Good sound using the digital output.

Several threads on audiogon and elsewhere have indicated persistent problems with this model. Also, the sound using the 8250's internal DAC was markedly inferiot to using a fifteen year old Theta DAC.

I have an outboard DAC, so I use the 8260 for the digital output only. The sound was fine, but the reliability was awful. After I had it for about a year, the laser end had to be realigned. About three months later, it started distorting heavily and needs to be repaired again. Customer support at Marantz was unhelpful, as two phone calls were not returned. They have a single service center near Chicago, so it will be out of commission again. The sound was fine, but everything else was very disappointing.

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Pioneer Elite

The sound quality is first rate

quality control.

As mention by other reviewers here, my SA8260 also had TOC reading problem when playing the SACD album "Modern Cool" by Patricia Barber. The player was either freezed at song No. 7 or re-started to play song No. 1. I then contacted Marantz and send it (including the CD) to a service center in Chicago. I got the player back for about 2 weeks now. So Far it is playing every cd that I put in it with no problem.

The service center indicated that the optical system and other modification were done on the player.

SOUND QUALITY IS AMAZING IN CD AND SACD MODE

DOES NOT PLAY ANY OF THE BURNED CD'S
PRODUCES ERROR ON MANY ORIGINAL RED BOOK CD'S

I bought this my SA 8260 in November, after reading a Stereophile review and raving reviews from the users. I did not hear the unit, because nobody has a demo unit it in Ottawa (Canada). There is only 3 authorized dealers here.
Sound is fantastic....It is the best player I have ever had. Right of the box there was as diference in sound quality. SACD sound is just stuning.
Build quility is reasonable although tray sounds and looks clunky.

My bigest problem is TOC reading error.
At first after reading Marantz manual...which is saying that some of the burned CD's will not work....acctualy NONE of them will work. What is really embarasing is that of 4 players in the house, the most expensive and the most sophisticated one will not play what seems to play in any other player.
i was not happy about that one but I could leave with that.

However problems started to develop by TOC reading error on original red book CD's. Now that becomes anoying...sometimes it playes sometimes it does not.
If I reiinsert a CD's it might work but no garanty. Sometimes, a day after it will work normal.

Some of you do have similar experiences. Please feal free to contact me and exchange your experiences with me. Marantz should do something about it.
I am starting to wonder about quality control at Marantz.
This product should be recalled.
sscepan@hotmail.com
I will

Customer Service

WILL FOLLOW UP ON THIS ONE. I HAVE SENT THEM AN E-MAIL FEW DAYS AGO.
WILL INFORM THIS FORUM ABOUT AN OUTCOME.

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HARMAN & CARDON
SONY

Sound Quality is first rate.

Reliable playback of software.

Ridiculous warranty service.

This is a follow-up review.
I have had the SA 8260 for several months now. The player now exhibits read-errors on both SACD and CD layers. The history is as follows:
A few months back I purchased a brand new Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs recording of Patricia Barber (Modern Cool)-- a hybrid. Imagine my surprise as the ( up to this point no problems)8260 refuses to read the TOC on SACD. It was confused to read the CD layer as well, but a few random times it played a few tracks before freezing, at which point I had to reboot the player.

As I said, the 8260 showed no signs of problems prior to this disc. As time went by I noticed more issues with SACDs at first, and then even some CDs. Of course the discs were clean and no other player in my house had any issues, not even the $99 dollar Sony Discman. I realize the transport is more complex in the 8260 (has to deal with two speeds) but c'mon Marantz...
So I hit the web and find on Audio Asylum and Audiogon many many many other folks with similiar issues abound. It seems this is not confined to a particular manufacturing year.
I gave the Patrica Barber CD to a friend to try in his 8260 and lo and behold it played the SACD layer...for a few songs then froze. Now, he is experiencing similiar issues with other cd's that used to work. Now it is probably a coincidence that after the MFSL cd both our players are unreliable. I can not think of any way that a certain format can cause prolonged gltiches in the control firmware, unless there is battery backup (pull the plug problems come back).
Whatever the cause Marantz ought to step up to the plate and simply issue a product recall, or some statement....the players list for over 1000.00 USD. This is simply unacceptable.

The sound quality, though, is still first rate. One must spend several thousand dollars to achieve a higher level of fidelity (not including mods here).

For sound quality I rate the player a 5/5
For basic stability I rate the player a 2/5 (it's a sophisticated component; bugs are bound to occur but not at this failure rate)
Therefore overall, the player gets a 3.5/5

Every bit of well recorded music in both CD and SACD will shine tthrough this genuine high resolution player. Pure pleasure. Very good build quality, smooth and silent operation. Well done user interface.

Reading compatibility: mostly CDR but with some regular CD's too. Worldwide Marantz service.

This is a post for SA8400: The plus side: For a while I was looking for an affordable only-stereo version of SACD player, enters the highly appraised Marantz SA8400. This purchase confirmed and fully satisfied my early interest in SACD. This Hi res format is a definitive plus complemented by a first rate CD replay: Sound is highly informative without being overly analytical and if the recording quality allows it, every bit of music is balanced, sweet and dynamic. The minus side: However I have to report my sample has recurring problems to read some CDRs and even some regular CDs; nevertheless the SA8400 has zero problem to read SACDs. This CD incompatibility randomely occurs while reading the TOC; as soon as the player fails to read it, I would repeat the operation and most of the time it works, whereas in other occasion it refuses to read it but would play it on the following day. Weird and very irritating. Too bad for me, I've purchased it during a business trip in asia, which means the warranty doesn't apply here in Europe. I've reported this to the retailor but unlikely what he suggested to me, I won't take the risk to ship my player back to asia. Hence I may have to consider a local repair service at my charge. The biggest bit to swallow is, if I buy Marantz product, I'm not only purchasing a single product but the name and its relative reputation too,i.e. confidence in a long lasting and major key player in audio. Since this player has been bought new and from an official Marantz agent, eventhough it is located in a diffrerent continent, I don't understand and refuse to accept this warranty issue. If anybody already experienced such CD compatibility problem, I'm eager in advance to read any helpfull suggestion.

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Sony SCD 1 Linn Genki Philips CD 850 Audio Alchemy DITB

Easy to operate Very handsome piece of equipment Does a hell of job playing red book cd Off the chart with SACD

Flimsy tray Can't switch from multi to stereo on the fly(minor complaint) Long burn in period

First let me tell all about Hi Fi Trader. DO NOT and I mean DO NOT do any business with this company, unless you want crappy customer service. The only positive experience out of my dealings with them is I finally got a brand new deck, other than the near mint condition of what they advertise. So take note. I am not a complainer or anything like that. I want to save you the mess I went through. Okay now the 8260. I usually don't go by reviews to make my decision about a product, but it being rated class A, I took a closer look. I did my research and decided to take a chance. Upon finally getting it(which took about 8 weeks, thanks to hi-fi trader)I noticed the box it was shipped in and the way it was ship, was cheap and flimsy. A far cry of the build quality of the deck itself. If that is done to save on cost, then I can understand that, but Marantz could have done a better job on the packing. However as I mention the build quality is top notch compared what's out there. The tray is sub-standard but so is the 10K linn! So you see what I'm saying! My first listening experience after the burn-in period was awful.This is comparing to the Audio Note gear I just got rid of(big mistake I love Audio Note gear) to get into SACD. The sound was thin and bright and not musical. It just wasn't what I was use to. Couldn't put my finger on it. By now I was pissed. Not only was I treated like a chump, now I have this piece of crap I have to deal with! Boy was I wrong. It really takes about a month to do a complete burn-in. I sat down to do some listening one evening and bam it was in my face. All of it. This deck is the truth. Does it match up to the Audio Note? Not really but it wasn't embarrassed either, and I must say it outran most of what is out there like; Krell,Meridian,Music Fidelity,etc. You get my drift, and this is just red book. SACD is a whole other world in itself. I listened to Patricia Barber(SACD) as a reference. By far one of the best recorded SACD. Again Bam! I feel real good about this deck. It will be in my system for some time to come. Take note I've been enjoying this hobby for over 32years. So I know what's out there. Most are over price, that's why the 8260 is so popular. For what you get dosen't justify spending 2-3k for a SACD. I can honestly say the newer players are so good, you don't have to take a leap in faith to get a good deck. But you must do the homework. Feel free to email if you are uncertain about where to spend your money. I can save you from getting ripped!

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Audio note Krell Meridian Music fidelity Pioneer Ayre Wadia Arcam

Easy to use. Multi-Channel SACD. Bass clarity. Fine Red Book player Upper midrange/treble extension without any glare. Nice build quality.

TOC reading a little slow. Chincy RCAs.

I heard this player at a friend's house and decided I had to try it. My rig: McCormack DNA 0.5, McCormack TLC-1, previous NAD CD 541i(HDCD), and Thiel CS 1.2s supplemented in the lowest octave by an active paradigm sub. Interconnects are WireWorld Equinox V's and speaker cables Kimber 4TC. Heavy basic AC power cables but nothing fancy. Room size = 20x25x9. Speakers 7 feet center to center, 4 feet from rear wall, 3+ from sides,listening position 9-10 feet. When I first hooked up the 8260, and played it cold it sounded good, but I left it on for about 2 hours and came back for my first audition. I initially just listened to red book. Immediately I was aware that this was a superior player in every aspect (the NAD CD 541i is a fine red book player, proably the best in its class). My experience with audio equipment over the years has led me to the basic self-understanding that I need to acclimate to a new piece for a few days before I truly can gauge its character. The 8260 only improved to my senses over time. Now, despite system differences between my first experience and on my system, the things I heard (and liked) on system 1, are the characteristics I am currently experiencing on my system, once again confirming that we must start with the source. The SACD playback with my current gear leaves me with a real feeling that I have taken a sizable step closer to reproducing an electrical waveform very true to the waveform that was either directly sampled to digital or remastered from analog recordings. Again, this goes back to the DSD process that is the cornerstone for SACD. I find this player easy to use, fit and finish elegant, and the sound, well you just read it. Love it and highly recommend it.

Detail and clarity, rich extended bass, sweet mids and highs. Good looks and build quality - very nice fit and finish. CD replay is at a whole different level than what I'm used to and SACD playback is mesmerizing.

Reads SACD stereo slowly as the default setting is multi-channel, but really, what's the hurry? And the remote takes care of it, so why quibble?

remodeling our den/library, I wanted an audio-only SACD player. Checked the reviews and found the 8260. Nobody had one in stock, so I ordered one locally at a price less than the catalogs. 3 weeks later I had it and have been mesmerized ever since. Sounds beautiful through our vintage Marantz components and incredible through the front headphone jack and volume control with the Sennheiser 650. This is a terrific product at a very good price.

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Sony DVP NS755V - a very nice high value machine that I was lucky to get as they weren't available for long and it got me interested in SACD for which I am very grateful, but it can't compare sonically in SACD or, especially, CD.

Relatively affordable entry to DSD without DVD circuitry.

Nowhere near quality "red-book" players in CD play back; suspect build quality and isolation characteristics; does not read copy-controlled "red-book" discs; no balanced outputs for 16/44.1 signals or front-channel analogue outputs.

I am using the SA8260 as a secondary source in a two-channel audio system. I am frankly disappointed with its performance. Granted, on a well-recorded DSD transfer the sound can be lush and smooth, but it is not involving at all and was not the sonic revelation I expected compared with high-quality "red-book" players. On two-channel SACD playback, the Marantz is competent but not exceptional. On CD playback, it can be fatiguing, with narrower soundstaging and grainier detail than my primary "red-book" player (a Krell KPS 20i). I also have a number of grievances about the overall build quality. The unit does not appear to be well isolated -- it vibrates strongly with discs in play and seems to resonate even from moderate speaker output. The disc reading speed is painfully slow. This is made worse if you are using it as a two-channel SACD or CD source, because the default sound mode is multi-channel SACD. Switching to two-channel SACD/CD mode requires re-reading the table of contents, which seems to take an eternity. It also does not read copy-controlled discs because it uses a CD-ROM mechanism. And the champagne finish (which is the only finish available in Asian markets) is not to my taste. As a cost-effective means of sampling SACD replay, the Marantz is a fairly sensible purchase, but I doubt it shows DSD to its true potential. Having said that, on SACD playback, I can barely discern the difference between the Marantz and an entry-level Pioneer DV655 multi-channel universal player which costs less than one-third the price. Factor in the DVD-A and DVD-V capabilities of the Pioneer and the Marantz clearly loses out in the value stakes. As a "red-book" player, it is disappointing and is probably bettered by pure "red-book" players in the same price range or below. In my set-up, the Marantz feeds Krell KAV-250p and KAV-150a pre/power amps driving Sonus faber Cremona speakers. Interconnects are Cardas Cross (Marantz to pre) and Nordost Blue Heaven (pre to power) and speaker cables are Nordost Blue Heaven. Audio AGile power conditioning and power cords are used throughout.

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Krell KPS 20i (CD); Jadis JD3 (CD); Pioneer DV655 (Universal).

robust construction, simple operation, great sound

very few--perhaps an output level control would be nice

I bought this from StereoTypes in Portland, OR, as a demo unit, but my suspicion is that it had barely been played in the store. I think they are phasing out Marantz gear. For the first 40 hours or so in my system the sound was veiled, soft, very rolled-off on top and overly warm elsewhere. Thought for sure I'd screwed up, having purchased it based on the published reviews but not having heard it. Then it began to open up, the veil and high-freq rolloff lifted, midrange became much more transparent, bass got tighter, everything got bigger. What a sound! On a well produced SACD (either from DSD or analog masters) the music is sweet, full-bodied, impactful, with a sheer physical presence I'd never heard from a digital source. Like they say, closer to vinyl. CD sound has gotten better too, although this player will definitely emphasize the original production quality. So my Tony Faulkner-engineered classical discs sound pretty good, whereas for example the recent Rhino remastering of Emmylou Harris's "Blue Kentucky Girl" is just mediocre sound-wise. Derek at StereoTypes was very helpful and let me listen to SACD recordings at length on Marantz DV6400 and Integra DPS-8.3 universal disc players. The Integra really outshone the DV6400, which is, after all, not Marantz's best universal player. I would have gladly settled for the Integra but wasn't really looking for a universal player -- I'll upgrade my dvd player when I get a high-def tv monitor. Now that the SA8260 has gotten thru its break-in, I'm very glad I got it. It's a nicely priced machine that focuses just on digital audio, so I'm putting the money where I want to hear it. Am also looking forward to getting really good interconnects for it, and an Outlaw ICBM so that my sub can catch a few of the lower notes (there's no bass management on the SA8260 itself). When it's good, SACD is so good that it presents a serious problem: I purchased the SA8260 for my "second" system, a modest home theater setup. But I don't think I want to live without SACD in the more upscale two-channel system I'm now putting together. I may just have to get another SA8260 for that one.

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Marantz DV6400 Integra DPS-8.3