Balance Is Its Own Reward

When properly reproduced, well-recorded SACDs offer compelling sonic benefits relative to conventional CDs, but the fact is that some players impart a hard, steely quality to SACDs that spoils the whole effect. But happily, the Marantz does no such thing. Instead, it draws out the lushness and rich inner vocal and instrument details found in, say, the track “Speak” from Nickelcreek’s eponymous album [Sugar Hill, SACD]. The DV6001 invites you to drink in the timbres of Chris Thile’s mandolin or Sara Watkins’ voice on that track, and it will flat blow your mind as it reproduces the 3D swirl of whispering voices heard toward the end of the track. The heightened sense of being transported to an entirely different acoustic space is part of what makes listening to this Marantz so worthwhile.

Conclusion

A good all-rounder and solid video performer, the Marantz DV6001 trades off the nth degree of sonic resolution and detail to achieve a warm, smooth, 3D sound. To its credit, this little Marantz always sounds rich and tuneful—never overly bright, edgy, or harsh.