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Marantz TT15SI Reference Series Turntable Reviewed


  • October 23, 2008

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marantz-tt15SI.jpgMarantz has been one of the most lauded brands in audio history. Therefore, it's nice to see them stepping back into the resurgent world of vinyl and selling a turntable.  The TT15 is designed to be an all-in-one package. Just connect it to the phono input on your preamp/processor or receiver, or add a separate phono preamp, and you are ready to go.  The turntable is built on a thick, low-resonance high-density plinth and platter, with a motor that is totally isolated from the table, using a belt drive system.  The entire table rests atop three large aluminum adjustable feet, making leveling and stabilizing a breeze.

The turntable comes packed with the table, tone arm, cartridge and all the necessary tools except for a level.  Utilizing a magnetic anti-skating mechanism and a Clear Audio Virtuoso Ebony wood cartridge on the Clear Audio arm makes for a solid sonic performer that far exceeds it $1,600 price.  The table is a modified Clear Audio Emotion turntable, with a heavier plinth for better noise and vibration isolation and larger, more solid feet to also increase stability.  Set-up only takes a few minutes, allowing you to relive your old vinyl collection quickly, or for those just venturing into vinyl, to see why this format has not only survived, but gained in popularity.  The smooth, natural sound of vinyl from this table will make many digital recordings quite frankly unlistenable.  

High Points
• The Marantz TT 15 offers a great bargain all-in-one solution to get you into (or back into) appreciating vinyl, and once you hear the smooth and sweet nature of this set-up, you'll be hooked.
• The extra-thick plinth and platter make this table very rugged and the massive footers ensure the entire package sits perfectly on its platform, making for a very stable system
• The TT15SI is designed so all its components work together flawlessly and, for someone just getting into vinyl, or returning after a long hiatus, having a pre-made package that works well together is a big perk and will save much time, money and hassle trying to match components yourself.

Low Points
• Some modern receivers and preamp/processors have abandoned built-in phono stages, so you may need to add a separate phono preamp to use this or any other turntable.
• The Clear Audio Virtuoso Ebony Wood cartridge  is not rebuildable and the stylus is not replaceable, so be careful not to damage the stylus, as it requires replacing the cartridge. Some dealers offer a trade-in on the damaged one, but it still can be costly.

Conclusion
The Marantz TT15SI is a great turntable for the price and, as an all-in-one package, makes it an easy decision when looking to get into vinyl, again or for the first time, while the smooth sound and bass control will leave you endlessly going through albums and listening less to your CD player.  This is a great turntable at a very fair price and one you should consider if vinyl interests you.

Keywords

Vinyl, Marantz, ClearAudio, Turn table, tone arm, virtuoso, virtuoso wood, Marantz Turntable reviewed, Marantz TT15si

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