As part of my HiFi journey I have bought a Marantz SA12SE SACD player and DAC.
I bought it as a CD transport into ND555 as DAC. I purchased it for various reasons. Now living with it, it is better than expected. I first thought it sounded better as a CD transport. However it sounds excellent direct into 552DR anologue.
So I am thinking how can it sound better? Both as transport and analogue.
So possible interconnects are from SA12SE 2 x RCAs to 5pin analogue. And RCA to RCA or RCA to BNC digital for digital into ND555 as DAC.
Let me know what cables would be improvement on what I have which are lower priced cables.
Connect it via analog output to your pre, otherwise you won’t be able to play Sacd.
Marantz player are always very very good.
BTW,since I started my journey in our beautiful hobby, the only component that I’ve never changed in the last 15 years is a Marantz blu ray player. It plays really well cd, sacd, dvd audio,blu ray audio and of course all video formats except 4K. Love it.
Hi Dan just a thought to try if you’ve got some RCAs lying around.
At the same time my Linn CDP showed signs of needing an upgrade so I bought the Naim CD5SI perfect match for my new SN3. I set up the CDP with the leads I was using all Linn silver RCA I had no din leads. I switched on the CDP and no sound so after a minute of rabbit in the headlights I realised that from factory all outputs are not online and only the din one is. Aha there is one in the CDP box so installed it and got the tunes. I wasn’t happy the sound was very thin and rather quiet so I thought obviously give a while to warm up etc. So read the bit in the manual about how to select other outputs and set it to my RCA started a disc and WOW! All the slam and depth was instantly there and more volume too. So changed back to din and it went dud again. So the gear is all on Silvers .
And all is super with Silvers RCA
Cost nothing to try if you’ve got the cables.
Hi @Skeptikal, I don’t have any spare rca to rca interconnects. However, last time I took your advice on LP12 with upgrades, particularly Urika 1 things went very well indeed.
Taking a punt and have ordered Linn RCA silvers new but discounted on ebay! No doubt they will sound great. I am using Linn Silvers from Urika 1 to 552DR.
Hi Dan
I feel guilty you spending to find out.
I had ordered all the din leads to convert my system when I switched to Naim but after my CDP experiment it was night and day in comparison.
Din conversion was cancelled.
I know a few others that tried and found the same.
It goes against Naim advice but the difference is very obvious.
I don’t use Dins on my Naim.
I got a great deal on them. The cable I am using at the moment analogue is a flashback din to 2 rca I have had for many years. I think that the Linn Silvers will be an improvement.
As you know I went down SA12 route myself and tried a few RCA/RCA cables from my ‘stash’ into the 272. Including a flashback RCA/Din.
Long story short, Atlas won out for me (as they have before). And the more you spend, the better they get imo. Soz!
Though second best was a pre-owned pair of Accuphase RCA/RCA I got for £50 through ebay some time back. They currently run from my tuner to the 272 and match very well, pretty good from the Marantz too, punching well above to my ears, but I like Atlas options better and of course with remote selling you can return if not happy. There is a well known online cables retailer (not a shop from the past…) who you can ring and get suggestions from too.
With my LP12 on holiday at dealers for tonearm repair and firmware issues with ND555, I must say that I am really enjoying the Marantz SA12SE.
The build quality is superb and the sound quality is amazing. They don’t sell them at price I paid any longer which was half price!
With Linn Silvers I will see how I get on. They work well with a 25K turntable so I don’t see why they won’t work well the Marantz.
But, I am also looking for recommendations for digital cable rca to rca. Any thoughts, anyone.
I will look into Atlas connects too. How are you getting on with your Marantz?
I have had 2 CDS2s and a CDS3. For me, the Marantz has better build quality. It’s really quite stunning, and for the price I paid I couldn’t have hoped for more.
Very well, I haven’t missed the 3.5/FC/Hi-Line combo I’d had the previous 25 years!
Atlas Mavros Ultra from my Auralic G1.1 to 272.
Also like Naim’s DC1 after I repaired mine recently.
I still don’t get how or why digi cables sound different however Mavros is more ‘solid’, Naim is more ‘airy’ is a very simplistic way of describing differences. Neither is ‘better’ just different.
I had the above cable on my SA12se, but a tad bit bright for my ears, so I went for a, Missing Link Alaqeia and found it is less bright but a lovely detailed slightly warmer presentation. ML cables are such good value and very underrated imo…
