[RnB180]

Marantz PMD-325
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

Its a professional studio cd player, Ive seen it go as low as $386.
Marantz isnt too shabby of a company also.

I was just wondering what your thoughts were about this as a budget balanced solution.

Type Professional single CD Player with MP3 decoder

Compatible Discs Red Book CD, CD-R and CD-RW (finalized or non-finalized)

Supported Bit/Sample Rates 16-bit/44.1kHz

D to A Converters Cirrus Logic CS4396 high-performance converter

Frequency Response 20Hz to 20kHz, +/-0.5dB

Dynamic Range Greater than 100dB

Signal-to-Noise Ratio Greater than 110dB

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) 0.0025% (1 kHz)

Output Connectors 2 x XLR balanced audio
2 x RCA phono unbalanced analog
1 x XLR AES/EBU
1 x RCA coaxial S/PDIF digital
1 x Toslink optical digital

Headphone Connector Yes, with volume control

Remote Control Yes
AMX or Crestron compatible control signals via RS-232C serial port or RC5 port

RAM Buffer No

Dimensions 3 9/16" x 19" x 12 1/2" (including rack-mount kit)

Weight 11 lbs (including rack-mount kit)

Specialties GPI port with fader start

 

[THeX]

wow, quite an interesting find.

First off, this Professional Marantz PMD-325 looks like a pro version of the Marantz CD7300 (which is rather nice redbook player).

http://www.marantz.com/new/index.cfm...d=2476&type=cd

The specs are virtually the same here too. Same DAC, Cirrus Logic CS4396.
Same playback types, MP3, CD-R, CD-RW. The front casing is virtually the same with the exception of buttons lining the bottom of the screen on the PMD-325. I'm not sure whether the PMD-325 features Marantz HDAM tech though. The CD7300 uses a Philips VAM2202 transport. Its even got pitch control as well i think!

I guess for the money, you are getting a Marantz CD7300 with Balanced XLR outputs and some Professional control interfacey stuff. So based on my conclusions and guesses, I'd say do some searching on the old Marantz CD7300 to get a few sound impressions.

I hope that helps.

edit: my thoughts as a budget balanced source? Should do the job nicely.

 

[RnB180]

since it is the pro version of the player is it safe to assume that its truly balanced outputs?

 

[philodox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RnB180 since it is the pro version of the player is it safe to assume that its truly balanced outputs?

I seriously doubt it, but who knows... usually only VERY high end CD players have a completely discrete balanced output.

 

[RnB180]

Ive read the reviews on its home version counterpart, the biggest negative aspect seems to be the players sound signature being slow.

Considering that most of the reviews are probably using the RCA out, Im wondering if there will be a difference with the balanced out.

Maybe combining it with a faster quicker amp too?

 

[THeX]

can you try before you buy at the store?

that's the only way.

Or maybe find an authorized Marantz Pro dealer and see if they have a model you can try out in your city. That's probably best.