Marantz SA-12SE/PM-12SE SACD Player/Amplifier Lab Report

Lab Report

Employing the same Ncore NC500 Class D amp module as the PM-KI Ruby [HFN Jan '19], the PM-12SE shares a very similar but marginally superior performance, offering slightly higher power, lower distortion (0.0008% vs. 0.0015% re. 1kHz/10W) and an improved A-wtd S/N ratio (80.7dB vs. 79.6dB re. 0dBW). Once again, the modest 100/200W 8/4ohm rating is exceeded to the tune of 190W/310W, with 228W, 433W, 645W and 355W achieved under dynamic conditions into 8, 4, 2 and 1ohm loads [see Graph 1, below]. As we've seen before, the Class D module's reactive filter network still causes both an increase in output impedance and distortion at very high frequencies (to 0.035%/20kHz/10W) but the response remains unaffected by loading and is almost identical to that of the PM-KI Ruby, reaching out to –0.65dB/20kHz and –7.1dB/100kHz.

Marantz's partnering SA-12SE player offers a 2.0V analogue output (2.5V with SACD) coupled with a healthy 107dB A-wtd S/N ratio and distortion that's just 0.0002-0.0003% (20Hz-20kHz) with Filter 1 [see Graph 2] and fractionally higher at 0.0005% with Filter 2, a corrected-phase 'fast' type. The response (and stopband rejection) depends on your choice of digital filter: 'Filter 1' is a linear phase, slow roll-off type that trades minimal pre/post ringing against a mere 4.1dB image rejection and a roll-off of –4.9dB/20kHz (CD), –7.3dB/45kHz (96kHz files) and –14dB/90kHz (192kHz files). 'Filter 2' has a flatter response trend reaching out to –1.45dB/20kHz, –4.9dB/45kHz and –20dB/90kHz. SACD/DSD64 media stretch out to –0.7dB/20kHz, –3.0dB/50kHz and –13dB/100kHz. Jitter is low with 24-bit LPCM inputs at 55psec, and just 35psec with SACD/DSD64. PM

1220mar.lab1

Dynamic power output versus distortion into 8ohm (black trace), 4ohm (red), 2ohm (blue) and 1ohm (green) speaker loads. Max. current is 18.8A

1220mar.lab2

Distortion versus digital signal level at 1kHz (S/PDIF & USB, red; CD, black) and 20kHz (CD, blue)

Continuous power (<1% THD, 8/4ohm) 190W / 310W
Dynamic power (<1% THD, 8/4/2/1ohm) 228W / 433W / 645W / 355W
Amp freq. resp. (20Hz-20kHz/100kHz) +0.0 to –0.65dB/–7.1dB
CD freq. resp. (20Hz-20kHz, Filter 1/2) +0.0 to –4.85dB/–1.45dB
Digital jitter (CD / USB / SACD) 126psec / 55psec / 39psec
A-wtd S/N ratio (Player/Amp) 107.0dB (0dBFs) / 80.7dB (0dBW)
Distortion (20Hz-20kHz; Player/Amp) 0.0002-0.0003%/0.0009–0.035%
Power consumption (Player/Amp) 28W / 256W (38W idle)
Dimensions (WHD, Player/Amp) 440x123x419/453mm
Price £2999 (each)

COMPANY INFO
Sound United/D&M Holdings
Kanagawa, Japan
Supplied by: D&M Audiovisual Ltd, UK
02890 279830
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