Is the SA8001 just an "American" version of the SA7001 that I've been reading about in Hi-Fi Choice, or is it a different machine (and maybe even a step up from the SA7001)? :confused:

I think they are not the same machine.

MARANTZ - SA7001 (http://www.marantz.com/new/index.cfm?fuseaction=Products.ProdSpecs&cont=eu&bus=hf&prod_id=3521&type=sacd&series=comp) - SA7001 KI (http://www.marantz.com/new/index.cfm?fuseaction=Products.ProdSpecs&cont=eu&bus=hf&prod_id=3522&type=sacd&series=comp) - SA8001 (http://us.marantz.com/Products/1644.asp)

SACD
Dynamic Range: 114 dB - 114 dB - 112 dB
THD: 0.0009 % - 0.0009 % - 0.001%

Weight: 6.3 kg - 8.0 kg - 7.92 kg (17.6 lbs)

Regards. :)

That's what I was thinking. At the current exchange rate the SA7001, which lists for 430 GBP, would sell for around $785 here in the U.S. The SA8001 meanwhile, lists for $1,000.

Interesting that the signal to noise ratio and the distortion level on the "better" (or at least more expensive) player is not as good as that of the "lesser" SA7001? :eek:

Interesting that the signal to noise ratio and the distortion level on the "better" (or at least more expensive) player is not as good as that of the "lesser" SA7001?
Yes, but it's an insignificant difference. ;)

One of the catalogs I received (AudioAdvisor, I think) said the 8001 is the "successor" to the 8260.

larry

Thanks for the input all. I also heard back from one of the staff at AudioAdvisor that the SA8001 has an upgraded analog/output section (as compared to the SA7001). They are indeed two different models.

Has anyone compared the SA-8001 to the SA-8260? Supposedly the 8001 is an upgraded model but I would think that anyone owning the 8260 would't want to go to the 8001 as an upgrade. Seems like a lateral move to me. Probably would make more sense to move up to the SA15-S1 player, which lists for around 2-thou.

This thread hasn't been updated for a while. Just wondering if anyone has tried the SA7001 or SA8001? How do they sound?

The SA8001 doesn't seem to be available for Asia. What we have here are the SA7001 and SA7001 KI edition.

Does anybody have any new opinions about the SA8001 perfomance?

I own an SA8260 which I have had in my system for about 16 months. A couple of months ago I tried an SA8001 but I felt its sound quality wasn't nearly as good as the 8260, so I returned it to the dealer. Also the 8260 was made in Japan while the 8001 in made in China. How about some thoughts from anyone who has tried the SA-15S1?

I have the SA7001 KI , its the best investment I have made, I really love it

Here is some more information on the SA7001/8001.

The SA 7001 won the European Imaging and Sound Association's award for "best audio player in 2006-2007." See: www.eisa-awards.org/history/2006-2007/audioHt.html

The exact relationship between the American 8001 and European 7001 is a bit confusing. In Europe there is an SA7001 and an SA7001ki. The Marantz Europe website says this: "The SA7001 KI is the first SACD player which has received Ken Ishiwata’s personal attention to attain uncompromised music reproduction. Every aspect of the construction has been critically reviewed to attain uncompromised quality."

It looks like the cheaper sa7001 won the EISA award, not the sa7001ki.

Looking at the manual online for the SA7001/SA7001ki in comparison with the manual for the American SA8001, it appears that the American version is basically the same as the ki. On page 2 the manual lists the following features on the 7001ki that are not on the 7001:

-toroidal transformer
-large capacity block capacitor
-high end film capacitors and elctrolical capacitors
-copper-coated chassis
-high grade audio output terminal

Page 2 of the 8001 manual lists all of these features as present on that unit.

The location of the analog outs on the rear panel are the same for the 8001 and the 7001ki. These are at a different place on the rear panel of the 7001. The weight of the 7001 is 6.3 kg while the weight of both the 7001ki and 8001 is listed as 8 kg.

Based on the instruction manuals, the only difference I can find between the 7001ki and the 8001 is a small difference in depth. The stated depth of the 7001ki is 334.5 mm, while the 8001's depth is 339 mm.

It appears that the American SA8001 and European SA7001ki are the same. There are reviews of the latter in a New Zealand magazine:
http://audioenz.co.nz/2006/marantz_sa7001ki.shtml

and at an Australian source:
www.smarthouse.com.au/Reviews/Real_Hi_Fi/V3F7D8V6

Please post here if you find additional information on the SA8001. I'm interested in it, but I haven't been able to find one to demo yet.