Marantz CD-11 SE Compact Disc Player Reviewed

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Bravery in hi-fi usually means having the nerve to release something which looks unlike everything else. Slope-fronted Yamahas and Michaelson Audio's Chronos amps spring to mind. But real bravery is admitting that you screwed up. And Marantz has done so with the much-loathed CD-11.

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That's not entirely correct. The Japanese liked it, and apparently the French think it's the greatest CD player on earth. But here it was consistently disliked, the consensus being that it sounded flat, sluggish and uninvolving. I managed to resist reviewing it, but my opinion was sought in a listening session when I reviewed the company's Music Link products. I, too, was suitably underwhelmed by a machine which was intended to stomp my reference CD-12 from the same firm.

I've now spent time with the CD-11's replacement, compared it to my battery of CD players as well as an original CD-11; it's fascinating to hear how a company will go to great lengths to save face. And what Marantz did was involve Ken Ishiwata, who didn't just save face: he invested it.

Keep in mind that the sample I used was the first to reach these shores -- at the time the only one in Europe. At this point, I can't even tell you if it's the CD-11 SE or CD-11 Mk II or CD-11 Revised, nor can I nail its price down to anything other than 'circa £2000-2500'. But what I can tell you is that it's what the original should have been.

The only way you can separate the new from the old externally is by turning'em over to look for a fifth 'foot'. This has been added for better isolation, and probably to add support to what is a hefty machine. Not that the early one sagged.

Inside, it's a different story. The new version's main ingredient is DAC-7, the latest Bitstream chip and one which is said to 'cream' the earlier version with its 7321. I had a chat with fellow HFN/RR contributor Paul Miller about it and he confirmed my findings about sonic gains in four key areas -- precisely the areas where the CD-11 needed the makeover. In simple terms, the DAC-7 separates the analogue and digital sections, and it equals a 7350 chip (used as a digital filter) plus a TDA1547 (for the D/A conversion). In the CD-11 update, two TDA1547s are used in dual-differential mode.

Other changes include a completely revised power supply, new servos for the motor and the retention of the cast CDM-4 transport but with new servos. I seem to recall Ken saying that there may be an upgrade program for owners of the early CD-11, but it would be costly -- probably half the price of the player -- as the upgrade is substantial.

SEVEN-UP

Maantz has relaunched the ill-fated CD-11 with the DAC-7 chip -- are the bits onstream?

by Ken Kessler (See HFN/RR Oct 1990 for the original review.)

Read more about the CD-11 SE on Page 2.
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