Post by hiredfox November 12, 2010 (1 of 14)
|
|
A few weeks ago one writer enquired of the performance of this machine and how it compares with the KI Pearl....
Answers are in the latest Hi Fi News (out today in UK), where it won an extensive group test for £1k CD players, trouncing the opposition and gaining 87% on HFN Sound Quality rating..
A worthy successor/ alternative to the Sony 5400?
Go read, feel good, go buy. They rate it as an audiophile bargain and exactly what hi fi should be - superb performance for beer money - if it wants to survive. Well done Marantz for showing the way on great performance at affordable pricing and crikey a recommendation from HFN on a SACD player...
I am hoping the world is not about to end on Saturday morning at 10.00 am.
|
|
|
|
|
|
hiredfox said:
A few weeks ago one writer enquired of the performance of this machine and how it compares with the KI Pearl....
Answers are in the latest Hi Fi News (out today in UK), where it won an extensive group test for £1k CD players, trouncing the opposition and gaining 87% on HFN Sound Quality rating..
A worthy successor/ alternative to the Sony 5400?
Go read, feel good, go buy. They rate it as an audiophile bargain and exactly what hi fi should be - superb performance for beer money - if it wants to survive. Well done Marantz for showing the way on great performance at affordable pricing and crikey a recommendation from HFN on a SACD player...
I am hoping the world is not about to end on Saturday morning at 10.00 am.
stereo only, Digital Jitter Marantz CD 300 psec. SACD 235 psec
Sony 5400 CD 121 psec. SACD 34 psec
|
|
|
Post by canonical November 12, 2010 (3 of 14)
|
|
I am trying to figure out if the KI Pearl Lite (sold in Europe/UK/Asia) is any different to the SA8004 (sold in the US).
The KI Lite comes with odd rounded stick-on side panels (which hopefully are removable) and the KI Pearl Lite name on the front.
The SA8004 comes with standard square panels (which I prefer) and the SA8004 name.
Other than that? Any difference? Anyone?
|
|
|
Post by pacwin November 12, 2010 (4 of 14)
|
|
canonical said:
I am trying to figure out if the KI Pearl Lite (sold in Europe/UK/Asia) is any different to the SA8004 (sold in the US).
Other than that? Any difference? Anyone?
According to the sole Marantz dealer I talked to there is no difference specification wise.
However the retail price of the KI Pearl Lite in New Zealand is closer to what we would typically expect for an US1500.00 item (and comparatively a 50% premium on the previous model SA8003), leading one to expect some differences in component quality.
The SA8004/Pearl Lite certainly makes sense for those who like the Marantz HDAM-SA2 analogue sound and who want to use it with a computer server as a DAC (although the USB input is a bit pokey) as well.
Most KI edition SACD players have supported CD/SACD-Text but not this edition.
. The wood accessory side panels are an option in Japan at least for the SA 8004 http://www.marantz.jp/ce/products/accessories/sidewood/ws0901_1101/index.html.
Maybe the Pearl Lite owners are paying exra for the streamlined wood side panels?
|
|
|
Post by Tim-sacd November 13, 2010 (5 of 14)
|
|
I've heard European dealers skipped the 8004 because it's too similar with the KI Pearl Lite's. Because many dealers give discounts, there's almost no price difference between the 8004 and the KI Pearl Lite's.
+ KI Pearl Lite's integrated dac's could be used for PC listening and iPod.
When I got my KI Pearl Lite player I tried the USB-PC Connection and was very satisfied (even through usb!)
Sounds very good to me.
First testtracks:
Damien Rice "9 Crimes"
The Beautiful South "Song For Whoever"
The Beautiful South "A Little Time"
Traveling Wilburys "Handle With Care"
Flac files, through mediamonkey.
All sounding very natural ... The piano in Beautiful South, Damien Rice's voice,... all perfect.
|
|
|
Post by canonical November 13, 2010 (6 of 14)
|
|
Tim-sacd said:
When I got my KI Pearl Lite player ...
Aha - May I ask: "Are those curved side-panels on the Lite removable?"
|
|
|
Post by chrisbwfc November 14, 2010 (7 of 14)
|
|
Hello. First post here.
I nearly took the plunge on a Pearl Lite a few weeks ago at the Manchester show where Marantz where offering a 20% discount.
I held my nerve and came back with a couple of brochures and, apart from the ability to use the Pearl Lite as a DAC using SPDIF and Co-Ax, the model is in every way identical to the outgoing SA8003 model.
As I already have a DAC I'm happy with, a Cyrus DAC XP, I opted for the SA8003, ex dem at a good, end of line price.
Very happy so far but awaiting Who's Next to arrive from Japan to really see what it can do.
|
|
|
Post by Tim-sacd November 17, 2010 (8 of 14)
|
|
What did you pay for your sa8003?
My dad is searching for a pm/sa8003. But they seem to sold out already at most places.
|
|
|
Post by hiredfox November 18, 2010 (9 of 14)
|
|
Disbeliever said:
stereo only, Digital Jitter Marantz CD 300 psec. SACD 235 psec
Sony 5400 CD 121 psec. SACD 34 psec
Actually it is timing that is important, a little jitter is a very good thing for timing isn't it?
|
|
|
Post by stvnharr November 18, 2010 (10 of 14)
|
|
hiredfox said:
Actually it is timing that is important, a little jitter is a very good thing for timing isn't it?
Why?
|
|
