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I find myself listening to music files on my computer, or streaming music from sources like youtube or Amazon Prime while I'm cleaning the house or just doing dishes, etc.. I forget just how substandard my computer is for music. One of the things I like about my motherboard is the fact that the SQ is a lot better than the awful Realtek chips on the Asus boards I usually use (I have a Gigabyte Z170X Gaming 7), but it's still blecch. Then I toss one of my few remaining CDs in the Marantz and I'm stunned all over again by the performance. I've owned it since I signed up here over 10 years ago and it still sounds fantastic. Is it the best in the world? Nah, and it wasn't when I bought it, but it was a hell of a lot closer than $1100 should have gotten me. I think they're going for around $350-$400 now on the used market. If you can pick one up for $350 buy it. Seriously. The redbook performance is still outstanding (I think it beats the RCD 1072 from Rotel easily) and the SACD performance is stellar. It also reminds me that my amp is capable of punching well above its weight class, especially in Class A. And my speakers, well, Kal Rubinson bought a pair. That says something. My gear is getting a little long in the tooth without a doubt. Hell, so am I. But I can still get a lot of great music from it. It makes me happy and I enjoy it. I think I said this was probably my last stereo when I joined the 'Guide, so I was careful about what I picked. We are a niche market, and it's still fun to drag someone in the house and put on something like Sheryl Crow's Tuesday Night Music Club and watch their face change as they silently mouth "Whoa!", or sit them in the sweet spot and crank up The Hollies "Long Cool Woman" and watch them look back and forth at the speakers. I like my gear, all these years later. Because it lets me love the music all over again. Isn't that why we're here?
Cheers.
Cheers.
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