[xenithon]

UPDATE: Sugden taken off the list. Now considering Marantz and Raysonic.

Hi all. I am currently investigating CD players and am limiting the search to locally available and supported equipment. The two marques I am currently interested in are Marantz and Raysonic. The Marantz options are the SA7001KI (aka SA8001) and the new SA7003. The other option is the Raysonic CD128.

I wanted to ask if anyone has had any experience with the above models relative to each other. The Raysonic features tubed output, killer looks (IMO), RCA and balanced outputs. The Marantz house sound has always been to my liking (not sure if it is maintained in the new SAX003 range though) and also has SACD playback. The lineup on the Marantz site shows the SA7001KI above the SA7003, but below the SA8003 (which would be a little too expensive). I am thus not sure if the newer SA7003 is comparitively inferior to the older SA7001KI.

Any feedback/opinions/impressions would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers
X

 

[nick_charles]

I do not know how these units sound but a CD player with a SNR of 80db (Sugden) is basically a 13 bit machine.

 

[xenithon]

Thanks for the info nick.

For various reasons the Sugden is no longer an option (e.g., no chance of demo or return period). I am thus focusing now on the Raysonic CD128, Marantz SA7001KI and Marantz SA8003.

 

[davidhunternyc]

Aaah, but that Sugden equipment is soooo beautiful.

 

[nick_charles]

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidhunternyc /img/forum/go_quote.gif Aaah, but that Sugden equipment is soooo beautiful.

Solution, buy a Sugden chassis and put a different CD player inside , like Goldmund in reverse

 

[xenithon]

Got some pricing on the Marantz gear. The SA7001KI (SA8001) I can get for around the same as the new SA7003; though it is listed as lower in their lineup. I am wondering if the older player is better than the newer SA7003.