daltonlanny
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2007
- Posts
- 1,629
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- 209
Hi Guys,
I received a brand new Marantz CD5001 CD player yesterday.
First of all the fit, finish, and functionality of this player is great.
The sound is also very impressive for the money.
Keep in mind that I only have about 12 hours of burn-in on this unit, so the sound is probably subject to change.
I hooked it up to my HeadAmp GS-1, along with my "well seasoned" Onkyo DX-7555 CD player which has about 300 hours of play time on it.
I hooked the Marantz to "Input 1" on the GS-1 and the Onkyo to the "Input 2" on the GS-1, and used the same tracks on CD-R's, played nearly in sync, for quick comparions
I used Sennheiser HD650/Equinox and AKG K701's for serious comparisons of the two CD players.
First of all, the Onkyo plays slightly louder than the Marantz, so I had to adjust the volume level slightly on the Marantz.
The sonic differences between the two units is subtle at best.
I had to listen very, very closely to make out any real differences between the two units.
The Onkyo has just a tad better bass than the Marantz. It is slightly more powerful and extended on the Onkyo, but not by much.
The Onkyo is also slightly more forward sounding than the Marantz.
The Marantz also sounds just a wee bit thinner than the Onkyo.
Soundstaging is very similar. The perspective on the Marantz is just alittle more recessed in the mids than the Onkyo.
The Marantz seems to be slightly more extended on top than the Onkyo, however.
The Marantz sounds alittle more natural and organic than the Onkyo, but it is very close.
The Marantz also sounds very close to my Music Hall CD25.2, and is more than competitive with it.
The Music Hall is slightly warmer than the Marantz and has alittle more body to the sound, but the Marantz actually sounds just a bit more extended on top, and slightly more natural on voices and instruments.
Keep in mind that the sound of the Marantz may improve even more after a few more hours of play time?
Both of these units have excellent headphone jack outputs for the Sennheiser HD650's.
Using the 650/Equinox:
The headphone jack output on the Onkyo is slightly bassier, just a tiny bit darker, and alittle more laid back than the jack on the Marantz.
The output on the Marantz jack is slightly clearer, alittle more extended in the highs, and alittle thinner in the bass than the jack on the Onkyo.
Except for slightly less bass, the jack on the Marantz sounds closer to the output from the GS-1 amp jack.
The Marantz jack actually makes the 650's sound very balanced.
It reduces the slight bass heaviness of the 650's, and makes the mids and highs sound alittle more lively.
Both the Onkyo and Marantz jacks drive the 650's to very loud levels with authority!
Using the AKG K701's:
Neither jack sounds that great using the AKG's, however.
Using the Onkyo jack, the AKG's sound sort of distant and muffled, and the relatively low volume level is undesirable, IMHO.
Using the Marantz jack, the sound is louder, but, it sounds thin, lacking body and bass.
Using the Beyerdynamic DT880/990's:
The sound of the Onkyo jack sounds best. Actually a little better than the GS-1 jack, but not as loud.
The sound of the Beyers is actually pretty darn good using the Onkyo jack!
[Driving the Beyers is not a GS-1 strong suit, IMHO].
The jack on the Marantz and the GS-1 sound very similar driving the Beyers.
Using the Marantz jack or the GS-1 jack, the Beyer 880's sound alittle thin, lack any real authority, and sound alittle on the bright side.
Using the 990's with the Marantz or GS-1 jacks, the sound is better, but still alittle unrefined, slightly bright, and sort of thin.
Overall, I am very pleased with the sound of the Marantz, and I feel that it is a true bargain at its asking price.
If I had to choose between any of my CD players that would be a very tough decision!
I received a brand new Marantz CD5001 CD player yesterday.
First of all the fit, finish, and functionality of this player is great.
The sound is also very impressive for the money.
Keep in mind that I only have about 12 hours of burn-in on this unit, so the sound is probably subject to change.
I hooked it up to my HeadAmp GS-1, along with my "well seasoned" Onkyo DX-7555 CD player which has about 300 hours of play time on it.
I hooked the Marantz to "Input 1" on the GS-1 and the Onkyo to the "Input 2" on the GS-1, and used the same tracks on CD-R's, played nearly in sync, for quick comparions
I used Sennheiser HD650/Equinox and AKG K701's for serious comparisons of the two CD players.
First of all, the Onkyo plays slightly louder than the Marantz, so I had to adjust the volume level slightly on the Marantz.
The sonic differences between the two units is subtle at best.
I had to listen very, very closely to make out any real differences between the two units.
The Onkyo has just a tad better bass than the Marantz. It is slightly more powerful and extended on the Onkyo, but not by much.
The Onkyo is also slightly more forward sounding than the Marantz.
The Marantz also sounds just a wee bit thinner than the Onkyo.
Soundstaging is very similar. The perspective on the Marantz is just alittle more recessed in the mids than the Onkyo.
The Marantz seems to be slightly more extended on top than the Onkyo, however.
The Marantz sounds alittle more natural and organic than the Onkyo, but it is very close.
The Marantz also sounds very close to my Music Hall CD25.2, and is more than competitive with it.
The Music Hall is slightly warmer than the Marantz and has alittle more body to the sound, but the Marantz actually sounds just a bit more extended on top, and slightly more natural on voices and instruments.
Keep in mind that the sound of the Marantz may improve even more after a few more hours of play time?
Both of these units have excellent headphone jack outputs for the Sennheiser HD650's.
Using the 650/Equinox:
The headphone jack output on the Onkyo is slightly bassier, just a tiny bit darker, and alittle more laid back than the jack on the Marantz.
The output on the Marantz jack is slightly clearer, alittle more extended in the highs, and alittle thinner in the bass than the jack on the Onkyo.
Except for slightly less bass, the jack on the Marantz sounds closer to the output from the GS-1 amp jack.
The Marantz jack actually makes the 650's sound very balanced.
It reduces the slight bass heaviness of the 650's, and makes the mids and highs sound alittle more lively.
Both the Onkyo and Marantz jacks drive the 650's to very loud levels with authority!
Using the AKG K701's:
Neither jack sounds that great using the AKG's, however.
Using the Onkyo jack, the AKG's sound sort of distant and muffled, and the relatively low volume level is undesirable, IMHO.
Using the Marantz jack, the sound is louder, but, it sounds thin, lacking body and bass.
Using the Beyerdynamic DT880/990's:
The sound of the Onkyo jack sounds best. Actually a little better than the GS-1 jack, but not as loud.
The sound of the Beyers is actually pretty darn good using the Onkyo jack!
[Driving the Beyers is not a GS-1 strong suit, IMHO].
The jack on the Marantz and the GS-1 sound very similar driving the Beyers.
Using the Marantz jack or the GS-1 jack, the Beyer 880's sound alittle thin, lack any real authority, and sound alittle on the bright side.
Using the 990's with the Marantz or GS-1 jacks, the sound is better, but still alittle unrefined, slightly bright, and sort of thin.
Overall, I am very pleased with the sound of the Marantz, and I feel that it is a true bargain at its asking price.
If I had to choose between any of my CD players that would be a very tough decision!