| Audio Emporium
Newsletter New Marantz
Integrated Amps & CD player Marantz
has offered its Reference Line of integrated amps and CD players for a few years. They’ve
been very nice, but at some pretty fancy money. The pricing has run competitive with
Bryston & Naim among others. We’ve been hoping that technology might trickle down
to a more affordable range. It has taken a while, but, THEY’RE HERE! The gold
standard for “cheap” audiophile electronics has been raised. Please
keep in mind, Marantz MAKES this gear themselves. They don’t design products and have
them built in job houses by heaven knows who! When you go THAT route you might get a unit that performs like the cherry
picked unit that was shipped to a magazine for review. But you’re more likely to get
a unit with inconsistent operation and poor reliability. It isn’t easy to mass
produce quality. Just web search reliability on the BADGED gear out there and you’ll
see we’re right. Marantz
PM-5003 Integrated Amp, 40 w/ch, $450 includes remote Marantz
breaks the mold for a “cheap” integrated amp! It sounds like it’s got 100
w/ch! The sound of the PM-5003 is significantly more gutsy and “immediate” than
other integrateds in this price range. The other guys sound soft and soggy next to the grip of the PM-5003. It
has MM phono, CD, Tuner, Aux, & 2 Full Tape Loops. Doesn’t have pre out-main in. Has
treble, bass, loudness, balance, spkrs A&B, Source Direct and Headphone amp. Marantz
PM-8003 Integrated Amp, 70 w/ch, $1000 includes remote PM-8003
is a higher quality, beefed up brother to PM-5003. Sonically, it has greater dynamic kick
with more demanding speakers. The control is superior. You’ll think this is $2-3k+ of
separates! The binding posts are better and HDAM S3 technology (mechanical isolation of
component interaction) is used on the PCB. Does have pre out-main in. It’s very fast,
clear and solid in the bass. CD-5003 $350
Single Play CD Player As
good as the two integrated amps are above, this new CD player offers even a BETTER value
for its price! CD-5003 brings a new level of attack and transient speed to your music for
the money. It even has a shockingly nice headphone amp with volume control. The bass
performance is more solid than similarly priced units as well. The CD-5003 is a mini tank.
It’s the best built, affordable CD player we’ve ever had! At $350, it’s
time to replace your generic CD player and be impressed with how much more your CDs have
to give you! Rogue Cronus
Integrated Amp, $1800 or Magnum Version $2200 Rogue
has just improved its Cronus integrated amplifier. It’s available in two options. The
standard Cronus runs $1800 and has 55 w/ch. The Cronus Magnum runs $2200 and has 90w/ch. Both
versions of the Cronus have a tube preamp section. It has a phono section (MM) and three
additional high level inputs, labeled CD, Aux 1 & Aux 2. It has a headphone jack. It
comes with a remote that’s a chunk of steel! Cronus
has a tube power amp on board. The difference between the Magnum and the standard Cronus
is that the Magnum has a bigger power supply, better quality caps and resistors, better
binding posts, tube sockets and four improved KT90 tubes (instead of four EL34s). The new
KT90 helps generate the 90w/ch! Cronus
weighs 50 pounds, has a 3 yr warranty and is built in The
sound is smooth as silk with a warm bass response. If you’re looking for an
affordable tube integrated, with phono, with headphone jack, with a great remote, with
preamp AND fixed outs, don’t settle for something slapped together in a job house
half the world away! Atlas
Magnum, 90w/ch $1900 As
the Cronus Magnum is to the standard Cronus, Rogue now offers an Atlas Magnum! With
upgraded parts as described above, Atlas is now Magnum-ized! You can still buy the 55 w/ch
Atlas for $1500. If you already bought an Atlas from us, the Magnum upgrade runs $600 (as
does a Cronus upgrade). Metis
Magnum, $1400 You’ve
probably guessed it. While the Metis remains a terrific preamp value at $1100, you can now
get the Metis Magnum-ized for $1400. If you already bought a Metis from us, the Magnum
upgrade runs $400. Alfred Brendel is Brilliant! The finest pianist of our age has just retired. Alfred Brendel recorded in his early days for Vox. Brilliant has issued an incredible tribute to Brendel by offering a 35 CD box for $120! This includes the full cycle of LVB sonatas, concertos and numerous recordings of Mozart, Schubert, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt and others. With remastering, the sound is surprisingly good (1960-67). This is a must have for us Brendel fans. Brendel has been a spokesman for B&W speakers for many years! Mike Scott Permit me a minute to recognize Mike Scott’s contributions to AE. It’s been three years since Mike died. We miss his energy and friendly insults! |