how much better are later Marantz quad decoders than SQA 1?

[foppy]

I find the opinion expressed on archived threads that SQA 2 and SQA 2b present a better quad experience than SQA 1.

But how much better? Marginal, night and day?

Does anybody have experience of the differences between these versions of SQA?

Basically this is a shopping question. Is the SQA 2b really worth the higher price?

 

[1tumbleweed]

SQA2 and 2b are full logic decoders, whereas the 1 is not.

BUT:

This applies only to SQ decoding! Not QS or RM, and certainly not CD4.

What does this mean? If you want to decode SQ discs - and only SQ discs - the 2 or 2b are the ones to have. Anything else...useless.

 

[jstang]

I prefer a Marantz dp870 with my quads. Makes for a great surround system. The 870 is a configurable 5.1 and down to a 2 channel DAC.

Jk

 

[1tumbleweed]

I prefer a Marantz dp870 with my quads. Makes for a great surround system. The 870 is a configurable 5.1 and down to a 2 channel DAC.

Jk

That's absolutely true, I've owned a DP870 and it's an excellent unit - although IIRC it doesn't do DTS.

However - it's not a comparable unit to the SQA decoders. The DP 870 is a complete processor, while the SQAs are intended to mate with an appropriate Marantz quad receiver that has a slot for it. They won't work by themselves.