Anyone here own or have you heard the Marantz 8260?

[KenW]

At this point, I think this might be the player I'm going with. I go back and forth over SACD now or later and I just can't shake the urge. I'd been looking at a couple of Redbook players like the Meridian 508.2(prices seem to be dropping with their new releases on the market), the Jolida JD100, and the Rega Planet 2000 or perhaps the Bel Canto DAC 2/transport as a possible source and then buying one of the new universal players just now trickling on the market to dabble in SACD/DVD-A but I thought this player sounded like a real winner from the reviews I've read and the price is right. Also, it seems I'll have a much better shot at getting one of these used than a SCD-C555ES......those go so darned fast and I don't have the time to monitor the 'Gon 24/7. (Sheese, don't some of these people have a life!??) The Music Hall Maverick and Denon 2900 are also possibles but the Marantz just seemed to hit the sweet spot of price and performance.

Anyway, if anyone has experience with this player, I'd appreciate hearing about it. Living 3 hours from a dealer where I could audition makes it imperative that I do my homework before heading to the store for a listen....not to mention, I need to make sure they have a unit for me to give a listen to! Appreciate any comments or suggestions. I know that when the new universals hit the market like the Sony SCDC-3000 and the mods for them start up, I'll get a bit of buyers remorse but the SACD itch is killing me!

 

[jpelg]

Never heard the 8260, but I have a DV8400. If you go to a Marantz dealer, try to compare both and see if it might be worth the extra scratch for a universal player. I like mine so far, and feel the extra $$ was worth it for the extra features. Just a thought.

 

[KenW]

Thanks for the advice. Curious...hows the Redbook with this player? Do you feel the 8400 really shines with any one format?

 

[kartik]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpelg Never heard the 8260, but I have a DV8400.

Jealous of Jpelg's gear, the headfier angrily tries to come up with a response, but is overcome by his emotions and meltsdown into a green jelly.

Seriously though, why the DV 8400 rather than the SA 8400 or even the SA-12

 

[gort]

I have the 8260 and it is the best SACD/CD player I ever heard. But that's not saying much when prior experiences were only with various PCDPs and DVD players. You shouldn't buy this player if you're a type who loves bass-boost feature on amps.

 

[jpelg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gort You shouldn't buy this player if you're a type who loves bass-boost feature on amps.

Are you saying that you find the SA8260 to be bass-light? That is something that I would definitely not say characterizes the DV8400, which has wonderful bass.

Redbook play on the DV8400 is better than on my SACDmods Sony NS755V (granted it is three-times the price). Much smoother highs, deeper bass. I haven't really A/B-ed SACD play, and I only have one DVD-A disc, so that is pretty new to me.

 

[KenW]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpelg Are you saying that you find the SA8260 to be bass-light? That is something that I would definitely not say characterizes the DV8400, which has wonderful bass. Redbook play on the DV8400 is better than on my SACDmods Sony NS755V (granted it is three-times the price). Much smoother highs, deeper bass. I haven't really A/B-ed SACD play, and I only have one DVD-A disc, so that is pretty new to me.

Guess I really should consider the 8400 then. Like most, I have my moods when it comes to music and a good bit of the time, I'm in the "bass head" frame of mind. Crap! I'll never pull the trigger on a new source!

 

[gort]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpelg Are you saying that you find the SA8260 to be bass-light?

I wouldn't go that far but IME sources with stronger bass than 8260 will easily outnumber those with weaker bass compared to 8260. My Pana DVDP is available when more boombox type of sound is needed.