New Marantz Reference SACD & Digital amps this September?

[gallium]

I was looking around and stumbled on an article where Marantz’s Ken Ishiwata was interviewed.

I thought the following quotes from Ken were interesting: "This year we are redefining our high-end again so we are going to come up with new monoblocks, pre-amplifiers and SACD." and "...this year we are going to bring a very, very new type of amp which I cannot tell you about."

And here I was just about to get a SA-11s1 and PM-11s1. D'oh.

By the sounds of things, it looks like they will introduce a digital amplifier as well. The SA-11s1 was made public in September and available in October 2004, so it seems they have a 2 year release window.

Does anyone have any more details?

[dynamic turtle]

Originally Posted by gallium

I was looking around and stumbled on an article where Marantz’s Ken Ishiwata was interviewed.

I thought the following quotes from Ken were interesting: "This year we are redefining our high-end again so we are going to come up with new monoblocks, pre-amplifiers and SACD." and "...this year we are going to bring a very, very new type of amp which I cannot tell you about."

And here I was just about to get a SA-11s1 and PM-11s1. D'oh.

By the sounds of things, it looks like they will introduce a digital amplifier as well. The SA-11s1 was made public in September and available in October 2004, so it seems they have a 2 year release window.

Does anyone have any more details?

Yep, no surprise there then! Marantz, like all the other majors, release updates at least every two years, like clockwork

Good news IMO - means you can get the SA-11S1 at a heavily discounted price. Wouldn't be surprised to see it going for circa £1500 new, following the release of its replacement.

I honestly wonder why anyone buys anything new these days, such is the precipitous collpase in re-sale value (if you're the annual upgrader type of course!).

DT

[Bluedan]

I can assure you that both the SA-11S1 and PM-11S1 are not being discontinued this year.
Marantz will be launching updated versions of their Reference Series mono block and control amp the MA-9S2 and SC-7S2 in addition to this there will be a new Reference Series SA-CD Player (SA-7S1)

[gallium]

Originally Posted by Bluedan

I can assure you that both the SA-11S1 and PM-11S1 are not being discontinued this year.
Marantz will be launching updated versions of their Reference Series mono block and control amp the MA-9S2 and SC-7S2 in addition to this there will be a new Reference Series SA-CD Player (SA-7S1)

I cannot imaging the SA-7s1 being much better than the SA-11s1 since in my opinion its already fantastic for a solid state device. The internal build quality is also exemplary.

Is anyone aware of any key weaknesses of the SA-11s1? I strongly believe in the "rubbish in, rubbish out" principle so maybe I should just wait for the SA-7s1?...

Decisions, decisions!

[Ed Selley]

Originally Posted by gallium

Is anyone aware of any key weaknesses of the SA-11s1? I strongly believe in the "rubbish in, rubbish out" principle so maybe I should just wait for the SA-7s1?...

Beyond the slightly resonant top cover and habit of auto playing CDR's, it is a hugely accomplished unit for £2K. That said I'm really keen on hearing the SA-7.

[gallium]

Originally Posted by Ed Selley

Beyond the slightly resonant top cover and habit of auto playing CDR's, it is a hugely accomplished unit for £2K. That said I'm really keen on hearing the SA-7.

Thanks Ed.

Would you say the Consonance Droplet for under £2K betters it for less $ though?

P.S. You'll be pleased to hear I might be pairing these with a MS Performance 6 setup.