Marantz SA8003 Single-Disc SACD Player

★★★★★
5.0

based on 3 reviews  

 

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★★★★☆
4.1

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The Marantz SA8003 brings advanced engineering to all manner of discs – SA-CDs, CDs, even MP3- and WMA-encoded CD-Rs and –RWs. And its advanced digital processing and best-in-class analog circuitry bring even your flash-card playlists to life thanks to a front-panel USB input.
But Marantz design doesn’t extend to just the obvious. As an example, we’ll ask a question: Almost no one thinks twice about the disc tray, right? Well, Marantz engineers do. And when you realize that the tray is most important mechanical link between your favorite discs and the rest of the disc player, you realize just how important it is.

That’s why Marantz helped develop a material called Zylon for the SA8003’s tray. Zylon is a composition of rigid-rod chain molecules of poly(p-phenyene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) or PBO for short. (Now you know why we call it Zylon!) This new tray material has high tensile strength and a high modulus of elasticity. Because it isolates the disc so well from the micro-vibrations inherent in any drive mechanism, it allows the digital circuitry to process a more accurate data stream. This, in turn, translate directly into a more coherent and pleasing aural experience.

While you’re taking a virtual tour of the SA8003’s interior, look at the large toroidal transformer. In addition to the exterior casing that damps stray flux fields even further, you’ll notice a large brass mounting screw that helps hold the transformer firmly in place. Why brass? Simply because it’s totally non-conductive dut to the non-magnetic material, it plays a role in reducing extraneous noise. True, it might be a small improvement but it’s an example of the lengths to which Marantz engineers go to optimize every aspect of a component’s performance.

We’d also like to point out the separate power supply and audio circuit boards that flank the transformer for even further noise suppression capability. .

We’ve used the SA8003’s high-performance Cirrus Logic digital-to-analog converter in other – and far more expensive – disc players in the past. This circuit brings several advantages. In technical terms, its architecture combines a proprietary multi-bit/Delta-Sigma demodulator with noise shaping technology. It eliminates the need for dynamic component matching within the D/A converter itself as well as removes potential destructive artifacts from the resulting signal. For SA-CD playback, the Cirrus IC accepts the SA-CD’s 2.8224 MHz sampling rate directly without the need for decimation. And an integral 50 kHz low-pass filter protects downstream components from potential oscillation.

You’ll also notice a number of critically selected parts at important spots in the analog output circuitry. They’ve been chosen because they meet the criteria established not only in the lab but also in the listening room. And you’ll see Marantz’s proprietary HDAM SA2 circuits there, too. Used primarily as output buffers, these HDAM circuits benefit from a discrete component complement rather than earlier ICs.

Under all this advanced circuitry, you might not notice the double-layer chassis bottom plate. But it provides long-term alignment for all the SA8003’s separate assemblies as well as helps damp external vibration.

If you look carefully, you’ll certainly see the large copper plate behind the machined, chassis-mounted gold-plated analog outputs. The plate minimizes any ground potential between the outputs and results in quieter playback. The outputs themselves are spaced to allow your choice of any interconnect. Mounting them directly to the chassis means you won’t pull them off when changing cables. Small points? Well, not really. When you add up all the similar touches within the SA8003, you’ll understand their surprisingly-large cumulative effect. And it results from an almost maniacal determination to make the SA8003 as good as it can possibly be.

The shielded digital output provides yet another example of this approach. Rather than allowing spurious radiation, as is the case with most digital outputs, an (need info on material) case effectively traps digital pulses and prevents them from interfering with adjacent circuits.

The headphone output, usually far down on the priority list for lesser players, includes a high-speed current buffer circuit for minimal interference, maximum articulation, stability, and fatigue-free listening.

Complete with a soft-touch Power/Standby switch and full-function remote, the SA8003 brings top-shelf disc playback to a wider audience than ever before. A true Marantz, it contains the most advanced circuits in a chassis that’s highly styled to blend with any décor. It’s a stunning contemporary expression of the Marantz “look,“ long the standard for the entire home entertainment industry.

Specification Description
Model SA8003, SA8003/U1B
UPC 699927020859
Analog Audio Rear Output
Audio D/A Converter Cirrus Logic 4392
Compatible Formats AAC
Compatible Formats CD
Compatible Formats CD-R
Compatible Formats CD-RW
Compatible Formats MP3
Compatible Formats SACD
Compatible Formats WAV
Compatible Formats WMA
Depth (Inches) 13.6
Headphone Jack Front Output
Height (Inches) 4.3
Optical Rear Output
USB Port Yes
Weight (Pounds) 17.2
Width (Inches) 17.3

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Product Reviews

Last update: Feb 25, 2009

Marantz SA8003 Single-Disc SACD Player Reviews

 

Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 Reviews

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[5 of 5 customers found this review helpful]

Marantz SA8003 Single-Disc SACD Player Review

Outstanding value

★★★★★
5.0

"I think this is, for the money, probably the best CD/SACD player you can buy. I've been skeptical about buying "high end cd players", particularly since mass-market units have become more and more capable and since mass-market components have found their way into some high-end cd players. But the …"  Read Full Review »

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Dec 26 2008
BSJ1
Amazon
Reviewed at:
Price: $999.99
 
 

[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]

Marantz SA8003 Single-Disc SACD Player Review

Superb SACD and Super CD

★★★★★
5.0

"My old Proceed Madrigal CD player finally expired ... and I replaced it with the Marantz SA8003 - my first SACD player. Even as a plain CD player, the sound is wonderful - clean, pure and warm. Not shrill. But, the biggest thrill, by far, is the sound of the SACD ... SACD samples at 64 times highe …"  Read Full Review »

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Feb 25 2009
Colin Rose
Sydney
Reviewed at:
Price: $999.99
 
 

[2 of 4 customers found this review helpful]

Marantz SA8003 Single-Disc SACD Player Review

A Reason to Upgrade to SACD

★★★★★
5.0

"This product replaces the Marantz SA8001, a model with which I have been extremely pleased. Here's what I wrote about the SA8001 Marantz SA8001 - SACD player - black.



"If you've been wondering whether to move up to SACD, hesitate no longer. Even on my 17-year-old Sony CD player, the Dunedin Consor …"  Read Full Review »

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Dec 21 2008
Paul Van de Water
Virginia, USA
Reviewed at:
Price: $999.99
 
 
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 Reviews

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