Marantz DV9600,

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Well, I would like to share my experience with you. IÂ´ve had an DV9600 for 3 weeks now. In my system, it has replaced a Pioneer 868 for video and a Philips SACD1000 for audio (much better than the 868 in that respect). I have a 2-ch audiophile system (DACT-ed passive pre, Audio Innovations S800 MkIII El-34 based valve power amp, BC Acoustique Gange speakers) and an Epson TW500 fp (it has 10 bit proccessing!). I bought the DV9600 because my SACD100 died, so my main concern was for high quality sound. I spent months looking for a SACD player. I even had seriously consedered getting a real expensive player (APL3910, Cary 306, Accuphase DP-78); another option was the cheaper Consonance SACD 2.0 MkII which has the Crystal top of the line 4398 DAC.
Then this player came around, and I said, why not?. The good news are that, after 3 weeks of break-in, I am totally happy with my buy. It is MUCH better than the SACD1000 soundwise, and VERY noticeable better than the Pio 868 picturewise (HDMI to my fp)!!
I guess that top of the line 4398 Crystal DAC and the discrete HDAM analogue output certainly pay. According to one artible published in the Spanish magazine Audio-Video, this player not only has a totally new video section, but also improved audio compared to the DV9500.
I use the purest settings (video off, digital audio off, display off, DSD direct, I even set HDMI audio off). Correct mains polarity is also important (I do it by ear). If you are a 2-ch guy like me, please set the player to Audio Stereo mode and use the L-R outputs instead of the "Stereo" pair of outputs: They sound much better! The manual says you use the Stereo output, but the L-R ourputs are interestingly labeled "Stereo 1" at the back of the player, while the Stereo pair of RCAs are labeled "Stereo 2". I have seen a picture of the playerÂ´s inside in a magazine, and it seems the L-R terminals use a more direct path from the DAC. The sound is leaner and kind of anemichal through the Stereo outputs.
The DV9600 may look standard or medium sized, but it is VERY deep (about 25% deeper than my Pio868). Build quality seems very good, and even the matt black tray noise is very reassuring: Even if it seems to be made of plastic, it certainly doesnÂ´t sound so. The mechanism sounds solid, hefty, reminding me my beloved Philips CD882 diecast transport of old. Certainly nothing to see with those light and vibrating plasticky trays as the ones in the Pio 868, Philips 963SA or Philips SACD1000 that I have owned.
Compared to the SACD1000 (my current reference), the DV9600 sound is far more balanced (compared to it, the SACD1000 sounds as if having a huge "gap" from the lower mids to the lower highs). The DV9600 presents you with a kind of "wall" of sound that is certainly impossing, being also of good depth. Powerful and tuneful bass, absolutely liquid highs and fleshed-out mids. In a word, loads of additional information presented in a convincing, powerful and sweet way. Individual instruments now have a "meatiness" that is absolutely delightful. I can hear now the resonance of the violinÂ´s box or the arcÂ´s scratching against the strings much better. I guess a more expensive transport or beefed-up power supplies could give even greater depth, but I am absolutely delighted with this player.
Note: I have used this player withs CDs, SACDs and DVDs, not with DVD-As. SACDs sound very good, but CDs also sound fantastic.
BTW, I am using Shine-Ola dvd cleaner to great effect (specially now that I have replaced the included 3M cloth with one much softer made of microfibre).
Oh, and it is a fantastic videoplayer. It seems only the Denon A1XV can touch it at the moment!

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Topic - Marantz DV9600, - Joaquin Mejia 16:57:27 02/15/06 (3)

Chime in for DV7600 as well - Marantz making great machines - AlbuquerqueAudio 06:07:28 02/19/06 (0)

Re: Marantz DV9600, - Jack1 21:59:11 02/16/06 (0)

Re: Marantz DV9600, - AAA 17:30:57 02/15/06 (0)

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