SA-KI Pearl
The KI Signature Series, by audio guru Ken Ishiwata, is synonymous with exceptional sound quality and ultra-fine electronics. Each KI Signature model receives Ken’s personal attention, and takes audio exhilaration to new levels. Ken inspects, tests, and appraises every new model that Marantz engineers develop. These products are purpose-designed to answer customer needs in terms of price and performance – but occasionally Ken discovers one that has within it the promise of more. “From time to time,” Ken says, “you come across a new product that has greater potential; it has the rudiments of greatness. I try to develop that greatness by experimenting with alternative components, seeing how far I can go, searching for reproduction perfection – and all regardless of cost. The result is a truly no-compromise masterpiece. An icon of perfection. “It’s worth it,” says Ken.
When you first encounter the new KI Pearls, the first thing you notice are their unique "Silk Pearl" finishing. The first of its kind for Marantz. But it's the magic that Ken Ishiwata has created inside the box that really gets the pulse racing. He has built-in everything possible to ensure that the music is reproduced exactly as the original artist and recording engineer intended. Underneath the Pearl SACD player's 5mm aluminium cover is a XYRON Disc Tray with Precision Super Audio CD Drive. There's also the latest Toroidal transformer. And, the Marantz-exclusive HDAM SA2 circuitry. Together they work sublimely with all the other carefully selected components to deliver precision highspeed signal handling over the widest possible frequency range. As with amplifiers, you cannot judge a CD player by analysing its specifications. You need to listen. And that is what Ken Ishiwata has done in designing this unsurpassed KI Pearl SACD player. That's why he built in a "bulletproof", vibration-damped cabinet, a rock-solid power supply with Toroidal transformer, and unsurpassed CD mechanism. It all sounds easy, but only with a long experience in product design and an intimate understanding of music reproduction is it possible to create a product like this player. And you have to hear it to believe us. In short, KI Pearls are true objects of beauty in every sense. For more information about the KI Pearls please visit www.marantz.eu/kipearl
Copper Plated Chassis
A copper plated chassis provides the best shielding against noise or electromagnetic distortion radiating from other components in the equipment. It prevents this noise from being amplified together with the audio signal. And even more important, it gives equal low impedance ground level to every point of the chassis, keeping the ground potential as clean as possible.
Customized Components
On paper an electrical component might look excellent but the result may fall short of the combined design expectations. Marantz selects the appropriate components for the specific design application. In some cases it’s simply not possible to use standard components that meet the high Marantz standards. These components will then be specially made for Marantz in close cooperation with the Marantz engineers.
DAC Mode
With the DAC mode we describe the operation of the product as an external Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC). You can connect via optical / coaxial digital inputs or the USB type B input sources such as such as an external CD drive, digital tape, music server, PC or network client. These sources can make use of the high quality D/A converter and the analogue output stage equipped with HDAM modules to enrich the sound quality. Please check USB Type B describtion as well.
DSD Direct Convertion
Super Audio CD (SA-CD) is an established music format that provides a more natural, ultra-high quality sound. It offers a smooth migration path to a higher quality sound, as all existing CDs can be played on the SA-CD player. SA-CD is based on the Direct Stream Digital (DSD) technology, which uses 1 bit delta-sigma modulation and a sampling frequency that is 64 times higher than that of the CD. This enables the SA-CD to offer a frequency range up to 100KHz and a dynamic range of 120dB.
HDAM SA3
Marantz developed its own discrete circuit boards to replace standard IC's. These HDAM's consists of discrete surface mount components with short mirror image L/R signal paths. Those devices are doing exactly the same thing as the Op-Amps, but outperform the regular IC Op-amps dramatically in terms of the Slew Rate and reduced noise level, resulting in a much more dynamic, accurate and detailed sound. Over the years Marantz developed different types of the HDAM to improve quality and to fit to the special requirements of a product category like CD or amplifier.
Super Audio CD
Super Audio CD (SA-CD) is an established music format that provides a more natural, ultra-high quality sound. It offers a smooth migration path to a higher quality sound, as all existing CDs can be played on the SA-CD player. SA-CD is based on the Direct Stream Digital (DSD) technology, which uses 1 bit delta-sigma modulation and a sampling frequency that is 64 times higher than that of the CD. This enables the SA-CD to offer a frequency range up to 100KHz and a dynamic range of 120dB.
Symmetrical Circuit Layout
To achieve the best possible sonic performance, signal paths need to be short, direct and mirror imaged. The construction of our circuitry provides improved stereo imaging by ensuring close to perfect symmetry between right and left channel layout.
Toroidal Transformer
Toroidal transformer has several advantages over a normal EI core transformer. It is very efficient and therefore delivers more power compared to the same size of an EI core transformer. In addition, due to its shape, the electromagnetic radiation and the mechanical vibration are extremely low all ending in a better sound quality.
Zero Impedance Matching Joint
Improves the signal to noise ratio significantly by adding a copper plated bracket across the output terminals of the player providing the best ground contact possible.