Hi-Rez Highway: REVIEW: Marantz DV 7600 Universal SACD/DVD-A Players by jimmyjames

Model:	DV 7600
Category:	Universal SACD/DVD-A Players
Suggested Retail Price:	$1099
Description:	Universal SACD/CD/DVD/DVDA Prog Scan, Multi-channel, disc player
Manufacturer URL:	Marantz
Model Picture:	View

Review by jimmyjames on June 27, 2005 at 12:06:17
IP Address: 149.173.6.25

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for the DV 7600

This is the one folks have been waiting for supposedly, a Marantz Universal machine with the highly desirable HDAM output modules, for less than a grand. Well it's here finally but with an MSRP of $1099 at least on the Marantz web page. Music Direct still shows $999. I got mine for less than that and have seen on Agon for even less but not from an authorized dealer.
According to the dealer, this is one of the first, if not the first Denon/Marantz shared engineering projects. Not sure what is shared but the HDAM output module is pure Marantz. It is rumored that the drive is pure Denon. More on that later.
I wanted a universal machine for my second, downstairs, summer system. I had the Denon 2200 in that system for a while but after buying a Philips 795 five disc SACD/DVD player for $150 on whim, the Denon stopped seeing any action. The $150 Philips jukebox wiped the floor with the $500 Denon, sonically speaking. The Philips just had an all together better, more organic sound. THe Denon was shrill and cold in comparison. I still wanted a true universal that would play any small format digital disc I put in it and I wanted it to sound better than the Philips. Oh, and I didn't want to spend a lot of money.
I had bought the Marantz DV9500 for the HT part of my upstairs system and was very happy with it especially since it was the first palyer in about a half dozen that I tried that had better video than the $150 Pioneer 563. The 9500 replaced Marantz DV8400 that would not reliably read DAD discs nor was it's video up to snuff. The 9500 is a great looking and great sounding universal machine but it costs over $2K MSRP and didn't want to pay for another one and pair it with a NAD integrated that cost $325. I was looking for something closer to the $400 price range but was not satisfied with the sound of the Denon or Marantz offerings at that price point and above. My local dealer kept telling me about the DV 7600 and that it would have the better sounding HDAM modules. Have a little patience and you might be rewarded.
Well I spent more than my proposed budget for a new universal but my wait and my wallet lightening was rewarded with a sweet sounding machine. The DV7600 has punchy bass and sparkling highs. It gives much more weight to the music compared to the thinner sounding Philips. Sonny Rollins horn on the Silver City Milestone Collection (CD) sounded a little "plastic" via the Philips 795. It sounds like metal on the Marantz. Art Pepper's horn on two recently acquired SACD's (So In Love and NY Album) sounds sweet and powerful even though I found myself listening more to the piano (Hank Jones and George Cables) for some reason. I also listened to the new Mapleshade (CD) sampler that is making the rounds. Wide variety of music and all of it sounded great on the Marantz. I have been running the original Sony SACD sampler in the machine night and day when not listening to get some burn in hours on it, 50+ hours at this writing. Some will say that is not enough to base a review or opinion on but it already sounds so good.
The build quality is not up to the standard set by the DV9500. The solid face plate is there but that's about it. Hey, the 9500 costs twice as much. The 7600 dosen't look like it sholud cost $1000 but it sounds like it. The only other faults found are excessive load time and spin up noise. The spin up is sometimes noticable from the listening chair, sometimes not. Nit to pick is Marantz's repeated failure on the 9500 and 7600 to include SACD text read and display capability. Hey my $150 Philips does it and so does Marantz's reference SA11S1.
I didn't get the 7600 for video or multichannel but it does both although I have not hooked up either at this writing. Played one DAD, the new 24/192 BLUETRAIN. The 7600 does 192khz on board as well as DTS. BLUETRAIN sounded great although at a lesser volume than previous SACD's and CD's. Most likely just the disc. The 7600 also hick up'd on the last track of one of the Art Pepper SACD's. Again, most likely the disc as it did it consistently. Have not had time to test on other SACD players in the house. Previous DV8400 had problems with almost all DAD's tried in it.

Product Weakness: Build quality, not up to DV9500 standards and a long way from SA standards. Long load time, disc spin up noise, no SACD text recognition or display.
Product Strengths: Big, warm Marantz sound. Universal disc play.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	NAD C320BEE w/Adcom 5400
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	DV9500, Philips 795
Speakers:	VSA VR-1
Cables/Interconnects:	Luminous Synch Sig & XLO Sig
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz, Rock, Blues
Room Size (LxWxH):	20 x 13 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	berber carpet, wood panel and Sheet rock
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 days so far
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Build quality, not up to DV9500 standards and a long way from SA standards. Long load time, disc spin up noise, no SACD text recognition or display.
Product Strengths:	Big, warm Marantz sound. Universal disc play.