Marantz Legendary series

[Κώστας Φ.]

What weighs 19 stone and wears more gold than Mister T? The answer comes from camp Marantz, which has just unveiled the three-foot high (or as good as) Legendary system series.

Capable of generating a frankly terrifying near 5000W of instantaneous power, there can be no doubt this is only for the most well-to-do of audiophiles.

Specs then. The Legendary features Marantz's new HDAM-SA modules (better known as Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Modules) for Super Audio, normally reserved for Marantz's more advanced feedback amps.

The SC7-S2 model features six HDAM-SAs at the input/output stages and 12 at the V/I conversion section for 18 modules of super audio superiority. Due sometime in August for an as yet undisclosed though likely large sum, we're getting the AV furniture reinforced right away.

avreview.co.uk

 

[Κώστας Φ.]

Απάντηση: Marantz Legendary series

Περισσότερες πληροφορίες για την κορυφαία σειρά της Marantz.

Marantz rolls out new ultra high-end four-box hi-fi system

Marantz has unleashed a new flagship four-box hi-fi system, modestly called the Legendary Series, that comes in at a grand total of £21,999.60.

The four elements of this ‘money no object’ series are: the £5000 SA7S1 SACD player, the £5000 SC-7S2 preamp, and two MA-9S2 power amps at a cool six grand apiece.

Clad in a flamboyant gold finish, this system weighs a back-breaking 19 stone, and measures almost three feet high. The ultra-rigid chassis of each unit is lined with thick copper, and according to Marantz, the innards incorporate state-of-the-art engineering and the finest materials throughout.

The SC-7S2 pre-amp
In the SC-7S2, two WM8816 controllers are connected in parallel, per channel, improving characteristics such as the S/N ratio. A fully balanced linear volume control, meanwhile, means noise is reduced and silence greatly improved. The ‘7S2 also features a new discrete amp circuit in the input buffer amp, directly after the input terminal. This buffer amp is formed in a circuit identical to that of the HDAM-SA modules with eight unbalanced lines and four balanced lines arranged just after the input terminal. As a result, apparently even the faintest input signals are conveyed accurately and rapidly to the volume amp.

The toroidal power transformer is filled with coring (shielding plates of silicon steel sheets) in an aluminum case, which itself is magnetically shielded. Additionally, the transformer is securely attached to the chassis by means of a 10mm thick aluminum base plate. All this is intended to remove the effects of leakage flux, trace vibration, and magnetic bodies, shutting out any potentially negative impact on the circuitry.

It is known that the quality of a unit's power-supply greatly affects the sound quality of audio device, and so the ‘7S2 features a choke input system with a high-performance power-smoothing circuit. In this choke input system, for which a choke coil is inserted between the rectifier diode and smoothing capacitor, harmonic components of the ripple component, which impair sound quality in the rectifier waveform, are reduced much more than in typical capacitor input systems. A low-noise Schottky barrier diode is used as the rectifier diode for faster, more responsive operation. Also on this smoothing circuit is an original Marantz "noise-killer" element.

The MA-9S2 power amp
This power amp delivers an ultra stable power output of 300 Watts at 8 Ohms RMS and 600 Watts at 4 Ohm RMS, and offers huge current peak level capability of 150 ampere. Under the bonnet you find Marantz’ newly developed HDAMs for Super Audio (HDAM SA), the choke input system to reduce rectifier harmonic noise, plus the newly developed toroidal transformer with dual-stage core.

Versatile HDAM SAs can be used not only as voltage-current conversion modules but also as high-speed buffer amps which offer a high slew rate unmatched by typical op amps. In the 9S2, six HDAM-SAs in all are used in the voltage amp section

The full-metal chassis employs a double-layer bottom plate and substantial shock-absorbing feet to tackle sound-degrading vibration. The case is even completely copper-plated to guard against electrical interference, and no screws are visible.

You also get copper shielding of all key internal components, a segmented power supply that includes a high-capacity Super Ring toroidal transformer entirely shielded by an aluminium shorting ring and a copper-plated case, rectification by Shottky barrier diodes, oversized storage capacitors custom made to exacting Marantz specifications, and a low-noise LCD display that can be turned off.

The SA-7S1 SACD player
The disc mechanism on the SA-7S1 sits in a 10mm case of extruded aluminium while the die-cast metal tray uses micro precision metals to guarantee the best and cleanest data read-out. It is coated with a non-reflecting material to prevent light reflection, which can trouble the laser.

The D/A converters, meanwhile, take in a pair of mono DACs – each comprising four separate processors – for both DSD and 24-bit PCM audio playback. The DACs work in tandem with Marantz’s latest HDAMs - Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Modules. These Marantz-designed devices, placed at I/V and low pass filter sections, replace the single chip, 'off-the-shelf' Op-Amps many other manufacturers use. The output buffer amps are HDAM-SA2 modules chosen for their outstanding speed and timbral accuracy.

To achieve the best sonic performance circuit topology is short, direct and fully balanced dual-differential, ensuring symmetry between the right and left channels. Unique to Marantz, too, is the CD player’s full and complete separation of digital and analogue sections. This not only separates the digital and analogue power supplies, but also divides them at ground level.

Completing the SA-7S1 package is its superior digital filtering option. The standard filter used in normal CD players has a very high attenuation, but is slow in the reaction to the signal. In the filter One mode Marantz offers a symmetrical filter with a short pre and after ringing. It’s apparently fast in reaction, good in attenuation and has no phase shift in the higher frequencies.

The filter Two mode delivers a slight phase-shifting in higher frequencies, making this selection sound ‘analogue’. Filter Three itself is very fast and offers a high dynamic and high resolution, at the same time slightly attenuating the higher frequencies.

homecinemachoice.com