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When new, the SA15S1 sat around the £1,100 mark, so £1,200 used is clearly ambitious rather than a bargain. Your three comparable listings put the market median at £569, with the upper quartile at £884; this ask is roughly double the median and materially above the normal range. It would need exceptional provenance or condition to justify it.
The player itself remains desirable: a substantial, well-built stereo CD/SACD machine with Marantz’s HDAM output stage, a capable CS4397 DAC, strong bass and an engaging, lively presentation. It is particularly attractive to someone with a serious SACD collection, and original packaging, remote, manual and documented servicing would add real value. Even so, unless it is mint, recently serviced and unusually complete, £1,200 is too strong; a sensible buyer should negotiate toward the mid-hundreds.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Marantz originated in the United States, founded in 1953 by Saul Bernard Marantz, a music enthusiast and amateur musician born in Brooklyn in 1911. Dissatisfied with the audio equipment of the era, he crafted the groundbreaking Audio Consolette preamplifier in 1952 from his New York home, selling the first 100 units rapidly and prompting the formal establishment of the company in Woodside, Queens. Though production later shifted to Japan in partnership with manufacturers like Standard Radio in 1966, and the brand evolved through ownership changes including Superscope and eventual integration into larger groups, its heritage remains rooted in American ingenuity and a relentless pursuit of musical fidelity.
The brand excels in high-end audio components, particularly amplifiers, preamplifiers, and integrated systems that defined its golden era. Iconic models like the Model 7 preamplifier (1958), Model 9 power amplifier (1960), and Model 10B tuner (1964) set benchmarks for performance, while later offerings expanded to tuners, receivers, and CD players. Marantz briefly ventured into speakers under designer Ed May in the 1970s but focused primarily on electronics rather than turntables, headphones, DACs, or cables, emphasizing separates renowned for their "Most Musical Sound."
Marantz commands a premium position in the hi-fi market, revered as a high-end pioneer that shaped the audiophile landscape through the 1970s zenith. Today, it blends vintage allure with modern elegance, appealing to discerning buyers who value durability, innovation, and warm, detailed sound signatures over mass-market accessibility.
See all Marantz listings on RADAR.
