Marantz SA-7001 KI - any reviews of?

[Arfa]

The SA-7001 and KI version of the same, seem to be new additions to Marantz CD/SACD player range. Has anyone found any reviews, write-up or group tests for either of these players?

Otherwise has anyone had any first hand experience with them? I'm really tempted by the SA-7001KI, but I'd like to see some good reviews first before I bite the bullet, if only for the reassurance it'll have a good re-sale value in years to come.

Hi Arfa,

I demoed the 'standard' SA 7001 both in my local Hifi store and at home and with my current set-up (Yamaha 757 amp and B+W 602v3's) it was truely outstanding!

It wiped the floor with anything else I put up against in the same price range. The soundstage was wide and detailed and it really bought the music to life in a way that no other CD player I've tried has. This was with standard CD's... I have no idea what the SACD playback is like as I dont have any SACD discs, no doubt it is just as jaw dropping.

I'd suggest if you like your music bright and involving and with punch it is well worth a listen. I felt the Arcam 73 was dull in comparision and killed all the life in the music. The 7001 also had excellent bass presentation and pace... an ideal partner for the 602's.

Hope this helps.

Just wish I had the cash for this player myself ;-(

RM

I've got the August issue of "Hi-Fi Choice" which has a review of the PM7001 KI amp. It says that the SA7001 KI will be reviewed in the September issue which is out on 27th July.

Every site that reviews products on the net has ongoing NDA's (Non Disclosure Agreements), forbidding them to release their reviews before the magazines are out each month. Otherwise the magazine industry would fall to pieces. Expect online reviews to show up after 27th July.

[Arfa]

Fair enough. I actually went for a Rega Apollo in the end. Found an ex-dem one for £415. Whereas the cheapest price on the Marantz SA7001Ki I found was £519 at Hifi Confidential.

I only have a handful of sacd discs, compared to hundreds of cd's. Not being a massive follower of the jazz and classical genres I decided against a sacd player. Would be intrigued as to how the Apollo compares to the SA7001Ki though and whether the extra £100 would have been worth it. The Apollo at normal price is £500, which puts its right up there against the Marantz.

At the time I was also quite tempted by the Marantz DV7600 universal player too. Still am a little tempted by something like this or the cheaper DV6600 to go along side my Apollo for the odd hi-res disc.

[dynamic turtle]

Is it not exactly the same as the SA8400 under the skin? I personally think the 8400 looks nicer, and there are plenty of those knocking about around the £350-400 mark....

[Geezer]

Originally Posted by dynamic turtle

Is it not exactly the same as the SA8400 under the skin? I personally think the 8400 looks nicer, and there are plenty of those knocking about around the £350-400 mark....

No its not remotley the same.

[dynamic turtle]

Would've expected a more substantive & descriptive response than that, from a senior member.

Care to fill us in on the differences then?

DT

[dynamic turtle]

Must admit that the SA7001KI looks pretty interesting from the recent Hi-Fi World "review". £600 notes is a lot of moolah for a biscuit tin though. Is anyone doing a deal on this? Tempted to give it a try, to see what all the fuss is about, and to stop me from spending thousands on a bigger Marantz or Sony.

Problem is, I've seen SA15-S1's going around for £750 ish, and the XA3000ES is supposed to be very good and goes for around £400ish used.

[ultrawomble]

Cheapest 7001KI I've seen is here https://www.hificonfidential.co.uk/d...p/sku=SA7001KI

I take it that the price you've seen for an SA15-S1 is for a second hand, not new is it?

[dynamic turtle]

Funny that, they're just round the corner from me! £520 isn't great - that's about 15%. Looking for 25% off from somewhere, or a used one. Maybe I should just ring round the dealers and see whose willing to do business at that discount.

Re the SA15 - that is a used price, although the last one on eBay went for £648! Marantz gear (in fact, all gear!) tends to drop like a stone, so you're paid handsomely to wait. Which is what I've been doing for aaaaages. Getting bored of it now.

DT

[Arfa]

Its that depreciation of value of new gear that partly put me off this player and hence went for ex-dem Rega Apollo. That said, the Marantz SA8400's have been fetching a pretty penny on ebay lately.

Eitherway, if you do cave in and get the SA7001KI, do let us know what you reckon to it.

[ghislain]

There's a brand new review of the SA-8001 here: http://stereophile.com/hirezplayers/1007mar/index.html

The SA-8001 is the american equivalent of the european SA-7001 KI (or the other way around if you prefer )