Marantz SA KI Pearl SACD Player

Winner, Hi-Fi World Awards 2010 - 'In action, the SA-KI Pearl not only sounds sublime, with such an easy, lyrical gait, but it’s also beautifully built and finished.’

Underneath the Pearl SACD players 5mm aluminium cover is a XYRON Disc Tray with Precision Super Audio CD Drive. There is 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 high speed 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 is 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.

- Ken Ishiwatas 30th anniversary model SA-CD Player
- Limited Edition
- Silk black finish
- 5 mm aluminium top cover
- Solid aluminium feet
- Additional heavy bottom-plate
- Copper-plated chassis
- High quality audio components
- Adapting HDAM-SA2 and HDAM-SA modules
- Toroidal transformer with case
- SACDM-10 mechanism with Xyron tray loader
- High performance DAC CS4398 from Cirrus logic
- Selectable DAC filter
- Optical digital input for DAC mode
- Playback SACD stereo, CD-DA, MP3 and WMA
- Aluminium top remote control

SA-KI Pearl Super Audio CD Player Reviews

Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity   by Robert Kozel, 28 June 2010
The Marantz tradition has always been about enjoying music... Listening to the SA-KI Pearl was a simply delightful experience. The stereo imaging was excellent, and I became immediately involved with the music.

Listening to the Marantz SA-KI Pearl SACD player was a truly enjoyable experience. I think Mr. Ken Ishiwata would be very pleased with the emotional enjoyment that his player brought into my home.

Home Theater Review - September 2009
Sonically, SACD is pretty much the highest level of audio you can hope to get in a high definition audio system and this ultra-stable player offers smooth highs and beefy bottom end performance when directly compared to Compact Disc sources. The additional bits, lack of digital jitter and hash make for a much more musical sound overall.

The build quality of the SA-KI-Pearl is first class. It is built like the proverbial tank both inside and out with an industrial design that is deserving of proud display. The SA-KI-Pearl places sound quality first. The Pearl line provides the enhanced performance of a modded unit at a reasonable price and without compromising the manufacturer's warranty.

Audioholics - July 2009
Marantz is stuffing their new SA-KI Pearl SACD player full of high end components.

Audio Video Revolution December 2009
I noted in my review of the Turbines that I am not a frequent headphone listener but the awesome detail revealed via the Pearl could change my mind permanently. Several late-night sessions with headphones convinced me that this SACD/CD player is also an exciting headphone player.

The SA-KI Pearl is a testament to Marantz and Ishiwata ongoing quest for true music reproduction. The rich, opulent sound won me over and kept me feeding it disc after disc in anticipation of what hidden audio treasures might be revealed. Most important, I wanted to listen to the player and enjoyed listening to digital like never before. For SACD and CD, buy this component for the sound and revel in an audio experience that few others will. The SA-KI is a rare Pearl, indeed.

SA-KI Pearl Super Audio CD Player Features

AUDIO ENHANCEMENTS
Disc Capacity 1
Playback Formats CD / CD-R/RW / SA-CD / WMA / MP3
Digital Audio Chips (DAC) CS4398
Transformer Toroidal
Customized Components 1
Capacitors
OFC Wiring 0
HDAM SA & SA2
Selectable filters CD / SA-CD
Shielding Copper
Chassis Copper plated
Gold Terminals 1
Display On/Off 1
Jitter Clock 0

INPUTS/OUTPUTS AUDIO
6-Channel Out 0
Headphone Out 1
Audio L/R Yes
iPod compatible USB input

DIGITAL OUTPUTS
Coaxial Yes
Optical Yes

OTHER
D-bus RC-5 (I/O) 1
Remote Switch Int/Ext 1

SA-KI Pearl Super Audio CD Player Specifications

SACD AUDIO
Sampling Frequency
Dynamic Range 112dB
Frequency Response (Cust.) 2Hz-100KHz
S/N 110dB
THD+N (1 kHz) 0,001%
CDDA AUDIO
Sampling Frequency
Dynamic Range 100dB
Frequency Response (Custom) 2Hz-20KHz
S/N 110dB
THD+N (1 kHz) 0.0015%
iPod compatible USB input
Frequency Response 2Hz-20KHz

GENERAL
Colour Silk Black
Front panel Metal
Remote Control RC003SA
Power Requirements 20W
Power Consumption On/Standby -
Dimensions Inch (W x H x D) 440 x 419 x 127
Weight 14.5 kg