Marantz SA-12SE SA CD Player with DAC, Black

Full Description

At the heart of the new Marantz SA-12SE CD Player is an innovative SACDM-3 transport mechanism, engineered solely for the best possible performance when playing SA-CDs, CDs and music stored on data discs. This new mechanism promises exceptional sound quality from conventional CD and SA-CD discs and allows listeners to create their own high-resolution audio compilation discs using a computer DVD burner. The SA-12SE supports FLAC files from 44.1kHz to 192kHz and up to 24-bit resolution, DSD2.8MHz and DSD 5.6MHz, ALAC (Apple Lossless), AIFF and MP3 files. Creating and playing hi-res disc compilations is as simple as it is enjoyable.

Marantz was in at the start of CD, launching its first player — the original CD-63 — in 1982. In the following years, Marantz became well known as the CD-Player specialist. Drawing on the development process for the flagship SA-10, and designed by the same team, the SA-12 Special Edition was created to celebrate the love of music and exalt the mastery and emotion of music.

Marantz Musical Mastering Stream

The Marantz Musical Mastering Stream transforms all PCM file formats to DSD format, using advanced filtering and proprietary processing before the Marantz Musical Mastering Conversion converts the 1-bit data stream directly into an analogue signal without the use of a conventional D/A converter. The Marantz engineering team created this player to deliver the kind of sound able to bring you closer than ever to your favourite music. The reason is simple, and central to everything Marantz does — because music matters.

Marantz Special Edition

Marantz Special Editions are the Marantz way to celebrate the love of music that runs deep in the veins of Marantz sound masters and engineers, exhibited in the artistry and craftsmanship of those special components. Sound Masters will occasionally identify a product with a higher potential than expected and master it with extra unwavering attention to detail, component selection and listening sessions. The original SA-12 was solely created for the Japanese market, and quickly proved to be the next chosen one. European sound engineers combined it with achievements made developing the famous SA-KI Ruby, and thus the SA-12 Special Edition was born.

CDs, SA-CDs and Beyond

The SA-12SE is a fully functional digital-to-analogue converter for music stored on a home computer via USB-B and features optical and coaxial digital inputs for existing source components. These inputs support files up to 192kHz/24bit. The USB-B asynchronous input for direct connection with a computer is compatible with PCM and DXD music files at up to 384kHz/32bit, as well as DSD2.8MHz, DSD5.6MHz and DSD11.2MHz.

Marantz HDAM Technology

Marantz developed its own discrete circuit boards called Hyper-Dynamic Amplifier Modules, or HDAMs, to replace the chip-based amps used elsewhere. Using discrete surface mount components with short mirror-image left and right signal paths, HDAMs outperform the regular integrated Op-amps dramatically in Slew Rate and noise level. The result is much more dynamic, accurate and detailed sound. Over the years, Marantz has developed different HDAMs to fit the requirements of players and amplifiers. The SA-12SE uses the latest high-grade SA3 version. Combined with optimized circuit design layout and carefully selected components, the SA-12SE provides exceptional sound quality and performance.

• Engineered and extensively tuned by a team drawing on more than 35 years of Marantz expertise in CD players
• Innovative Marantz Musical Mastering 'MMM-Stream' up-sampling to DSD and filtering
• Custom-designed 1-bit direct 'MMM–Conversion' from DSD to analogue
• High quality analogue output stage with Marantz HDAM-SA3 technology and low impedance output
• In-house developed Marantz SACD/CD mechanism 'SACDM-3' designed purely for audio
• Playback of SACD/CD playback and of compilations on CD-ROM and DVD-ROM (audio)
• Asynchronous USB input for hi-res audio up to PCM/DXD 384kHz/32bit and DSD11.2MHz
• Isolation of USB and digital inputs to block noise from connected sources
• Power supply using toroidal transformer
• Dedicated headphone amplifier with all-discrete construction featuring HDAM-SA2