MARANTZ SA8260 SACD PLAYER MODIFICATIONS 

Marantz SA8260 SACD Player Modifications

Product Code: MSA8260 Price: Check Latest The Marantz SA8260 multi-channel player is their effort at a second generation machine. It comes in at a very affordable sticker price, usually under a cool grand on the internet. Amazingly, at this price point what you get is an elegant and classy appearance with excellent build quality. The sound is tonally pleasant probably leaning a touch to the warmer side of neutrality while presenting a fair amount of detail and resolution. The player really is exemplary when terms like "cost-effective" or "value" are thought of and maybe, even considered a downright bargain! Hats off to Marantz! End of story? Heck no! Don't think we'll settle for mere stock performance or as David Robinson (Ye olde editor from Positive Feedback) says I don't drive stock! Our goal was to transform an extremely cost-effective player with an extremely cost-effective mod for 2-channel only...a hot-rod. After our recent trip to Audio Consulting we acquired some really incredible coupling transformers which we call the "baby" silver rocks at less than a fourth of the costs of the reference versions. This was a no-brainer for this player. Sitting rather comfortably (as seen right) in the custom made oak shelf, the transformers essentially eliminate the entire active output stage giving much more resolving power, openness, and freedom to the music. Another benefit was using them in a 1:2 ratio giving us ~4 Volts output enabling it to drive any amplifier directly with quite the dynamics and punch! Next, we really focused on improving the transport section or the main mother board, for we have found this to greatly benefit the performance of any player. Thus, tens of Black Gates were replaced and an important 5 volt regulator was also changed to an Audiocom discrete Q-power. In addition we raised the capacitance to a mind boggling 1 FARAD on the output of the Q-power-this was major! Finally, the last step was to treat the mains. By simply plugging the Marantz into the Digital Mains Filter (DMF) the player again reached a new plateau of performance. The music became unbounded and stress free with greater emotion and involvement. We must say this player is killer! What's Included The cost is for parts only and does not include player, installation (see below), or shipping cost. Installation Please contact Richard Kern of Audiomod by e:mail at RKern70055@aol.com or by phone at (503)659-6599 or (503)490-8602 for installation. Customer Reviews Send us a review and share your thoughts with other customers Reviewer: Michael Spallone Date:October 3, 2002 Hello Everyone, My story begins about three months ago. I was checking out what was new on Audiogon under CD players and discovered a Marantz SA-8260 for sale through a dealership for $650.00. I had already heard some very good buzz about this multi-channel SACD player, so for that price I had to check it out! Stock, this is a very nice sounding player with fine resolution, sweet top end, warm midrange, but has an ill-defined rather thin bass. All in all a very well built nice sounding player that never sounded etched or grainy on top like some of the Sony players. I'll make no bones about it, I bought this player to have it modified. I knew that this player modded could really be something special. In the past I have owned many marvelous creations from Ric Schultz of EVS fame, so he was my first consideration; however, Ric unfortunately is on his own and cannot get out the volume of mods that he would like and I didn't feel like waiting until next year at this point to get the player modded. This is when I found out about Kyle at Reference Audio Mods. When I spoke with Kyle, I knew we spoke the same language. He is also a no-preamp guy like myself and when he told me I could double the output voltage and entirely eliminate the output stage by using these new coupling transformers, along with the usual power supply mods, Black Gate caps, ultrafast soft recovery diodes, et cetera, I knew I had found my guy! Now for the sound. After a few weeks which to me seemed like months without music, my player was returned to me. I must say that this player now has to be one of the finest sounding players out there at this moment playing Red Book CDs at any price. The resolution, transparency and dynamic slam is absolutely stunning. The top end is just so much more extended, but again, without the slightest amount of etchiness or grain. Cymbals just absolutely shimmer with reality. The midrange now has just the right amount of bloom, but at the same time much more transparent, with a real see-through ability, where, on really good recordings, the walls of your listening room seem to disappear. I am one happy MoFo. I can't imagine this player sounding any better, but Kyle tells me he has a few more tricks up his sleeve, like putting in a totally new low flux density transformer, and perhaps squeezing in the Audiocom Super Clock which I understand is a little tough to install in this player due to the location of the crystal oscillator on the under side of the mother board. When Kyle figures out the best way to do it, I will be first in line! Very highly recommended! New reference player? You bet! Happy Listening, Michael Spallone ADDED: October 25, 2002 One line I forgot to add in the paragraph about the sound of the Marantz SA-8260 in my review was, I wanted to mention the quality of the bass. The bass, the weak link before, is now so deep and powerful, yet is tremendously tight and well controlled. If you would, you could add this line as the last one in the paragraph. Regarding the other mods that I performed once I got the unit back, first I replaced the remaining electrolytic caps with the standard Black Gates and the bipolar Black Gates in the critical areas on the main board. As far as the main power supply filter caps, I used Nichicon Muse KG,FA,&FX much better than the stock Elna standard audio grade RA2. And lastly, I replaced the dirt cheap female RCA connectors with Sound Connections best oxygen free copper version. I also dampened the transport mechanism , then the lid and the chassis itself. The sound now is even more open and powerful. (RAM comment - Awesome!)