I found this unit at a local non-chain thrift store about two weeks ago, but really haven't dedicated much time to listening to it until recently. It's a Marantz CC-52U five disc CD changer, built in August of 1992. I had seen it at the store prior to the day I picked it up, priced at $20. I took a look at it, and was kind of interested, but didn't really want to pay $20 for yet another CDP, much less a changer. However, I told myself if it was still there on their half price day, I'd pick it up. A quick google search didn't show up very much info. One thread here with no replies, and a few other short threads elsewhere. One of them said it was a Sanyo/Fisher based unit, as opposed to Marantz' normal Philips based. I don't know if any of that is true, but that's what I read. Well the day came, and it was still there, now for $10. The things that intrigued me though, were the optical output (none of my CDPs had them), gold plated (or colored :scratch2
RCA outputs, and the fact that it had copper (once again, at least colored) screws holding it together. I don't know if copper screws would ever make any sort of difference, but I felt that whoever designed this at least put some thought into it.
Like I said, I finally got around to listening to it for more than a minute or two. The other units I have are a Sony CDP-C400, Sony CDP-302, and a Yamaha CDC-50. The Yammy was the nicest one of the bunch, and was my main unit. The C400 was my first, and the 302 I bought just to try my luck at the modification world.
Compared to the three above, the Marantz is the better sounding unit. I initially used my Yamaha RX-V367 5.1 receiver to compare them. Since Marantz was the only one with optical, I wasn't sure if that was giving it the slight edge over the Yammy CDP. So I pulled out my old Denon AVR-800, which I use only for stereo listening. Both hooked up via analog (no optical on the Denon), the Marantz still retained the better sound. Now, I'm far from an audiophile, and the outcome of the second test could be highly influenced by the fact that I had already thought it sounded better through optical.
Does anyone else out there have any experience with the Marantz CC-52? Hopefully this thread doesn't end up like the other one with no posts!
I would also, eventually, like to recap the Marantz, and maybe even do some modifications. I'm starting a recap on my Denon next weekend, and the bug bit me hard
. I haven't looked too deep into the Marantz, only popped the hood, and pulled out the tiny board connected to the analog outputs. Is this the DAC section? The Toslink jack is on a different board.
RCA outputs, and the fact that it had copper (once again, at least colored) screws holding it together. I don't know if copper screws would ever make any sort of difference, but I felt that whoever designed this at least put some thought into it.Like I said, I finally got around to listening to it for more than a minute or two. The other units I have are a Sony CDP-C400, Sony CDP-302, and a Yamaha CDC-50. The Yammy was the nicest one of the bunch, and was my main unit. The C400 was my first, and the 302 I bought just to try my luck at the modification world.
Compared to the three above, the Marantz is the better sounding unit. I initially used my Yamaha RX-V367 5.1 receiver to compare them. Since Marantz was the only one with optical, I wasn't sure if that was giving it the slight edge over the Yammy CDP. So I pulled out my old Denon AVR-800, which I use only for stereo listening. Both hooked up via analog (no optical on the Denon), the Marantz still retained the better sound. Now, I'm far from an audiophile, and the outcome of the second test could be highly influenced by the fact that I had already thought it sounded better through optical.
Does anyone else out there have any experience with the Marantz CC-52? Hopefully this thread doesn't end up like the other one with no posts!
I would also, eventually, like to recap the Marantz, and maybe even do some modifications. I'm starting a recap on my Denon next weekend, and the bug bit me hard
. I haven't looked too deep into the Marantz, only popped the hood, and pulled out the tiny board connected to the analog outputs. Is this the DAC section? The Toslink jack is on a different board.
