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Marantz offers new SA-15S2 Series Two SACD player (8/10/2009)

SA-15S2 -Super Audio CD player £1699.90

A cursory glance at the latest CD player from Marantz, the SA-15S2, would offer little to distinguish it from its predecessor. But as they say looks can be deceptive. It’s amazing how much can be hidden behind a simple Series Two moniker.

Take the lid off the SA-15S2 and you’ll see that, in fact, it is completely different from the original in almost every respect. It incorporates engineering lessons learnt from the construction of the acclaimed flagship, £5000 SA-7S1. Moreover, the R&D team has implemented a plethora of new features and internal components for exceptional sound quality.

At the heart of the SA-15S2 is the proprietary SACDM-10 mechanism. This features an extruded aluminium case for precise, vibration-free reproduction. Within is an ultra-stiff Xyron disc tray. This new high performance material not only has high tensile strength but also absorbs unwanted vibration, such as that produced by the high speed rotation of the disc, making it ideal for the task.

The rigid mechanism feeds a high quality 24-bit/192kHz stereo Digital to Analogue convertor from respected manufacturer Cirrus Logic. The CS4398 is a flagship design and utilizes an advanced multi-bit Delta-Sigma modulator with DSD Support.

On the symmetrical audio circuitry – which provides precise stereo imaging by implementing separate, though identical, right and left channels – you’ll find bespoke electrolytic, thick film capacitors, Shottky diodes, and Marantz’s Current Feedback HDAM SA-2. These proprietary devices – Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Modules – replace single chip, 'off-the-shelf' Op-Amps, operating as an output buffer amplifier. With dramatically improved slew rate they outperform the regular IC Op-Amps and help preserve dynamic structure, tonal quality and stereo image thanks to their outstanding speed and timbral accuracy.

To further improve sound quality, there is a high-grade power supply centered on a toroidal transformer. This transformer has a much higher efficiency due to the very low impedance of the windings and has a fast, high current delivery capability for maximum separation, clarity and dynamics. Moreover, there are independent power supplies for each dedicated system block to secure maximum separation, clarity and dynamics. Also improving sound quality are a copper-plated, zero impedance matching joint, which significantly improves signal to noise ratio, a shielding case for the digital output, and an optional ‘display off’ function, which minimizes high frequency noise interference. There are even two sound filter options for both CD and Super Audio CD replay.

The SA-15S2’s digital input is a rarity at this price point, so a music server or PC could be connected to make use of the high quality DAC and the superior audio output stage. Completing the package are gold-plated connections, a high quality headphone amplifier and an aluminium-topped remote control.

The SA-15S2 is available now.

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