{"id":9906,"date":"2013-01-07T01:40:48","date_gmt":"2013-01-06T23:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/?p=9906"},"modified":"2021-12-19T22:52:35","modified_gmt":"2021-12-19T20:52:35","slug":"marantz-cd-player-timeline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hifi-advice.com\/blog\/classics\/digital-classics\/marantz-cd-player-timeline\/","title":{"rendered":"Marantz CD player Timeline"},"content":{"rendered":"

Timeline overview of the most interesting classic Marantz\u00a0CD players<\/h2>\n

The years are quite close but in some cases, they are approximations, not exact introduction dates.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
\"cd-63-167pix-1\"<\/div>\n
\n
\n
CD63<\/strong><\/div>\n
1982<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
CDM0\/CDM1
\nTDA1540<\/div>\n
Marantz version of the Philips CD100 which was the very first commercial cd player.<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\"cd73-167pix\"<\/strong><\/div>\n
CD73<\/strong><\/div>\n
1982<\/div>\n
CDM1
\nTDA1540<\/div>\n
A real cult classic<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
CD34<\/strong>\"cd-34-167pix\"<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n
1984<\/div>\n
CDM1
\nTDA1540<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Marantz version of the Philips CD104<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\"cd74-img_6340-167pix\"CD74<\/strong><\/div>\n
1984<\/div>\n
CDM1
\nTDA1540<\/div>\n
Extensive review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\"cd84-img_6971-167pix\"CD84<\/strong><\/div>\n
1984<\/div>\n
CDM1
\nTDA1540<\/div>\n
Almost identical to the CD74 but with IR Remote.<\/div>\n
Extensive review<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\"cd54-dsc00412-167pix\"CD54<\/strong><\/div>\n
1985<\/div>\n
CDM-1
\n2 x TDA1540<\/div>\n
Derivate from or alternative to the CD34, which is based on the Philips CD104<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\"cd84-167pix\"CD84MKII<\/strong><\/div>\n
1985<\/div>\n
CDM1
\nTDA1540<\/div>\n
Rare version of the CD84 with digital output.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\"cd94mkii-klep-img_5249\"CD94 (MK1)<\/strong><\/div>\n
1986<\/div>\n
CDM1<\/div>\n
TDA1541<\/div>\n
Practically just\u00a0as good as the MKII version, while technically indeed more accurate, the audible difference is probably largely explained\u00a0because there are two DACs working together instead of just one.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\"cd94mkii-in-ros-img_6664-167pix\"CD94MKII<\/strong><\/div>\n
1986<\/div>\n
CDM1 (specially selected version)<\/div>\n
2 x TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown)
\nAnnounced\u00a0as a much improved version over tyhe MKI, the MKII is much the same machine, only with 2 DAC chips (of higher precision) instead of one (of lower precision).<\/div>\n
Extensive review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"marantz-cd75-167pix\"CD75<\/strong><\/div>\n
1987<\/div>\n
CDM2\/160<\/div>\n
or CDM4\/25<\/div>\n
TDA1541<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\"marantz-cd94limited-167pix\"CD94 Limited<\/strong><\/div>\n
1988<\/div>\n
CDM1<\/div>\n
TDA1541<\/div>\n
Wooden cheeks instead of the usual diecast aluminum cheeks with other champagne-coloured players.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\"cd95-167pix\"CD95<\/strong><\/div>\n
1988<\/div>\n
CDM-1<\/div>\n
2 x TDA1541A-S1 (Single Crown)<\/div>\n
Improved CD94 with 2 TDA1541S1 DACs and alu sidepanels. Difference from CD94MKII unknown.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"cd95-167pix\"CD95DR<\/strong><\/div>\n
1988<\/div>\n
CDM-1<\/div>\n
Drive-only version of the CD95: no dacs on board but 2 digital coaxial outputs.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\"cd99se-167pix\"CD99SE<\/strong><\/div>\n
1988<\/div>\n
CDM-1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Improved version of the CD95 (but in what way is unknown to me).<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\"cd99se-167pix\"CD99DR<\/strong><\/div>\n
1988<\/div>\n
CDM-1<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Drive only version of the CD99SE (no analog outputs).<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"cd99se-167pix\"CD99SE Limited Edition<\/strong><\/div>\n
1988<\/div>\n
CDM-1<\/div>\n
Special version of the CD99SE (but in what way is unknown to me).<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"cd12-167pix\"CD12\/DA12<\/strong><\/div>\n
1988<\/div>\n
CDM1<\/div>\n
TDA1541A-S1 (Single \/ Double Crown)<\/div>\n
Extensive review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"cd85-img_6363-167pix\"CD85<\/strong><\/div>\n
1989<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
CDM1MKII<\/div>\n
TDA1541S1<\/div>\n
Simplified build inside compared to CD94 but transport-wise (digital out) still very good.<\/div>\n
Extensive review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\"cd12-img_6388-167pix\"CD12\/DA12 LE<\/strong><\/div>\n
1989<\/div>\n
CDM1<\/div>\n
TDA1541S1<\/div>\n
I’m unsure about the technical difference between CD12 and CD12LE. The frontpanel displays do differ: lighter blue and simpler\/clearer on the LE. Apparently even today still one of Ken Kessler’s favourites for its shimmer and near-analogueness, albeit reportedly he used a special KI-tweaked version.<\/div>\n
Extensive review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\"marantz-cd11le-img_6724-167pix\"CD11<\/strong><\/div>\n
1989<\/div>\n
CDM4MD<\/div>\n
SAA7321<\/div>\n
Successor to the CD12LE. Picture is of CD11LE. The original CD11 may look slightly different.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\"marantz-cd11le-img_6724-167pix\"<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n
CD11LE<\/strong><\/div>\n
1989<\/div>\n
CDM4MD<\/div>\n
2 x TDA1547 (DAC7)<\/div>\n
Due to bad reception of the original, updated quickly and successfully by Ken Ishiwata.<\/div>\n
Extensive review<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\"cd60-167pix\"CD60<\/strong><\/div>\n
1989<\/div>\n
CDM4\/19<\/div>\n
TDA1541A<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"cd72-167pix\"CD72<\/strong><\/div>\n
1989<\/div>\n
CDM4\/19<\/div>\n
SAA7350 (Bitstream)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\"cd80-img_6319-167pix\"CD80<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
1990<\/div>\n
CDM1MKII<\/div>\n
2x TDA1541S1<\/div>\n
Successor to the CD94MKII but different circuitboard layout and a different sound.<\/div>\n
Extensive review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"cd72se-167pix\"CD72SE<\/strong><\/div>\n
1990<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
CDM-4\/19<\/div>\n
SAA7350<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"cd72mkii-167pix\"CD72MKII<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n
\n
1990<\/div>\n
CDM4\/19<\/div>\n
or CDM4\/19<\/div>\n
TDA1547<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\"cd52mkii-176pix\"CD52MKII<\/strong><\/div>\n
1991<\/div>\n
CDM4<\/div>\n
SAA7321GP<\/div>\n
Extensive review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\"cd72mkiise-167pix\"CD72MKII SE<\/strong><\/div>\n
1992<\/div>\n
CDM4\/19 or CDM4\/19<\/div>\n
TDA1547 (HDAM)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\"marantz-cdspelers-bitstream-extra-test-img_7132-167pix\"CD40<\/strong><\/div>\n
1992<\/div>\n
CDM4\/19<\/div>\n
TDA1541A<\/div>\n
Extensive review<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\"cd10-front-167pix\"CD10<\/strong><\/div>\n
1992<\/div>\n
CDM4\/D36<\/div>\n
TDA1547<\/div>\n
Sort of CD11-lite: no copper chassis, no balanced outputs, no torodial transformer. According to German Stereoplay still very smooth but less powerful, as well as more diffuse than the CD11.<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"cd15-167pix\"CD15<\/strong><\/div>\n
1992<\/div>\n
\n
CDM4MD<\/div>\n
TDA1547<\/div>\n
Can be regarded as a CD16 with balanced outputs and better build.<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"marantz-cd16-close-img_3696-167pix\"CD16<\/strong><\/div>\n
1993<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
CDM-4\/36 Metallic<\/div>\n
2 x TDA1547<\/div>\n
Very smooth sounding- and operating player<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\"cd16se-167pix\"CD16 SE<\/strong><\/div>\n
1993<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
CDM-4\/36 Metallic<\/div>\n
2 x TDA1547<\/div>\n
Toroidal transformer, FL display noise filter and new HDAM style modules<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"marantz-cd16-close-img_3696-167pix\"CD16 Exclusive<\/strong><\/div>\n
1993<\/div>\n
\n
CDM-4\/36 Metallic<\/div>\n
2 x TDA1547<\/div>\n
Rainer Finck tweaked version for the German market. Very limited (300pc) edition. Soundwise a large step up from the standard CD16. Germany Magazine Audio was surprised to find that the CD16 Exclusive actually beat the former class champion Sony XA50ES.<\/div>\n
Extensive review<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"cd17-167pix\"CD17<\/strong><\/div>\n
1994<\/div>\n
\n
CDM12.1<\/div>\n
TDA1547<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\"cd17d-167pix\"CD17D<\/strong><\/div>\n
1994<\/div>\n
CDM12.1<\/div>\n
TDA1547<\/div>\n
Like CD17 but with digital inputs<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\"cd17ki-167pix\"CD17KI<\/strong><\/div>\n
1995<\/div>\n
CDM12.1<\/div>\n
1 x TDA1547<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\"cd17mk2-167pix\"CD17MKII<\/strong><\/div>\n
1996<\/div>\n
VAM1201<\/div>\n
TDA1547<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"cd14-167pix\"CD14<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
1998<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
CDM12.4<\/div>\n
2 x TDA1547<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\"cd17mkiii-167pix\"CD17MKIII<\/strong><\/div>\n
1999<\/div>\n
VAM1201<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
2 x PCM1716E<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Deviation from the classic DACs<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\"cd7-167pix\"CD7<\/strong><\/div>\n
2000<\/div>\n
\n
CD-Pro (VAU1252)<\/div>\n
2 x TDA1541A-S2 (Double Crown) + DSP<\/div>\n
The last Marantz player with (some) classic components. Sadly the swing arm mech is gone but used here once more is the TDA1541 Golden Crown DAC (a long time after it was superseded by bitstream alternatives), but this time with digital filtering in DSP.<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Read Also<\/h3>\n

The almost Complete CDM range of\u00a0CD Mechanisms
\n<\/a>Classic Philips and Marantz CD players compared<\/a>
\n<\/a>Inside Pics of classic Philips and Marantz CD players<\/a>
\n<\/a>Marantz CD player DAC, chipset and Transport List<\/a>
\n<\/a>Philips CD player, DAC, Filter, Decoder, DOBM and Transport List<\/a>
\n<\/a>Philips timeline
\n<\/a>CD Mechanism Masterpieces<\/a>
\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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