M is for M******! (Marantz Model 30 + SACD 30n review)
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- Опубліковано 21 жов 2024
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🎥 Camera #1: John Darko
🎥 Camera #2: Jack Kaminski
🎬 Editor: John Darko
🕺🏻 Motion GFX: John Darko
💰 Ad segment: Jana Dagdagan
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0.00 Intro
1:31 Welcome back, everybody
4:01 Pay attention to what's coming
7:50 A game of two halves
12:23 Do you have a hi-fi rack?
👉🏻 As seen in this video...
Marantz Model 30
🛒 amzn.to/40T5FKD
Marantz SACD 30n
🛒 amzn.to/42bjrt5
Lyngdorf TDAI-3400
📺 darko.audio/20...
Lyngdorf CD-2
🛒 lyngdorf.stein...
Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3
🛒 howl.me/cjEtVX...
Zu Soul 6
📖 darko.audio/20...
Bluesound NODE (2021)
🛒 howl.me/chXS7S...
SolidSteel hi-fi rack
🛒 howl.me/cjEtTV...
#marantz #audiophile #hifi
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The reason for startup delay of the CD/SACD is because is has a separate power supply which is switched off, when you use the device for streaming for instance. So when you select CD it needs to switch on the separate power supply for the CD and let it stabilize first before use. I have the combo you reviewed and I am very happy with it. Playing Vinyl, CD, SACD and some streaming.
That's what I said 2 hours later than u !!!🤣
Yes but it’s still annoying, The sound is amazing though
Great and accurate review. I’m a happy owner of the Marantz stack. As an aside, when the input on the SACD 30n is switched away from CD, the SACD 30n puts the CD transport to sleep in order to reduce noise. When you switch back to CD, it must wake up the transport. That waking is the reason for the 10 second delay of the tray opening. When in CD mode, the transport opens immediately.
What speakers are you using with the stack?
Hi John! Thanks for the informative video. I own the "Ruby" Series from Marantz. That was the previous iteration of what you showed. Ken Ishiwata's swan song project is amazing for anyone that enjoys the "warm, lush and (here it comes) tube-like sound from days of yore. I was smart enough with my project, to purchase several SACD's prior to this (for me) significant investment to my Music Room. An A-B comparison of some well-recorded and well-mastered SACD's brought a tear to even my sticker-shocked wife when she heard the RCA Victor (Living Stereo) recording of Rhapsody in Blue. The CD layer sounded really good as Marantz' technology has made it possible to take the edge off of the digital sound and make it sound real. However, taking the same disc and playing the SACD layer through this player, brought the presence or staging into the room. We actually felt that we were at the concert. You could hear the musicians taking a breath.
Another good example is an old recording of Frank Sinatra's. They are all on SACD and they have done a superb job at bringing Frank to life. On the SACD layer, you can hear Frank with even detail of his saliva (I know...gross) in his mouth. The CD layer does not do this, but does sound very good. You really need to hear an actual SACD on this player...an SACD that's been mastered with a good source and thoughtfully done. Many of the SACD's of recordings of the psychedelic rock of the late 1960's-1970's are at best, meh. I cannot tell any difference.
I just love your videos. Though I cannot afford the products it is such a pleasure to see and I get to know a lot of things.
Side note: The SACD-30N can also cast/sync to other HEOS devices on the network, including SA/CD’s & any media via the output setting. The HP amp in the SACD-30N is wonderful with x3 Gain settings. The HEOS app has been recently updated & much better with its UI and navigation. Brilliant presentation & review mate, cheers.
The Marantz SACD30n CD drawer sometimes takes a long time to open is because for certain functions, the power to the drawer is turned off to avoid any noise interference when streaming. I've had my unit for almost two years and LOVE it tremendously. I'm very happy with the Class D amplification of the model 30 amp too !
I have both the model 30 and sacd 30n and I feel I am set for the next twenty years...the model 30 sounded so much richer than the (almost equally priced) other amps I listened to in a demo-session at a highend store...there's detail, body, 3d soundstage, balance and above all: it scratches the multiple secret itches of the true audiophiles: it sounds exciting/engaging/warm/enveloping while being composed yet revealing and having that classy (yes, I dare say: expensive) sound to it...I love it, you can too! YOLO!
Paired with which speakers? Brand / model?
ditto - which speakers please?
Currently: B&W 802 matrix s3 , but soon switching to dynaudio evoke 30 (fantastic pairing with marantz model 30)@@SirMountainpass
I was disappointed you didn’t even try the SACD feature, possibly a reason many may be interested in this unit. It does seem you have limited yourself to CD quality, and you’ve even espoused Spotify. Do you think the pursuit of higher resolution is a foolish goal?
Sacd is pointless. 16/44 captures the full human hearing range and well beyond. Sorry but it’s a waste..
Best combo money can buy at the moment and there are good deals around. Amazing sound and flawless with SACD. I have stopped buying any audio equipment or accessories as I’ve now found the holy grail.
I was an early adopter to the SACD 30n and have been enjoying it for a few years now. I use it with a vintage Marantz class a/b amp and preamp. I also pair it with my Luxman SQ-38u EL-34 tube integrated amp. I play CDs, SACDs, stream Amazon HD and use the USB-A with a thumb drive or USB-B with my MAC Mini it all sounds excellent. I agree 100% with Darko on HEOS app it needs work, frankly (imo) they need to start over and redesign it. I switched recently from Amazon HD to Qobuz. I’m waiting on delivery of my Aurender ACS 100, which will get me off the thumb drive, MAC and HEOS. Qobuz is integrated in Aurender products. The SACD 30n isn’t cheap, but I’m more than happy it (even with HEOS being a two star app).
I like that the Model30 is all analog with a phono stage. You can use whatever flavor of Dac/streamer you want with it. It’ll never go obsolete.
I wouldn’t mind a decent DAC that would allow HDMI ARC though, my stereo system doubles as my living room TV setup so HDMI is almost a necessity for me
I have a amplifier switch box connected to my front channel av speakers and main stereo 2 channel system. Allowing two amps to be connected to one set of speakers. Worth looking into.
@@ethancushing3398 then the 40 model is the one you want. Has a DAV with HDMI. And I’m in the same boat. My system doubles as my TV speakers. Currently I use Rotel amp with a Node and HDMI arc built into that. But once Rotel makes a decent amp with HDMI I’ll snatch that. (Don’t you dare mention the S14 abomination)
It’s not in the same price category as the items in this video, but I use the Marantz NR1200 for that purpose (class A/B stereo amp with DAC and HDMI receiver).
This is really a musical review. 🤗
😝
Very nice review. I own the Model 30 pieces paired up with B&W 702 Signature and I really love how the sound. I think they’re a great match. Rich, Full and Warm. The MMM DAC is brilliant, btw.
I own the Model 30 amp. I can't see me being able to afford the 30n any time soon, but maybe one day.
I’ve had the model 30 amp for a few months now with the much cheaper Marantz cd60 connected to dali epicon 2’s and couldn’t be happier, streaming courtesy of a dragonfly cobalt connected to an iPhone, no need to drop £3k on a streamer imo. This amp and the Dali’s really do make me look up and say wow quite a lot during a listening session. Fantastic M******ty haha. I haven’t had any issues with the cd draw and have AB tested the same track on the cd60 vs the dragonfly and the cd marginally wins in sound quality. Really love the channel! :)
I enjoyed the SACD multichannel content over the years. Cool to see SACD players still being produced. Thanks again Darko!
Very attractive combo. Using the Lyngdorf is a great comparison. I owned the TDAI-3400 which sounded fantastic using PWM technology.
The Marantz appears to be a decent recommendation for those who want a
no muss/no fuss one-stop purchase option.
Just upgraded my speakers for this stack from monitor audio rx6 to B&w 704s3. The improvement is quite substantial. Clearer mids and a bit more bite in the top. Just like John described 703 s3 I think the Bowers and Marantz sound like they were made for each other.
With option filter 2 selected and using the 30n as pre-amp, it outclasses many High-End systems.
Great insight into the Marantz, I also like the music references which expose me to more great music
Completely agree with your findings. I just got a 40n and 30n combo (wanted class AB/ and not Class D) and the sound is wonderful. Much better than much more expensive class D combo from another manufacturer. I think I prefer the sound better than my tube gear as well.
I too was hesitant with the Class D amplification of Model30 but bit the bullet two years ago and haven't looked back since !!!
Hey Man , I did your style.. you and some others have a very unique way of getting this information out and making it available and I thank you for that..Keep on pushing my brother!! I'm old school from the 70's and most of this new age technology in HiFi I don't have clue but thanks to you and the other knowledgeable reviewers I'm making my way in this.. I have a kick as home theater 9.2 but my main love is 2 channel stereo. .. Just bought Marantz CD 6007 and PM 8006 integrated amp .. This is my 3rd system in my audio room yet I'm still trying to figure it all out.. Thanks Dude!
Your description of the Marantz components is exactly what I would expect from Marantz. I have a Marantz amp and would describe it's sound in a "similar-ish" way.
No no no we love the SACD as much as the records and there are plenty of them!and HD files too and to me the best result is the files being played on the DaC of my Marantz and of course vinyles 😊
I suppose at 55 I’m exactly the target audience for the Marantz combo. I’d consider it particularly for its SACD capability. 😅
I listen to Classical music mostly, in that genre SACD is very much alive.
I don’t want to invest in HEOS though, as I have a few SONOS players. It ‘s not really logical, I know. I mean, I’m fine to buy a stand-alone streamer and amp for my main listening room, and the streamer would have to have one OS/UI or another. So why not HEOS. I guess, subconsciously, it’d be like starting a second multi-room system. For the same reason I chose a recent Pioneer AVR over a Marantz model for the living room. The Marantz had “bloody” HEOS, while the Pioneer “works with SONOS”, which, of course, is little more than Marketing.
The Lyngdorf looks great, but it lacks SACD support…
I really enjoy that you review the whole of the gear, it's not just about the sound. Quite miss the dance the 5cd drawers used to do, oh and drawer load cassette mechanisms..
Everytime I watch one of your videos I want put some music on and just enjoy it. You do that John. Thank you for that.
The amplifier should be on top! -> has to do with cooling☺️ Looking at the different height feet of the amplifier that will be a more rigid placement too.
Was just going to say this. Also a benefit of amp on top is to weigh down any vibrations from the cd player mechanism.
It is Class D so it barely has any heat. I did confirm with my local Marantz rep (not the dealer) and he says it does not matter in this case.
Thanks for the comparison.
I currently own a Marantz 30 amplifier but also a Advance Paris Smartline AX1 (pre)amplifier and - Advance Paris Smartline BX1 power amplifier.
Sources in my case are a Thorens TD320 with a Transrotor Uccello and as a DAC the Denafrips Ares 2.
All you said is also true for this pairing. The Marantz is the more rounder, more musical playing. Also with higher volumes there are never any distortions. Although my room - its the private training room in my Pilates Studio - is acoustically treated, with higher volumes the Advance Paris combo is sometimes stressful for the ears.
Omg, as a 703s2 owner I cant wait for 703s3 review! 😌
In my 20’s I owned clinical sounding equipment, Focal and Adcom , in my 40’s changed to tubes and Vandersteen . This stoped me from playing just good sounding recordings both lp’s and digital and my ears where happier. 👍🙂.
A noob question... would it make any sense to match a Model 30 with the 50n CD player? I wanted to get a model50+50n pair, but I also have a chance to get the Model 30 for a very good price (but don't have the budget for the 30n).
I had the PM8006 amp and matching streamer ND8006 for 18 months. I agree HEOS needs work to stay the least. After 18months of ownership virtually all my internet radio station started disappearing along with an annoying message from Tune-in radio saying that the stations where no longer supported in my area! I part exchanged the Marantz units and bought Naim seperates - much much better sound and money well spent! All stations are still present and correct.
That's a Tune-In Radio problem, not Marantz's...
Fantastic comparison, thank you!
My Marantz gear is great. My PM 8006 and CD 60 sound exactly as I expected: Yes musical, yes fuller. Paired with a Fluance RT-85 and a Bluesound streamer, hooked up to Special 40s. I am very satisfied with them.
The PM8006 I felt was a tremendous value compared to the model 30. The AB toroidal transformer of the PM8006 and hundreds of dollars cheaper makes it the smarter buy
Sounds fabulous with the Focal Sopra 1 (in combo with the Sopra SW1000 if you have the budget) 😊👌💯
Can’t believe you actually said it. Great video. Looking forward to your video on the B & W’s.
I like your reviews in general John. I also very much like your musical taste. Please keep it up! 🙏👍
I just made the investment in a new Marantz SA-10 SADC player. Depending on the mastering/mixing the difference between redbook cd's that I had been previously playing though an Audiolab 6000CDT transport into my DAC and the SACD version is quite amazing. Comparing the SA-10's MMM DSD conversion to my Cary Audio DMS-700 (Streamer/DAC) equipped with AKM AK4499EQ DACs. I find it very, very difficult to discern a difference. This feeds my Accuphase E-4000 integrated. SACD's, especially Jazz and Vocals sound much more analogue. Maybe????..... enough to give up my vinyl.
Well rounded presentation....part II your afterthought. Interestingly was this playing to you pragmatist side by a smidgen 🎵🎵
I run a quad speaker set up. A single source with DAC to 2 Marantz amps one supplying Wharfedale Linton speakers and the second to Two Monitor audios. The Lintons face forwards. The Monitor audios are front and angled in. The output from one amp feeds the other. It sounds fabulous. I recently sat in an amazing venue at a Bon Iver concert and recently went to a classical performance. I get the same acoustics in my room. In live shows sound bounces off all the walls and you are immersed. I have listened to very high-end conventional systems and none touches what I have. Forget this 2 speaker and one amp layout. It will never recreate the great concert venue feel. It all costs about 2K and I have no regrets selling my high end gear. Previous system was about 4K.
Still using PM94 limited edition amplifier...80s monster that sound real good
Thanks so much for this review John. Very well balanced and of great 'musical' info.
It would be great if you could mention where the products are made. I know the Model 40n is made right in Japan, assuming the same for the 30. Also, the Lyngdorf is made in Denmark. So these two being compared are both produced in their home countries, pretty cool.
Audiophile Differences is a great name for a channel. I might steal it
Use way less expensive Marantz amp with B&W for the last 18 months they definitely work well together. Great review.
Will appreciate you sharing which B&W speakers you are using. I’m considering new floor standing speakers.
@@stephenfletcher6801 Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition Floorstanding Speaker with PM8006
I love my 30n SACD PLAYER
camera zoom does not show any dusts!! your place is like a cleanroom?
I think I totally understand where you’re coming from especially referring to the word MUSICAL. But what I think you may have missed is did the BW pairing extract the details in the Marantz’s presentation at all? Good review
Excellent review as always John, and I loved the comparisons to the Lyngdorf. PLEASE tell me you’re going to be doing a review on those absolutely beautiful B&Ws… I’ve been dying for a proper review for the 703 S3s from at least one of my go-to audio channels.
I owned the Model 30 for all of two weeks before the right channel stopped working and I had to return it. Before its demise I found the amplifier to have a huge soundstage with precise imaging. I did find it tonally strange sounding compared to my 2A3 and 211 SET amplifiers. I also found vocals to be recessed by comparison. I didn't particularly like the sound of this amplifier.
I don't think there anything wrong with saying musical, but the caveat(my opinion) is an understanding of what it "might" really mean: emotional or what it does to our emotions. In the generic sense using the word musical might not mean a whole lot, which "might" be your resistance to use it. If it is an emotional response you get, then please say it. Like everyone here, we respect your thoughts and reviews, but several other channels use that term and have that exact same reaction when they use it. It probably does not mean the same thing for everyone, but if it's musical then say how and help us feel what you feel. We live vicariously through your impressions which gives me an emotional response, maybe a little musical response- Mr Darko, are you The Pied Piper?
"the word musical might not mean a whole lot"
@@DarkoAudio I've always felt when reading or hearing someone describe a system sound 'musical', that it means the opposite of analytical / cerebral. Definitely an emotional term imo, as previously suggested. I've read reviewers dance around using similar descriptions too but perhaps it's just best to move along and never mention it again!
Musical: having a pleasant sound; melodious or tuneful
Audiophile differences, it’s like everything in its right place. Thank you.
A great video and glad to see that the Model 30 is receiving more attention. I purchased on right after it came out and have it paired with a Rega P3 and some Klipsch Heresy’s, and it sounds great to me. I don’t recall of this was brought up in the video but the Model 30 has both a Moving Magnet and Moving Coil phono stage.
For me, I strictly play vinyl, cassette, or reel to reel; however, I do have a fairly large CD collection which has been largely ignored over the past 12 or so years. For me, the SACD 30n is a bit much for the $2500 price tag and would lean, probably, towards the Marantz CD 60, or something equivalent.
Absolutely *love* the look of the Lyngdorf combo, but I’m guessing the sound of the Marantz would be more to my liking. Really happy that we’ll see more of the TDAI-3400 though! Probably wouldn’t need one of these combos though, as the first thing I do with CDs is rip them to lossless.
Hi John - another great video. Can I ask why you chose to use the tv audio hdmi out via the Bluesound node as opposed to taking an optical out from the tv into the sacdn30’s optical in? Was there any sound improvement reason for it? Or does it offer other benefits?
Hi John, I am surprised that you didn’t mention/compare room correction systems between these two stacks. After all, the room effect the listing experience more than any other factor.
Hi Mike. I am surprised that you didn't realise that the Marantz has no room correction system.
@@DarkoAudio I wasn’t sure if it had Audyssey, as other Marantz products do (some even offer Dirac as a paid upgrade). You have been touting the importance of the effects of the room in an any audio system (which I agree), thus I was a little surprised it was not mentioned as a comparison in this video.
If you weren't sure if Audyssey (or similar room correction) was on board, how could you be "surprised" that I didn't mention it or do a comparison with Lyngdorf's? 😆
I think it's a matter of established record that I talk about the room a lot! However, this is not a 'room video'.
And - once again - I didn't talk about room correction software in this Marantz video because the Marantz components DO NOT HAVE room correction software.
@@DarkoAudio I assumed that they have Audyssey because their AV line does, such as the AV10. I am surprised it doesn’t, but now I know. Thanks for your reply.
Another great video John 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼Lots of love from the Big Apple🇺🇸
Marantz stays true and dedicated to it's customers philosophy. And vice versa. It introduces new technology in the old familiar way. Class D is brilliant. Thumbs up.
Marantz pm700 owner.
Just adding my 2c. Got this stack a couple of months ago to replace my ancient but still v good Pioneer A400/Epos ES11 combo sourced by not so good PC & Amazon Echo streamers. I would say it works best with speakers on the bright side. I currently have the stack hooked up to my v neutral and transparent ES11's and while the sound is v impressive overall it definitely lacks sparkle and life to the point of being dull. I did b2b comparisions with my A400 (w/i same SACD 30 source) and it actually sounds better (ignoring sound stage stuff etc). Drums, for eg, are much more dynamic and livelier.
I experimented by turning the tone controls on and ramping up the treble (currently at 2 o'clock) and it's a massive improvement! Whole thing comes alive while retaining all the good points. But, I am not keen on using the tone controls as I hate the thought of anything being in the way of the signal path.
I reckon B&W 700 & 600' series with their bright tweeters are the best match for the Marantz combo (as per Darko). In fact, I think the Marantz sound masters specifically test with B&W 803's etc. And, on the Marantz website, they specifically recommend B&W 703 S2 Signatures.
In conclusion, this Marantz combo requires v careful speaker matching. Avoid smooth or neutral sounding amps imo - which is a shame because there are so many fantastic speakers in all price ranges to choose from :(
Next step is to hook it up to my recently purchased Focal Aria K2 936's. But have to wait till the summer as they are in the UK hooked up to an Audiolab Omnia and I am in HK currently. Fingers x'd.
PS my comments relate mostly to rock and pop - Dire Straits, Fleetwood Mac, Police, Blondie, Duran Duran, Taylor Swift - you get the picture. Lana Del Rey etc sounds fabulous with tone controls off but there is more bite with them on which I seem to prefer.
I like your attitude towards high-end audio and ... I always like your attitude in general.
My post is not about preaching about SACD niche and your general attitude towards this format, which you have very well explained along these years with what they are good reasons to me.
For this kind of equipment, I believe some target buyer may be the SACD aficionado ; such being a key decission element. Not covering it is kind of a bummer to some people like me.
You might consider owning some very few with the music of your taste ; I know that is precisely your case regarding the almost inexistent choice for what your tastes seem to be ; would you ever find any (maybe depeche mode), you might enjoy comparing it with streamer and high-res files versus the tone marantz & others bring in this kind of equipment.
Cheers
Agree. Not testing SACD’s for this review is a real bummer for me too. The Marantz CD60 seems to be a better option and should have been tested here for those non-sacd audiophiles. ..
Question: Can the "audiophile difference" be measured? You have some outstanding measurement equipment. There has got to be some way to measure those audiophile differences.
🤗THANKS JOHN ,FOR ANOTHER SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON 👍💚💚💚
Great review - thanks! Would love to hear your thoughts on the differences in sound on the Model 30 and the Model 40n 👍🏻
I had the same issue with the headphone output on the SACD player, and had to fiddle with the jack to get it to work - it wasn't a deal killer b/c I am using a separate headphone amp, but it was frustrating fiddling for the couple of weeks while waiting for the amp to arrive. Great review - organized and clear, as usual.
It sounds to me strange that John hasn’t any SACD, but sincerely… I have several of them and I am really not be able to distinguish the SACD from the CD.
The only real advantage I found it’s when you have a multichannel SACD because it’s an astonishing and different experience.
I’ve got a bunch of Dylan SACDs (among others). The remasters are amazing but have never heard the sacd component 😂
If you listen on highly resolving speakers the improvement is easy to hear
Interesting hook, I stayed until the end to find out what M****** meant. Of course, I enjoyed the review as well. I’m really starting to like what I’m hearing about the Marantz brand and their products. And, yes, I’m an old fuddy-duddy who likes separates, and uses an all-analog pre and power amps.
Really for the first time how it was described has Marantz sounded appealing enough to consider. This is because of your accounting for B & W's being a good pairing wirh the IA and SACD plaver :)
Thank you for your review, sir! I bought the SACD 30n and I very much like it. I play it thru a Sugden IA-4 and Arendal 1723 Monitors and I truly believe this is my end game gear
Really enjoyable video. I have the Lyngdorf amplifier (not the CD player) but have not heard the Marantz. From your video you explain how the Marantz sounds different to the Lyngdorf, which must be great for anyone thinking of listening to both of these setups. I like my Lyngdorf, although I would say that I have had to make changes in the 'voicings' to make it sound closer to my taste, but I suspect it would still be a little shy of being able to give the same sound as the excellent Marantz, which I think I might like more from the impressions you give in the video. I bought the Lyngdorf for some of the other functionality it brings, namely the excellent streaming that you mentioned and also the ability to easily integrate a sub, and for me and my room setup, the most important, room correction.
Thanks for the review! Please see if you can review the Marantz PM12SE & SA12SE.
Another great episode. Nice review.
I get that you do not have it, but I would love to hear your thoughts between the Marantz 40n and the Model 30 + SACD 30n. I went model 40n personally, but I don’t own any CD’s and 3k for a streamer essentially was too much for me to justify. I have after a year bought a new blusound node to connect to the 40n because I did like the blu OS (I also have the Peachtree gan1 with a blusound node) better, and I am now able to stream the same music in my bedroom and living room which is nice when tidying up the house.
Great review.
I was torn between the 30 and a Peachtree Carina.
The Carina won simply due to Peachtree willingness to knock a $1000 off on trade in of an old Marantz AVR that I could not haven't that much out of.
I am quite happy with the Carina, but still looking forward to auditioning the Marantz one day.
i opted for the model 30 over the 40 for two main reasons i hate digital menus where you have to search and search for what you want to do as opposed to the ultra simplicity and tactile world of solid feeing knobs and dials .
on/off
volume
source dial
and occasional use of tone controls
the other reason is i felt i needed the extra power for my difficult to drive 4 ohm speakers .
As to the class D ,all i can say about that is " it's not your grandmas class" .
it's not AB but it's also not class D. marantz has done something that is unique and very very satisfying . i'm hooked after listening for a about five months .
Did you get a chance to try filter's 1 & 2 on the 30n sacd? I use Filter 2 and love it.
Me too. Although Filter 1 gives warmer sound, but Filter 2 gives clear sound and sounds much better.
Great comparison, I totally get what you mean about streaming and HEOS.
Yeah, it was curious and a pleasure proud of myself (I confess) to watch your impressions about Marantz and Lindorf combos are the same of mine. However since the very beginning of this greater dissemination of class D, I continue to feel that classes A or AB are more musical (a term you hate) but, over time, listening to these ends up tiring me more than the good class D, which I believe to be the future of Hi-Fi.
Wow! Jon drops the M bomb!
I'm using the SACD 30N with a Parasound JC2BP Preamp and JC5 Amp and the DAC is so good. 2 issues it has: 1. I agree HEOS needs work and 2. It needs QOBUZ support (also via HEOS)
I just got an update from QOBUZ support! Qobuz is expected to be compatible with HEOS systems once the Qobuz Connect feature is released, which they expect to be mid-November, 2024 but haven't confirmed an exact date yet. THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR HEOS DEVICE OWNERS who will finally be able to stream the highest resolution streaming service, QOBUZ on their gear. Happy days ahead!
Are you reviewing the b&ws in the background
Comparisons are good. Keep up the good work.
Nice looking rig for sure
Since HEOS added full functionality of Amazon music it’s not bad. Of course there is room for improvement but I think it’s perfectly usable.
I have heard the Lyngdorf 3400, but I unfortunately haven’t heard the Marantz. I have listened to the 3400 in comparison to the NAD M33. For me the M33 is so much cooler and the BlueSound functionality alone wins me over BUT, the Lyngdorf does sound a bit better if I'm really honest. Great review, can't wait for the B&W 703 S3!!!
How are you managing a CD collection across two countries? Sounds like a right faff.
As a heos user my self the only problem with it is when I play songs via usb I can't move the song back and forth, it's frustrating. I'm trying to understand if it's just me because if this is the case without fixing it, I don't think it's worth using or recommending it at all John
Although the sound quality through heos is quite good!

Version 3 of the Marantz Model30/SACD30n review ????
John - unrelated to the gear review (thanks for that), but where did you get your Shacket (Shirt + Jacket)? Love it...
Carhartt makes some nice ones, I have 2 prefer the snaps to the buttons much easier.
It's Pull & Bear ( 14:41 ).
Darko Thanks Much !.......
Nice Review, i am happy with 40n and don't use CD or SACDs, just ripped hi res FLAC files stored in Hard Drive->Connected to 40n via USB. All in one setup. Also HEOS is slow with limited features but very useful. I can control Hard Drive files from HEOS app on my iPad and iPhone which is very convenient.
Model 30N has been a great unit for me and I think it sounds lovely..I mostly use it for streaming and it’s easier just using AirPlay from my phone with Tidal to the unit instead of HEOS. Pairing with a top Yamaha Amp all sounds great. Used to have expensive separate DACs but this one ☝️ sounds great
I like the SACD player. For years, I owned a huge collection of CDs and SACDs, and an excellent McIntosh SACD player. In Asia, where I was living, SACDs are a big deal as is DSD. There is a huge market for both in China but especially Japan. Unfortunately, I lost all my possessions including my massive Star Wars collection too. I’m not sure I’d bother now with physical formats. But I have to say, that Marantz player has caught my attention. If I went back into collecting, it would be SACDs only. I like that the player takes inputs and upsamples to DSD. And I have always loved the Marantz house “sound”. I knew John was going to say the MUSXXXX word! It’s almost obscene!😂
Almost nothing is released on SACD here in UK. If it did it would be at a considerable premium limited edition.
We do get sound surround special edition reissues.
Obviously only a benefit for those with home theatre set ups
I live in Singapore, I would say that SACD is available in Japan but not widely popular. For the rest of Asia, it is difficult to find.
@@gavincheng0394 I live in the US and I own just about every single Chinese language SACD ever released.
HEOS is the worst thing happened to this world. The fact that this is missing Tidal connect too... makes me really sad. (and also it's a deal breaker - I've learned that one should not wait till spotify goes lossless...- I guess we will have world peace before that...)
Oh shit, he said the M word.😂
I feel like the term "musical" is a by-product of a lot of different trends in the larger audio community. Personally, I end up wanting to use the term when I listen to gear that seems purpose built to enjoy music, as opposed to a soundbar (for enjoying multimedia) or studio monitor (in a professional setting). It's squishy, subjective language, that could mean a lot of different things, but so does the word "detail," if I'm being honest. The example that I recently found is the HD560S, which might be more detailed and accurate and overall more technical compared to the HD58X, but is not as musical headphone, imho.
Excellent video.
I need them both!
But the "M" word is so hard to avoid because it just sounds so musical🎵 ! We forgive you for using it !
I wonder how they did with your zu & klipsch especially because of the class d power & highly efficient speakers.
"Let's talk about knob-feel."
And you kept a straight face. Bravo sir! 😂
the snob feel is great!
@@themastroiannis I don't see it as being snobbish but simply a statement of perceived build quality.
I was worried you were going to say "Organic"