Marantz sa 14s1 special edition review

Quality Construction: The Marantz SA-14S1 SACD player employs a rugged chassis that features Marantz's latest center mount disc drive mechanism, mounted onto its own sub-chassis to minimize vibrations. The disc tray is constructed of highly rigid glass fiber reinforced plastic composite for operational stability and reliability. The SA-14S1's power supply features a large high current toroidal power transformer that features OFC (oxygen free copper) secondary windings, along with high speed, high current Shottky Barrier Diodes in the rectifier stage for the purest DC voltage output.

Disc Compatibility: The Marantz SA-14S1 Super Audio CD player can play single layer Super Audio CDs, dual layer Super Audio CDs, Hybrid-layer Super Audio CDs, and conventional audio CDs. The player also supports playback of MP3 (32-320kbps/32-48kHz) and WMA(48-192kbps/32-48kHz) music files recorded onto CD-R and CD-RW discs in ISO9660 Level 1/2, Juliet, or Romeo format. The unit will recognize up to 1,000 files and 255 folders. Both 12cm and 8cm discs are compatible.

Direct Stream Digital (DSD) Encoding: The Super Audio CD standard is based on Direct Stream Digital (DSD) technology. The DSD format is a 1-bit system that has a digital sampling frequency 64 times that of conventional audio CD, 2,822,400 samples per second. The result is spectacular: a frequency response of over 100k Hz and a 120 dB dynamic range over the entire audible spectrum. Mixed with as many of the original frequencies as possible, the audio information audible for human ears sounds much more natural.

Note: The HD layer of a Super Audio CD can only be output via this player's analog RCA outputs.

Marantz HDAM Technology: Compared to other disc players that employ multiple op-amp ICs, the SA-14S1 features Marantz's exclusive HDAM technology that employs dedicated modules featuring discrete components that together deliver wide dynamic range and fast slew rate for true wideband response. The SA-14S1 incorporates HDAM and HDAM SA2 devices. These exclusive HDAM (Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Module) technologies ensure top fidelity sound reproduction.

192kHz/24-bit DAC: In order to handle the widest range of disc and audio file types, the SA-14S1 incorporates a reference class Burr Brown DSD1972A digital-to-analog converter, which provides up to 192kHz/24-bit resolution, along with DSD decoding for Super Audio CDs. Two prevent interference between the various stages, the power supply, digital audio stage, and analog audio stages each feature their own individual circuit boards.

Analog + Digital Outputs: Along with the analog stereo RCA outputs, there are also optical and coaxial digital outputs for connection to an external digital AV receiver. In order to minimize noise from peripheral circuitry which could interfere with the analog audio signal, this unit is equipped with a peripheral circuitry off function which turns off the digital output circuit, the display, and the illumination lamp.

Reference Quality DAC w/ Digital Inputs: The SA-14S1 SACD player does double duty as a reference quality DAC and is equipped with several digital inputs to accept a wide variety of formats.

• Front-Panel USB Port: The front-panel USB (type-A) port lets you connect your portable USB mass storage class device; such as select Android smartphones (Froyo/Gingerbread only), portable digital audio players, or thumbdrives. The player supports MP3 (32-320kbps; 32-48kHz), WMA (48-320kbps; 32-48kHz), AAC (64-192kbps; 32-48kHz), and Linear PCM (16-bit; 32-48kHz) music files loaded onto a compatible USB mass storage class device formatted in FAT16/FAT32. The unit will recognize up to 65,535 files and 700 folders. Song/artist/album information (ID3-/WMA-/AAC-tags) is supported. The unit's USB port will also charge your connected device.
• Computer Connection: There's also a USB (type-B) port on the rear-panel which is compatible with asynchronous data streams from your Windows (XP/Vista/7/8) PC running Windows Media Player or Mac (OSX 10.6.4+) computer running iTunes. This USB computer connection supports a wide range of digital audio formats, including up to 192kHz/24-bit. Before music files saved on your computer can be played on this unit, a dedicated driver must be downloaded from the Marantz website, and installed on your computer.
• Optical/Coaxial Inputs: In addition, there are coaxial and optical digital input ports for connection to other digital audio sources. The coaxial and optical digital inputs support Linear PCM signals from 32kHz to 192kHz (Dolby Digital/DTS signals are not supported).

Apple iPod/iPhone Certified: The Marantz SACD Player supports digital music playback from an iPod, iPhone, or iPad using its front-panel USB (type-A) port. Simply plug your compatible Apple device into the receiver's front-panel USB port, using the cable that came with your iPod/iPhone/iPad. Stored music and music apps from your connected Apple device can be played through the SACD player, bypassing the Apple device's D/A converter for better sound quality. The iPod/iPhone/iPad can be controlled by the included remote, or you can continue to use the Apple device's clickwheel or touchscreen. You can search for stored music on your iPod/iPhone/iPad by Playlist, Artist, Album, Song, Podcast, Genre, Composer, or Audiobook. Song/artist information from stored music and music apps on your iPod/iPhone/iPad will display on the player's front-panel LCD. The unit's USB port will also charge your Apple device. Compatible Apple devices and functions as of 11/6/2013:

Apple Device Generation Tested Version Media Type Control Type Display Type Charge Audio Video Remote iPod/iPhone Album Art Artist/Song Text Track Info iPad 1 5.1.1 Y N Y Y N Y Y N 2 7.0.3 Y N Y Y N Y Y N 3 7.0.3 Y N Y Y N Y Y N 4 7.0.3 Y N Y Y N Y Y N mini 7.0.3 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y iPhone 2G 3.1.3 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 3G 4.2.1 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 3GS 5.1.1 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 4 7.0.3 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 4S 7.0.3 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 5 7.0.3 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 5C 7.0.3 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 5S 7.0.3 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y touch 1st 2.2.1 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 2nd 4.2.1 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 3rd 5.1.1 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 4th 6.1.3 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 5th 7.0.3 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y nano 1st 1.3.1 Y N Y N N Y Y Y 2nd 1.1.3 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 3rd 1.1.3 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 4th 1.0.4 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 5th 1.0.2 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 6th 1.2PC Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 7th 1.02 PC Y N Y Y N Y Y Y classic 80GB 1.1.2 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 120GB 2.0.1 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y 160GB 2.0.4 Y N Y Y N Y Y Y video 5th 1.3 Y N Y N N Y Y Y

Note: Apple iPod/iPhone software updates may change functionality results. If you download a newer software version, you may need to reset the receiver and your iPod/iPhone to regain functionality. If this doesn't work, you may need to wait until a newer software update is available.

Dedicated Headphone Output: Connect your favorite set of headphones directly to the convenient front-panel 1/4" headphone jack, which also features its own variable volume control. The headphone circuit is designed to be compatible with the widest range of headphone types, and is compatible with lower impedance headphones as well.

Filter Switching: Switching between two types of filter characteristics is possible during playback in the Super Audio CD and CD/DAC modes, allowing you to enjoy different sound-shaping of your music.

Fluorescent Display: The deluxe low noise fluorescent display features clear, easy to read alphanumeric characters and is compatible with CD Text encoded music discs. There's a display control button on the remote control that lets you dim the display or even turn it off if you wish.

Remote Control: The included IR remote control features an intuitive ergonomic layout, and is equipped with amplifier control functions that let you use a single remote control to operate the SA-14S1 SACD player and the matching PM-14S1 reference class integrated stereo amplifier (642PM14S1, sold separately). Two RCA jacks (1 in/1 out) are provided for connecting this player and another Marantz A/V component for system remote control purposes. The accompanying switch allows you to select the remote control mode you desire: External (when the player is connected to another component's remote control jacks) or Internal (when the player is used as a standalone component).

Auto Standby: The SACD player will automatically enter standby mode when there is no input signal for approximately 30 minutes.