Marantz SA8005 or Marantz UD7007?

Johnny Vinyl

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member
May 16, 2010
8,570
51
38
Calgary, AB
I would like to upgrade my digital playback and was looking at these two players from Marantz. Both have an MSRP of $1,199, but the UD7007 has the advantage of playing Blu-ray Audio discs as well as CD/SACD. Surely there have to be some technical differences between the two, but I don't really know how to read those to focus in on the important parts.

http://us.marantz.com/us/Products/P...Id=HiFiComponents&SubCatId=0&ProductId=SA8005
http://us.marantz.com/us/Products/P...x?CatId=BluRayDVD&SubCatId=0&ProductId=UD7007

Which player would you buy?
 

Ric Schultz

Well-Known Member
Jun 21, 2013
227
56
333
Soquel, CA
Depends on what you want/need. The 8005 has a direct DAC input (usb, coax and toslink) that allows you to listen directly from a computer/source and allows double speed DSD input. It also has a dedicated headphone amp. However, it does not have balanced outs nor will it play Blue Ray or DVDs. I bet they would sound similar. I can get you a good deal on either one. If you want a player that is a serious level up and does it all then a modded Oppo 105D is the ticket.....I can help you there too.
 

Johnny Vinyl

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member
May 16, 2010
8,570
51
38
Calgary, AB
Thanks Ric!

I'm looking at these 2 Marantz units because 1) I like Marantz, and 2) I would like to match it up to my Marantz KI-Pearl IA. I'm not a heavy user of digital media (90-95% analogue), so I don't need a unit that represents the best in playback quality. As it is, I think I'm already going higher in price than what I probably need to.
 

darkmatter

Well-Known Member
Mar 11, 2014
32
8
313
East Anglia UK
I would like to upgrade my digital playback and was looking at these two players from Marantz. Both have an MSRP of $1,199, but the UD7007 has the advantage of playing Blu-ray Audio discs as well as CD/SACD. Surely there have to be some technical differences between the two, but I don't really know how to read those to focus in on the important parts.

http://us.marantz.com/us/Products/P...Id=HiFiComponents&SubCatId=0&ProductId=SA8005
http://us.marantz.com/us/Products/P...x?CatId=BluRayDVD&SubCatId=0&ProductId=UD7007

Which player would you buy?

I basically have the same question, but not hearing them I would guess the SA-8005. It would be good to learn the experience of others?
 

dminches

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2011
3,401
2,790
1,410
One advantage of the SA8005 is that Dan Wright of Modwright has a mod for that unit. I own this unit and it is outstanding.
 

dminches

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2011
3,401
2,790
1,410
Is this a user retrofittable mod? I don't fancy shipping the player any distance for this if I buy one!!

No. Dan does not sell a mod kit. You would have to send it to him in the Seattle, WA area.
 

RWetmore

New Member
Apr 13, 2013
12
0
0
I'm late to this, but I own both. The SA8005 is definitely better sounding. Better balanced with a very even freq. response and has richer, better tone quality. Really excellent overall sound quality, especially for the price (but even not including price). Also, the UD7007 doesn't do native DSD D/A conversion. It converts to PCM first. It's a fine blu-ray player though, produces a really nice image, and generally sounds quite excellent overall with CDs and SACDs. Just not as good as the SA8005.
 

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