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Do someone knows why Marantz stop producing this model? Anyone who can give me a very scientific review with regards the sonic or audio performance of this player? Here in Hong Kong it's on sale for US $520.
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Follow Ups:
I would like to say thanks to all your replies, my decision now is final. I will get a new Marantz SA8260 player by tomorrow. Would you believed, my salesperson told me, it's the last one indeed. Never heard any news that this model will be soon replaced by a new player. It's life has been shorten due to some universal players coming from Marantz. I will be back after 3 days of breaking in the player. Many thanks.
If you want a CD or SACD player grab one before they are gone. I guess they are 230v models there.
I picked up one in the US a couple weeks ago. It is my 5th SACD player. It is easily the best sounding unit so far. It is much more natural than either the Sony 222ES or the Phillips 1000.
These units are a better player than any of the other options under 1500.00. If I though it would work with the US 120V/60 HZ mains I would get a friend in HK to grab a backup for the 520.00.
I spent some time in Dallas a couple of weeks ago and got to listen to the Sony 999 and Denon 2800. They both sound mechanical and flawed to my ears. The newer players seem to be sounding worse with each "new generation" of combo players. Having a player that does not do DVD is a sonic blessing, no switching supply.
BTW, where do you see it for 520.00 in HK?George
If you would like to know the complete address in Mongkok, just send me an email. Thanks.
the 8260 is a pretty amazing player. the redbook is fantastic, the sacd is a smidgen better.it is very musical and dimisional(like a linn turntable - once you hear it- you know. the emotion of the artist is communicated. that is a rare and delicate quality in a digital product, it can paint a great sonic picture with color if your systems resolution is up to it.once you hear vocals through this machine it will be hard to go to anything less.
for the price, it is difficult to beat. the only caveat with the player is some units suffer from servo/transport problems that make redbook cd's unreadable. There are other post on this, it has also happened to me ( my 8260 is currently being repaired).
the bass problem that i have read about is not a concern. the bass filled in after the unit was broken in. very natural, tight, and coherant.
i am of the opinion it will be one of those sought after models for quite a long time (ie classic). the musicality of the unit is unusual for a digital product - it honestly sounds very close to analog- let your ears be the judge.
i have been looking for a new digital source for the last 1 1/2 years that is a resonable price. it will holds it own againest units costing 2k-3k.
hope that helps !!
mike
... "give a very scientific review with regards to sonic or audio performance" ?Only meant tongue-in-cheek in regards to questioning whether an objective (scientific) report can be made about something inherently and inescapably subjective (sonic/audio performance). Indeed, a person's ears (measurement tool) and subsequent interpretation of said performance can't be anything but subjective. Whereas a decimeter, SPL, etc., is an objective measurement tool.
I can tell you that I'm very happy with my SA8260 both as an SACD and redbook CD player. Smooth. Open. Not grainy. More "air" and dimensional (w/ redbook CD even) than may be expected with digital source. "Weakness": some say it takes a long time to break-in, and Perhaps not the most low-frequency/bottom weight player that I've heard. But I have no burning desire to upgrade, only modify, which others claim improves the low-end substantially and overall elevates this unit to something really special.
I've (only) read that the older universal player (8300 or whatever) maybe not as good. Not sure about the most recent models, but don't they run about $3,000USD???
Are you just getting into SACD and/or don't care about DVD/DVD-A? If so, for $520 (for a brand new factory sealed, fully warranteed unit, right?) you probably won't find a better quality machine. And that aside, its' redbook performance is exceptional. Stereophool Class A rated if that blows your sails.
Sincerely hope this helps.
They are apparently dropping the SA8260 in favor of the universal players. If you only need SACD the SA8260 is a good one.
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I think it is being dropped due to new models from Marantz. Such is the life of consumer audio products in that price range.In terms of sonics, the 8260 has the same High Definition Analog Module (HDAM) output circuits as the more expensive Philips SACD-1000 (originally $2,000 list price) and Marantz SA-12S1 (originally $3,700 list price).
So the 8260 should be a deal - even at its original list price of $999.
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I have never seen one advertised or in a shop, does it have a different name?. If the model is discontinued, I wonder if we'll ever see it.
BestEric
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