One reason we keep a place in our hearts for high-end audio is that there is still room for a single designer's vision, and this is no more apparent than in components with designer initials etched right into the faceplate. Right in line with NAD's stereo components wearing
Bjorn Erik Edvardsen's initials,
Marantz has issued the KI (Ken Ishiwata) Pearl stereo SACD player (model SA-KI) and matching integrated amplifier (model PM-KI). As with any signature gear, top-notch build is expected, and the Marantz KI Pearls don't disappoint; toroidal transformers, copper plated chassis and hand-picked components make the grade. Of course, you also expect high prices, and the KI Pearl pieces also deliver on that front -- the limited run of 500 pieces (each) of the SACD player and integrated amp will go for £2,499 ($3,769) each, and no US availability or pricing has been released yet. Painful, yes, but you might take some small comfort in knowing this is exactly the kind of gear that will appreciate in value. Audio geeks can go past the break for more glamor shots.
posted May 9th 2009 7:22PM
As a big Marantz fan, I love the blue detail lighting...
SACD. reissues mostly or are there some new releases.
LOTS or re-releases, but also a large number of new acts.
Here's a great source:
http://www.sa-cd.net/
I'd buy it on looks alone...if I did not have a Primare rig ;)
I've been thinking about getting some SACD's to take advantage of the SACD capabilities of the PS3. Is it worth the hassle and extra cost if I'm listening through headphones, and not a dedicated 5.1 system? I can't seem to figure out if the stereo mixes are of a higher quality on SACD's, or if the 5.1 mixes are the only benefit.
There's a few bad apples but mostly SACDs are drastically superior in sound if you are listening through good headphones of a good system. All of the new releases nowadays are classical/jazz. Check amazon for SACDs, there are a ton of them. I have a pretty large collection and enjoy listening to them because they are SO crystal clear and dynamic.
wow, an overly priced piece of sound equipment made for an obscure, nearly-dead audio format that never went anywhere and only .5% of the population actually cared about.
SIGN ME UP!
+1
The funny thing is when these devises get blind tested and the so called "audiophiles" can't determine it from a $100 DVD player.
You should really hear Pink Floyd's DSOTM on SACD. Then you'll understand.
SACD has embraced the fans of classical music, if you are not a fan of that genre then there is no need for you to have a SACD player now days. I wish they would get back into some of the newer rock! Also, to hear a diff over cd other then surround, you need to have good enough amps and speakers. This is why SACD failed to win over the average teenager buying with a Sony receiver and some cheap speakers, it doesn’t sound any better then MP3 played on junk!
Pink Floyd's DSOTM SUCKS.
But if I paid $5000 for a CDP, then I guess I who try to justify it too. I would blind test it against my Marantz 5001 any day.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion; I just mentioned one of the most popular and recognizable recordings of all time - one that many people are familiar with in a variety of formats and that they would be able to readily recognize sound quality. It's kind of like, you know, a reference.
That said, one of the biggest misconceptions I find among so-called A/V enthusiasts is that SACD requires a premium investment. I'd love to have the Marantz in this article, but I am very satisfied with my older Yamaha DVD-C750. It was cheap, has great playback of DVDs, upscales red book CDs, and has the SACD required 5.1 analogue outs - which I like because I prefer discrete amplifiers over an all-in-one surround amp.
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-DVDC750-DVD-Video-SA-CD-Changer/dp/B0009DVQVA
Why not test the SA-KI (SACD) against your 5001(red book only)? Then you'd actually know what you are talking about...
The Pearl is a GREAT sounding CDP/SACDP. I bests my SA11S1 in several areas including bass impact and treble extsn. It is however just a redress of the SA15S1-2 and it has issues with ticking or poping between tracks on some SACD's. In the end I did not think it worth the asking price.