SACD and 5.1 future, with Marantz and Oppo opting out?

Looks like Marantz has a new limited edition (limited to 500 units) top-of-the-line SACD player....

Marantz announces limited edition KI Ruby SACD/CD player and integrated amp

 

If, as the article says, the SACD player is based on the SA-10, it won't support 5.1/multi-channel SACDs.

 

I was actually more curious about "new disc mechanism, the ‘SACDM-3’, for SACD, CD and CD-ROM playback". I don't know how much resource was used for the development of the new disc mechanism, but it sounds like Marantz is not giving up on SACD yet.

 

I have heard a number of folks on the forum who mentioned their Marantz SACD players no longer play the SACD layer. What good is that player if it can no longer play the SACD layer on a hybrid disc?

 

Perhaps the new disc mechanism is an improvement?

 

If the disc mechanism includes decoding SACD, then yes ...

 

I would think it’s the disc mechanism that can’t focus the laser onto the disc that caused the problem you had.

 

No clue. I do not own a Marantz SACD player ...

 

McIntosh has announced a CD/SACD player as well for the American market.

 

The author didn't get all the facts correct. That transport is the same as what's in the SA10.

 

There's issues with just about every piece of gear made at some point. Can you say that all of what you own has been 100% issue free?

 

Its usually either a laser or lens assembly issue which can happen to other optical media playback too having had it happen on NAD CDP and a Philips dvd player.

 

The complaints were about those Marantz SACD players not reading the SACD layer after 4 to 5 years ...

 

Ok, but you didn't answer my question.

Another question for you. Marantz made/makes a number of players capable of SACD playback. Which model are you referring to?

 

I think it was the 8005 those guys I know were referring to ...

 

My point was that Marantz was willing to invest money into a new disc transport. How much money? I don't know. Marantz could've easily grab any transport off of its parts bin and be done with it....especially in these waning days of the physical disc. I hope Marantz see that there're still demands for CD and CD/SACD players that retails for under $1,000 or $500. With Oppo now defunct, there's a vacuum to be filled.

 

Did anyone see the recent closing/sold prices of the OPPO UDP-203? Dunno if it means demand is strong for universal players in general, or just that particular OPPO.

 

Wow! Unreal prices with some over $800 with bid time remaining .

oppo 203 | eBay

 

Ok, well the 8005 has only been out for about 3 years, so probably not that one.

Marantz SACD players in general have been extremely reliable machines.

 

It was either 8004 or 8005 as I know it was not one of the reference models ...

One fellow with the Marantz also owns an Esoteric, a much more expensive and better SACD player than the Marantz.

 

Why wouldn't the Yamaha BD A1060 player work as an Oppo replacement?

 

Than an 8000 model? Yeah, I can agree with that. Although, I do find the Esoteric house sound a bit to clean for my tastes.

 

Some people saw this coming. Someone on another forum posted a picture of the 12 units they bought knowing Oppo was leaving the business. He planned to flip all of them for profit.

 

I saw a similar picture, not sure if it was the same person. But he claimed to be giving them as gifts to family members and keeping the rest for himself .

 

In terms of ticking all the boxes it would. Paul Rigby, Hifi World reviewer, had it on his site recently.

Here's a link to the page with the review. Second one down.

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