8260

Marantz 8260 The Marantz 8260 was Class A rated in Stereophile as a superb SACD player. Our Level-1 mod makes it better in SACD mode as well as much improved for Redbook CD. Once modified, it is as good as their state of the art SA-11S1 in performance

The following details our Level-1 mod [$850 retrofit + frt]:

  • We install 10 x BlackGate STD, FK, N and PK-grade power supply and output coupling capacitors
  • 2 x Rel Cap Teflon TFT film and foil bypass coupling caps for the main B-G output caps
  • 6 x 1% polystyrene film and foil capacitors in analog filter
  • 22 x Riken Ohm ½ and one watt "signal path" 1% carbon comp. resistors (gold-plated leads)
  • 4 x Telefunken SF4007 Ultra-Fast Soft-Recovery diodes in sonically critical power supply positions
  • 1 pair of premium machined Vampire direct gold plated over copper body Teflon insulated RCA female jacks on the output (to replace cheap stamped jack modules
  • 4 x large EAR brand sorbothane isolation feet with new mounting hardware
  • 2 sheets of Soudcoat chassis damping material cut and applied where applicable to control chassis resonances
  • 1 x Acme Audio Labs silver-plated cryogenically-treated IEC power inlet
  • 4 x DH LABS 99.999% pure solid-core long-grained silver output signal wires, with foamed Teflon tape wrap dielectric
  • WBT high silver content (4%) solder used throughout
  • 6 hours labor

Sonic Improvements with the Level-1 mod
It is much smoother with a much more liquid midrange. Solid state glare is now gone with a more neutral presentation. It is not tubes but is much closer to what a tube player can offer. This alone is worth the price of the mod. The unit is quieter. The blacks are blacker, resolving more low level detail. It is more dynamic and micro dynamic contrasts are much improved.Transparency is improved and you can now look farther into the soundstage. Images are sized better and are more focused. Stage width and depth improve. Bass slam and extension are dramatically improved with fuller weight and authority in the critical mid-bass region...It now competes with much more expensive players in this important area

Add an upgraded LC Audio clock and dedicated power supply for $480

Marantz