Marantz was in at the start of CD, launching its first player — the original CD-63 — in 1982. In the following years, Marantz became well known as the CD-Player specialist. Drawing on the development process for the flagship SA-10, and designed by the same team, the SA-12 Special Edition was created to celebrate the love of music and exalt the mastery and emotion of music. Marantz Musical Mastering technology defines new standards in the digital and analogue audio processing. A disc mechanism built purely for audio, the “SACDM-3” is able to play SACDs, CDs, and compilations on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. It also has an asynchronous USB input, able to handle formats all the way up to PCM/DXD 384kHz/32bit and DSD11.2MHz. The Marantz Musical Mastering Stream transforms all PCM file formats to DSD format, using advanced filtering and proprietary processing before the Marantz Musical Mastering Conversion converts the 1-bit data stream directly into an analogue signal without the use of a conventional D/A converter. The Marantz engineering team created this player to deliver the kind of sound able to bring you closer than ever to your favourite music. The reason is simple, and central to everything Marantz does — because music matters.

Key Features

---

• Engineered and extensively tuned by a team drawing on more than 35 years of Marantz expertise in CD players
• Innovative Marantz Musical Mastering “MMM-Stream” up-sampling to DSD and filtering
• Custom-designed 1-bit direct “MMM–Conversion” from DSD to analogue
• High quality analogue output stage with Marantz HDAM-SA3 technology and low impedance output
• In-house developed Marantz SACD/CD mechanism “SACDM-3” designed purely for audio
• Playback of SACD/CD playback and of compilations on CD-ROM and DVD-ROM (audio)
• Asynchronous USB input for hi-res audio up to PCM/DXD 384kHz/32bit and DSD11.2MHz
• Isolation of USB and digital inputs to block noise from connected sources
• Power supply using toroidal transformer
• Dedicated headphone amplifier with all-discrete construction featuring HDAM-SA2

At the heart of the SA-12SE is an innovative SACDM-3 transport mechanism, engineered solely for the best possible performance when playing SA-CDs, CDs and music stored on data discs. This new mechanism promises exceptional sound quality from conventional CD and SA-CD discs and allows listeners to create their own high-resolution audio compilation discs using a computer DVD burner. The SA-12SE supports FLAC files from 44.1kHz to 192kHz and up to 24-bit resolution, DSD2.8MHz and DSD 5.6MHz, ALAC (Apple Lossless), AIFF and MP3 files. Creating and playing hi-res disc compilations is as simple as it is enjoyable.

Marantz Musical Mastering is at the heart of digital audio in the SA-12SE lies DSD. PCM signals are up-converted to DSD at 11.2MHz using the proprietary MMM-Stream converter within the player. The high-frequency signal produced is processed by the unique MMM-Conversion stage, used in place of a conventional DAC, to produce the analogue output. The MMM-Stream section of the process replaces the oversampling filters normally used in digital to analogue conversion and allows the implementation of the Marantz Musical Mastering filtering. Two system clocks of 44.1kHz and 48kHz ensure the most accurate up-conversion of the incoming signal, whether it is from disc or the digital inputs. All available digital signal formats are a multiple of either 44.1 or 48, hence any processing is done without rounding, preventing the loss of important information or creating failures. Sigma Delta Modulation allows a pure DSD-standard signal, a 1-bit stream, to be passed to the conversion section in the form of a very high-frequency stream of pulses. The design of the DSD-to-analogue filter feeds the audio signal into the familiar Marantz HDAM (Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Modules) in the output stage for optimal sound quality.

The power supply of the SA-12SE features a large high current toroidal power transformer with OFC (oxygen-free copper) secondary wires, along with high speed, high current Schottky Barrier Diodes in the rectifier stage for the purest DC voltage output. There are independent power supplies for the analogue and digital circuitry to reduce interference to a minimum.

The elegant aluminum top remote control features an intuitive ergonomic layout and is equipped with amplifier control functions to operate both the SA-12SE and the complementary PM-12SE reference class integrated stereo amplifier. Use the integrated remote control input and output jacks to connect the SA-12SE to other compatible Marantz components. An internal/external switch on the rear panel provides additional system control flexibility.

Like the complementary PM-12SE integrated amplifier, the SA-12SE Super Audio CD player is constructed to the highest standards, with a front panel made from thick, heavy, non-magnetic aluminum to eliminate interference. Single layer nickel-plated matching copper RCA terminals in the SA-12SE outperform the terminals of competitors and offer an exemplary listening experience.

Founded in 1953, Marantz has a long and rich history of designing audio components embraced by music lovers and critical listeners around the world. Because Music Matters, the SA-12SE carries on the tradition of delivering a best-in-class listening experience for music and cinema.