Marantz SA-1 SACD player Measurements part 2

Fig.4 shows a 1/3-octave spectrum of the SA-1's balanced outputs while it decoded CD data representing a dithered 1kHz tone at -90dBFS. Level error is minimal, while the noise floor is low. The linearity (fig.5) is also excellent. As a result, the player's reproduction of an undithered 1kHz sinewave at -90.31dBFS (fig.6) is essentially perfect; the three discrete voltage levels and the band-limiting Gibbs Phenomenon "ringing" are easily discerned.

Fig.4 Marantz SA-1, 1/3-octave spectrum of dithered 1kHz tone at -90dBFS, with noise and spuriae, 16-bit data (right channel dashed).

Fig.5 Marantz SA-1, left-channel departure from linearity, 16-bit data (2dB/vertical div.).

Fig.5 Marantz SA-1, left-channel departure from linearity, 16-bit data (2dB/vertical div.).

Harmonic (fig.7) and intermodulation (fig.8) distortions were both very low, with the third harmonic the major constituent (if you can call something just above the -100dB level "major"). The balanced output evinced slightly more even-order harmonics, as well as some higher odd harmonics.

Fig.7 Marantz SA-1, spectrum of 50Hz sinewave, DC-1kHz, at 0dBFS into 100k ohms (linear frequency scale).

Fig.8 Marantz SA-1, HF intermodulation spectrum, DC-22kHz, 19+20kHz at 0dBFS into 600 ohms (linear frequency scale).

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