Not one to muck about with cut-price kit, Marantz has pulled out the stops with its latest disc spinner, the £5k gold-plated SA-7S1. While the use of gold in gadgets usually evokes a cringeworthy sense of blingness, we have to admit Marantz looks to have done a pretty tasteful job.
Plenty of steps have been taken to ensure minimum interference with a double layer bottom plate, shock-absorbing feet and a copper-plated outer case. Add to this a shielded toroidal transformer, low-noise LCD display and reinforced disc drawer and you've one seriously tank-like unit.
Spec-wise the SA-7S1 incorporates 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 (High Definition Amplifier Modules).
The SA-7S1 boasts full and complete separation of digital and analogue sections so the analogue signal is free from digital interference, while completing the package is a three-channel digital filtering option to tweak the sound to your liking.
The SA-7S1 will be available from June 2007.
More information: Marantz website | Marantz products
