruments have a longer decay. I would say that the Ruby has the magic of leaving you thinking it has less detail; but leading to the full realization that the detail is still all there, only further back with more air and harmonic content. It is almost like everything has more room to breathe. 
     The real magic begins when using SACD Disks. Only now, with this Marantz 11.2 implementation, can I finally hear the advantage of DSD over CD. Natively, the differences were always hard for me to decipher. Kicking the SQ up another notch; the Ruby can convert multi-channel DSD Disks to a stereo down-mix, while still retaining a large percentage of the increased multi-channel sound-stage. The only thing that I have heard comparable was a MLP ( Meridian Lossless Packing ) DVD Audio 24/ 192 multi-channel disk, also down-mixed. The harmonic ambience could give analogue a close run for the money. 
     If I ever get bored ( Doubtful! ), I still have a sturdy and robust disk spinner with a digital output. I can still connect an R2R Dac, or any Dac I want. The Ruby still gives me various digital options that I might not have otherwise. Still, there is only one ( thrifty? ) way to get the Marantz 11.2 implementation. Anything in addition is only icing on the cake; but this 11.2 might be the whole cake, and eating it too. You might just forgo any other external Dac, and put your money into multi-channel SACD music compilations. Putting your money into music; instead of your equipment, is this audiophile heresy? I stand guilty as charged. Other options might be viable; but maybe I am just being a little greedy.

Hello Skyscraper,

     It should be noted that not all SACD disks are created the same, many vary in sound quality in the same fashion as CDs. I still suggest that the best of SACD can outperform the best of CD, while being played on the Ruby.
     One of the most surprising disks that I have listened to would be the Dianna Krall, The Look Of Love, SACD Multi-Channel. The Ruby can be set to play back a stereo mix of the disk, or down mix  (WOW!) the Multi-Channel. The later sounds like analog heaven territory. It is still an expensive disk, but still very popular. You might be able to borrow one from a friend, and compare it to the same release on CD.
     I seriously considered the used market for many Esoteric players, some of them still going even after 10 years. I was unsure of the availability of replacement parts, the optical drive receiving the most wear. I think that Esoteric might still carry parts, will they pay for replacement if you are not the original owner? I considered a newer transport a better option, but that is just me. I would certainly verify before purchasing a long in the tooth Esoteric. If it works for you, might be worth a serious consideration.

Hello Skyscraper,

     Ditto on the info from Sebrof. I received the paper manual with my unit, and it covers all of your concerns in detail. The lights can easily be turned off, the display can be turned off, the digital output can be turned off, the headphones amp can be turned off, etc. If the blue lights bother you, it is not a deal breaker. They are not stabbingly bright blue, just a nice light glow. I am usually a stickler for such things, but I don't think it affects SQ that much. It just strikes me as a nice asthetic, but for certain turn it off if you desire.
     Just a note on the headphone amp, mine is internally turned off. The output impedance is listed as 32 Ohms, which I heard should be one tenth of the input impedance of the headphones used. Thirty two seems awfully high, not sure if that is a typo ( Maybe 3 to 2 Ohms possibly ? ). It shouldn't damage your headphones, but it might make low impedance phones sound sluggish. This presumes that the 32 is a legit measurement. I heard that a separate Marantz headphone amp/ Dac is a killer for driving phones. Give it a shot and let me know how it turns out. 

Hello Skyscraper,

     I did mention that you might be pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately, there is a bane over higher resolution devices. For those few recordings that weren't mastered well, their welts are also magnified. I am a great enthusiast over early John Barry works, especially the early James Bond OST. Unfortunately, the early CDs of Thunderball, Goldfinger, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever, OHMSS, the SQ of these selections sounded atrocious. However, the remastered CDS are like heaven to these ears. 
     I have experienced various SQ of older recordings being released on SACD, basically because these aged recordings were never remastered for SACD. For newer recordings that were mastered for SQ, SACD brings out the best in these releases. Like I said, it is a mixed bag of results between CDs, as well as SACDs. Simply to transfer a terrible master ( CD ) onto a SACD, no remastering, is simply doing SACD on the cheap. No it is not going to sound better, and will likely sound worse. This is not SACD'S fault, it is simply revealing more the errors on the master.
     More recent music that was created with a higher sound quality for SACD, these really show the superiority of the format. I would suggest that you might find remastered  CDs, or even music files, of John Coltrane and Joni Mitchell.
You could also try the alternate digital filter on the Ruby. There is also a setting on the device for CD, Stereo SACD, and Multi-Channel SACD. Make sure you follow the directions when you make your selection. Multi-Channel DSD is a real treat with the Ruby. The Dianna Krall MC release may be expensive, but the SQ is well worth it. I would purchase maybe a handful of such disks, just for a special treat. SD CD's and music files can still sound very impressive on the Ruby.

Hello Skyscraper,

     I just listened to Joni Mitchell's  For The Roses, damn good sounding recording. It was originally released in 1972, and what I heard certainly didn't sound that ancient in SQ. What I listened to had excellent high frequency response as well. This I could tell via Spotify from a non-audiophile Samsung Android A6, feeding an Oppo HA2 SE headphone line in,  with the HA2  driving the Oppo PM-3 headphones ( Not exactly the last word in high frequency response ). Even being this handicapped, the SQ sounded like it was recorded only yesterday on a modern high quality recording rig. I am not kidding you. I was certainly not listening to an early release of this music, I smell a remastered version in the works. Can you tell me which release you are currently using, as this CD has a long history of numerous re-releases, including an HDCD version. I presume that this isn't your version. Normal CD players can't play HDCD, or so I thought.
     The latest CD releases of For The Roses are as follows- Asylum Records U.S. release catalog# 5057-2 in 1990, Electra Records Japanese release catalog# wpcr-831 in 1995, and an Asylum Records HDCD  version release from Japan catalog# wpcr-80281 in 2015. I am not certain,  but I think that the Japanese releases ( Original American Selection ) can be ordered in pristine condition via CDJapan, via their website. You can see how convoluted it is trying to get the best version of your favorite music.  Still, I know that what I am hearing is the latest remastered update. It sounds very clear with no noise or hiss, and the dynamics are certainly not compressed.  
     Take what I am going to say next with a few grains of salt. I once borrowed a Shunyata conditioner with their associated power chords. I found that for some ( Not All ) equipment, it sometimes will slightly compress the dynamics. Usually, this only pertains to Esoteric equipment that already utilize some form of power conditioning themselves, creating an overkill situation. Don't unplug everything. Only try replugging just one component from the Shunyata at a time into bare wall, then listen to the same musical passages , see if you still hear the same effect. It may very well be that this is not your problem, but utilizing a process of elimination might be helpful. Hopefully, this info might be of some use to you.

Hello Skyscraper,

     I usually shop at Silver Platters,  a local  retail outlet in Seattle WA.  They have Blue-Ray audio, BR. Movies, DVD audio, SACD Stereo, SACD multi-channel, and CD's out the wazoo. They have every silver disk that you can think of. I am not sure of what retailers there are in you area. Best Buy ( Egads! ) used to have a large inventory that you could special order recent releases of remastered CD's and Records. High end audio retailers used to carry some SACD's and High-Rez. Audio. Check to see if there is a Silver Platters in your area. You might try CD Japan, as they have re-issues of many out of print disks. You would have to special order them as an import from their website. These suggestions are a decent outlet for pristine stock. I don't  know if you want to take a risk on the used market. Everything is going streaming these days, limiting options.
     I hear the Ruby has an excellent USB port for your computer. The instructions tell you how to download the appropriate driver onto your computer from the Marantz website. Streaming is not my favorite thing either. However, I wouldn't  know about my favorite musician Adrian Von Ziegler without streaming his music videos via Youtube. There are new and innovative musicians out there. How do they reach the public with a dwindling inventory of physical media? They are still going to have to pry my silver disks from my cold dead hands; because I resent anyone who thinks they have the right to limit my options. Separate me from my music? Who do they think they are? Sorry, it remains a sore spot of an issue for me. The ' For The Roses '  version on Spotify sounds like an audiophile dream, and I will be downloading the album onto my Android device tonight. I will also be looking for a CD. copy at Silver Platters, getting the best I can out of it on my Ruby; now that is what having options is all about.
     I could look online for the selection at Silver Platters, or you could do the same. They can take your special order online and ship disks to you, whatever you desire. 

Hello Skyscraper,

     The bad news is that Silver Platter's inventory of SACD disks is mostly depleted, I just checked. The good news is that the Acoustic Sounds website has various multi-channel SACDs available. There are disks by Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, Dave Brubeck, The Doors, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, Miles Davis, Jeff Beck, Jacintha, and various  classical  artists. The Dianna Krall " The Look Of Love " multi-channel SACD is available for $20.00. A few other disks can run from $30.00-$35.00. The Eagles " Hotel California " runs right up to $55.00. As much as I want that disk, that is way too pricey for me. There are plenty of deals to be had from $12.00 to $23.00. I wouldn't buy more than two or three, pretty pricey disks. I am just not sure, with streaming and all, how much longer these disks will still remain available. According to Acoustic Sounds, just about their entire inventory of Joni Mitchell has been switched to download available only. Some Artists are just going that way, but to pay as much for a download as a disk? Just one tiny computer virus can wipe out your entire expensive music file collection, and you will be left with nothing to show for it. What in the he'll are they trying to do to us?

Hello Skyscraper,

     I once had a computer that crashed from a virus, it also took out my external hard drive back-up. Oh-yeah, remember when they tried selling us those things as protection to back-up our files; against potential intrusion? Anti-Virus programs, defragmentizing, maintaining  updates on OS and anti-virus, continuously scanning and maintaining firewalls; all of it was a joke to even an amateur hacker. It was all a paper tiger, just a pacifier to give us a false sense of security while the thieves robbed the shirt off of our backs. They sold this lemon of music file downloads to the public, as a Trojan horse to rape the security of the unspecting  public. The final insult to injury is that the public is now trapped by their false pride; against admitting that they have been grifted wholesale. They will continue to give these thieves access of the keys to the kingdom, pretending to be oblivious; hoping that it will be the other guy who gets victimized, just so long as it isn't them. You want your music ( File ), better cough up a credit card number so I can use the Internet to rape your personal information; then sell it, sell it, and sell it again!
     Sure, I regrettably use downloading; since disks are being squeezed out. Given very little choice, at least I know what is really going on in the background. Your hands are tied while the grifter vultures pick your carcase clean. I may love my music, but it shouldn't cost me my soul to have access to it. The silver disks at least didn't give the father of lies access to everything that I hold dear. Can't put that genie back in the bottle, and what a reckoning that he will be indulging in.