Marantz Model 30 amp and CD50n CD-Streamer Review

[@RobWooten]

Thanks for your review, opinions, and recommendations on both Marantz pieces. I've been reading and watching a lot of videos on the model 30 and am thinking about picking one up. I also just saw it and listened to it a bit in best buy today. It's a beautiful piece and built like a tank. It's nice to know the 50n pairs well with the model 30 and the remotes works for both units. I'd love to have the 30n SACD player, but don't think I can handle the $1000 premium for just a few small upgrades. Just an idea. I read online somewhere that might take the edge off the CD players brightness is to connect the cd player to a different input. I read somewhere that I can't recall the CD input comes across a bit more detailed and brighter than the other inputs. It might not be the most ideal fix, but if it helps you enjoy the music more It could be worth switching inputs or at least trying out.

[@Koolbob2]

Thanks for watching. It's been four months since I made this video and I have a new appreciation for the CD50n. I bought a Eversolo streamer and found that the DAC in the CD50n sounds much better than the DAC in the Eversolo unit. Using the CD50n DAC with my iPad and with the Eversolo sounded identical so I sent the Eversolo back since it cost $1,300. Thanks for the tip on the CD input, I'll definitely give that a try.

[@dragonstone6594]

Try the Wharfedale ELYSIAN 2 speaker. I've done a lot of research and that's my endgame speaker. I would also pair that with an amp with as much power as possible. Like something from Musical Fidelity or Rotel.

[@Koolbob2]

Thanks for the suggestion, I did look at the Wharfedale ELYSIAN and I almost pulled the trigger on a Rotel separates, but I decided to try the Marantz and fell in love with their detailed, yet ever so slightly warm sound. The DAC in the Marantz CD50n is no slouch either. I bought an Eversolo DCM A6 Master Edition streamer and hooked its analog outputs up to the Model 30 amp inputs. It sounded pretty good, but then I connected the Eversolo's optical digital output and fed that into the CD50n letting the DAC in the CD player handle the Digital to Analog conversion...Much better sounding than the DAC in the Eversolo. In fact my iPad connected to the CD50n via USB sounds better than the Eversolo's built in DAC. I'm boxing up the Eversolo today and sending it back. Speaker wise, a friend has a $50K+ system with all PS Audio gear, including a pair of Aspen FR 20 speakers. Once he's done with his main system (he just bought a $2,000 pair so speaker wires) he's going to buy a pair of Aspen FR 5 stand mount speakers for his second listening room. He said he'll let me borrow the FR 5 speakers so I'm holding off on new speakers until I can take his speakers for a spin.

[@flyingsomm]

Great detailed review!

[@Koolbob2]

Thank you!

[@danielhavadej2188]

Hi there. Someone might raised the same point and so, if that is the matter of fact, i am sorry. CD50n has HDMI Arc, while CD30 doesn't. I thought of buying Model 30 and CD30n, however cause of the lack of HDMI Arc i went with 40n. It might sound crazy, however i was taking into account as well illumination of Model 30 and missing illumination of 50n.... I just do not get the point why HDMI Arc is not included in CD30n as higher model...

[@Koolbob2]

Marantz definitely made some odd choices on what features to include on the various models in this lineup.

[@JohnSmith-zl8rz]

I actually thinking buy the Model 50 (100% Analogue) + CD60 (I don't care about streaming). I think the CD50n have a little better DAC than the 60.

[@Koolbob2]

Marantz definitely took a quirky approach to this entire line of products. Normally the higher models have more features and more inputs and that's sorta true of the CD players, but the amps are another story. The Model 40n is the middle amp in the lineup, but it's the only amp in this product line with Bluetooth, Network input, USB A thumb drive input, optical input, digital input, HDMI input, Apple Airplay, Apple Airplay 2 and HEOS. The CD60 does have an internal DAC for CD playback, but does not have any digital inputs, it's a CD player only with digital outputs. The CD50n and CD30 support Network streaming, Digital inputs, digital and analog outputs, and are very similar except the CD30 supports SACD. Personally I could not justify an extra $1,000 for SACD playback since I don't own any SACDs anyway. Be careful mixing and matching amps and CD players in this product line so you don't end up with unnecessary duplication of features or worse yet omitting inputs or outputs that are important to you.

[@JohnSmith-zl8rz]

@@Koolbob2 CD60 has a DAC, is not a transport, it has the ESS ES9016K2M DAC. 50n has the ESS 9038 DAC. I have a lot SACDs but already have a SACD dedicated player. Also model 30s are made in Japan, 50s and 60 CD are made in Vietnam. Thanks.

[@Koolbob2]

@@JohnSmith-zl8rz I misspoke, the CD60 it has a DAC for CD playback, but does not have any digital inputs.

[@JohnSmith-zl8rz]

@@Koolbob2 oh yes.

[@kieranhynes9072]

A great review and thanks for taking the time. One thing you got wrong though is the difference between the 50n and Model30n. The dac in the Model 30n uses mmm technology and very different HDAM's which sounds like marketing hype, but actually makes the 30n significantly better. That's where the extra money goes. It's the implementation of dac chips that make a difference, not the chips themselves

[@paulm944]

So you abused Crutchfield's return policy and then bought elsewhere.

[@Koolbob2]

No, you are mistaken. Crutchfield is awesome, I've been buying electronics from them since 1978. I did buy and return NAD components and Polk and Martin Logan from Crutchfield and returned them because I was disappointed with their performance. Returning items which are not satisfactory is within the return policies and not abuse. I never bought any Marantz components from Crutchfield. I bought the Marantz components from other vendors and liked them so I kept them.

[@Evolved_ue7]

And !!

[@Koolbob2]

​@@Evolved_ue7 Crutchfield has a 100% satisfaction guarantee. I wasn't satisfied with the NAD, Polk or Martin Logan products I purchased from Crutchfield so I returned them (I paid for the return shipping on the speakers). The other two vendors I purchased the a Marantz Amp and CD player also have 100% satisfaction guarantee. I was satisfied with the Marantz components so I kept them.