Originally printed in the June 1994 issue of Gramophone. 

Marantz has held a consistent place as a manufacturer of high quality, and sometimes innovatory and expensive, audio products. Here in Britain this audiophile image is enhanced by the way that Marantz UK's technical guru Ken Ishiwata has sometimes modified basic Marantz designs to produce superior Special Edition (SE) versions to critical acclaim. Their Slim Series takes note of the trend towards home-friendly systems which look good and reasonably inconspicuous, are operationally versatile and yet deliver better than average sound quality.

Essentially, the Slim Series offers two very similar three-box systems each comprising a 45W per channel three-band receiver, a Bitstream CD player and an autoreverse cassette deck. All the units have identical dimensions of 422 x 76 x 317mm (16.6 x 3.0 x 12-5 inches) including the round shock absorber feet. The less expensive System 1010 (£899.90 complete) is styled in conventional black finish whereas the System 1020 (f999.90) reviewed here has the same technical specification but, for that extra 100, has a more up-market 'gunmetal' finish and smart motorised front covers which can be operated by remote control or via touch sensitive bars at the right-hand end. These conceal all the controls but leave the display panels visible through tinted windows. Marantz plan to add further units, such as a separate tuner-controller and power amplifier, DCC deck and Dolby Surround, and I understand that the existing units can be bought separately. The Rock Solid Sounds division of B&W Loudspeakers are marketing a special Theatro loudspeaker (099.95 per pair) which is a visual match for the System 1020.

An essential feature of the series is the System Link Bus which uses tidy cable linkages to reduce clutter, allows simple operation of all facilities from a single remote-control handset and provides instant source selection and sync recording. However, there is no AC power linking so three separate mains lead connections are needed. It will be best if I briefly describe each unit in turn and then comment on the performance of the System 1020 as a whole.

SR1 020 Receiver

Starting round the back, where all the connections have to be made, we find a standard coaxial socket for the FM antenna (single wire supplied) and a pair of spring loaded terminals for the AM aerial (frame type supplied). Then come eight pairs of phono sockets for phono (moving-magnet), CD, Aux 1 and 2, Tape in/out, DCC in/out plus an earth terminal; pairs of R/L 4mm socket/binding loudspeaker terminals; phono sockets for the D-Bus connectors and a system/remote on/off switch.

Lowering the motorized front cover gives access to the controls, almost all of which are duplicated on the remote controller. At the right-hand end is the motor-driven volume control (actually accessible at all times through a hole in the front cover) with its outer balance control. Then come bass and treble knobs, six source selector push-buttons (including the one labelled "DCC", confirming the Marantz/Philips connection), tuner band switch and up/down tuning keys, buttons for storing preset radio stations, clock and timer setting, display switching and station name writing, headphones socket and power on/off. The remote controller adds 0-9 numbered keys for easier track or station selection, clock setting, etc. The function depends on the source selected as do Memo buttons which provide comprehensive control of everything from TV/Video to Side A/B of a LaserDisc player, bilingual mode, deck AJB of a twin-deck cassette deck, scan tuning, CD repeat, cassette play direction, etc.

Tuner operation is straightforward. Short taps on the up/down keys provide manual tuning in 50kHz steps on the FM band and 9kHz steps on MW or LW; holding the key down a little longer initiates auto-tuning, when the tuner scans until a station of sufficient strength is reached, stops and briefly displays signal strength. Up to 30 stations can be preset randomly in the FM, MW and LW bands, entering frequency, mode (mono/stereo) and station name. The process can be performed in the manual one-station mode or during auto-scan, when the preset numbers are allocated sequentially through the band, with a five seconds pause during which the band or mode can be changed. Alphanumerical names of up to five characters can be entered for each preset station.

Setting the clock is easy and the built-in timer operation, still a rarity in audio systems though taken for granted in VCRs, is a valuable feature. Two timings can be stored, Prog 1 and 2, setting the on and off times, the required source, CD track numbers to be played, once or daily operation, etc. There is also a Sleep timer mode which will switch the system off automatically after a preset time lapse anywhere between 10 and 120 minutes in 10-minute steps. This plethora of functions is described fully in the helpful eightlanguage handbook and there is also a laminated summary card using coloured diagrams.

CD1020 CD Player

The rear panel of the CD deck has the usual pair of phono sockets for analogue output, an optical digital outlet for connection to a D/A converter unit or possibly a DCC recorder (optical cable not supplied), and connectors for the System Bus links. A neat circular group of controls at the right-hand end of the front panel covers play, pause and stop. Then we have pairs of fast wind and track skip buttons; keys for repeat, programming for up to 30 tracks, recall and cancel; display time switching between track elapsed or remaining, total elapsed or remaining; an edit button which initiates two modes of assisted recording from CD, one which determines which tracks will fit on each side of a given tape and another which will make best use of any available recording time; and finally a tray open/close button.

The CD1020 is supplied with its own dedicated remote control unit, but the booklet states that the system remote supplied with the SR 1020 receiver should be used— though this means losing random play, automatic music scan and A-B repeat play facilities. As well as fitting track lengths to the given tape durations, there is a peak facility which operates in association with the SD 1020 cassette deck. This performs a peak signal level search of the CD, plays the musical passage for six seconds on either side of the loudest peak four times while the cassette deck automatically adjusts its recording level, automatically enters the edit record mode, and introduces foursecond gaps between the tracks. An alternative Full Edit mode records on to both A and B sides of the cassette in sequence whilst introducing either a fade-out at the end of Side A or erasing the incomplete track and starting it again at the start of Side B, depending on whether the track elapsed time is more or less than 60 seconds. A similar fade-out or erase takes place at the end of Side B—so political correctness or tidying up is assured.

SD1020 Cassette Deck

Here the rear panel merely carries the pairs of input/output phono sockets, the D-Bus sockets and the same sort of captive mains lead as the other Slim Series units. The front panel layout matches that of the CD deck, with the right-hand circular group of controls operating play forward or reverse (cassette Sides A or B), pause and stop. Moving to the left we meet the fast wind, record and mute buttons, then keys for tape counter reset; memo or automatic return to the selected tape cue; display mode selection for counter/function/ recording level; something called QMS (Quick Music Search) which acts as a track skip control in conjunction with the fast search keys; up/down keys for recording level; and the tray open/close button. Under the cassette tray are three slide switches for Dolby B/C/Off; reverse mode for Side A or B only, Sides A+B, or continuous A+B repeat playback.

The system provides unusually flexible recording facilities. These include automatic rewind to the start point at the end of a recording (so useful for restarts after rehearsing or mistakes); sync recording with CD start/stop locked to cassette start/stop; single-key muting to cut out commercials or announcements; and the edit features mentioned for the CD deck above. The display panel has indicators for all functions, a realtime counter and a decent twin bar-graph level meter calibrated from -20dB to +8dB.

Performance

I stacked the three units with the receiver on top as recommended for maximum heat dissipation, and spent some time trying out the wide range of facilities. The initial setting up of things like the clock and tuner presets took quite a while and required frequent references to the bulky handbooks. Fluent operation of the comprehensive remote controller also involved a learning period but was rewarded by armchair control thereafter.

Sound quality was pleasing and I must stress that any reservations I have are very minor. Using both electrostatic and dynamic loudspeakers of known excellence, I found the system's subjective effect a considerable improvement on the typical rack system. However, applying the highest standards, I felt that the lower midrange was very slightly boomy and treble a shade recessed (the sound I sometimes call 'pear shaped') leading to a loss in definition. This effect was just noticeable on radio signals which were otherwise fine. Sensitivity was about average on both FM and AM so that better aerials than the room accessory types supplied will be desirable in most reception conditions. My local FM stations gave musical, low background noise results and, with the West Indies Test Matches in progress, I welcomed the provision of the good old Long Waveband.

The CD player produced the same sort of sound, though with a wider spectrum which added life to extreme bass and top, and again fell slightly short of the ideal in terms of ultimate definition. This would suggest that it is the amplifier where something less than the highest standards is taking place compared with topnotch units (from Marantz and others). The cassette deck was a surprise and provided brightness as well as warmth. Tape noise was easily forgotten, with Dolby B providing the best compromise; Specification wow and flutter was similarly below audibility. Commercial prerecorded cassettes were handled in fine form and recordings from CD, for instance, produced sounds barely distinguishable from the original.

Test measurements were made as a check on the specifications claims and each parameter was either equalled or bettered. Power output could be pushed quite a bit beyond 45W per channel before waveform clipping occurred (or the safety cut-out was triggered). Distortion and noise were as claimed, with the 102dB SIN ratio for the CD player actually surpassed and low-level linearity about as good as on any CD player I have tested. The cassette deck too had obviously been aligned to perfection, giving very flat playback response curves from IEC calibration cassettes and very respectable record/replay response using the three TDK brand tapes listed in the user's handbook. I somehow doubt whether anyone buying this analogue cassette deck will find the need to add the forthcoming Slim Series DCC deck on a sound quality basis: though DCC's extra text and cueing features, and the foolproof digital level setting may influence the decision.

At the £1,000 all-in price, this smart and versatile system is pretty good value in performance terms, despite my suggestion that carefully selected hi-fl separates could do better. Where operational factors and cosmetic attractiveness are important, it beats most of the systems currently on offer. While I like the alternative gun-metal colour and automatic doors of the System 1020, and I usually react badly to the ubiquitous funereal black finish of most hi-fl, I would seriously consider choosing the otherwise identical System 1010 and spending the £100 saved on some well chosen CDs.

5111020 Receiver Power output 45W into 8 ohms Total Harmonic Distortion 0.05% Power bandwidth 20-50,000Hz Signal-to-noise ratio Phono 73dB. Other inputs 80dB Wavebands: FM, MW and LW FM sensitivity (mono/stereo) 1.0/25pV Dimensions (WxHxD)422x 76 x 317mm CD 1020 CD Player Frequency range 5Hz-20kHz Signal-to-noise ratio 102dB Total Harmonic Distortion 0.005% Dimensions as receiver 5D1020 Cassette Deck Frequency range 30Hz-19kHz ±3dB (metal) Signal-to-noise ratio (Dolby Off/B/C) 58/67/72dB Wow and Flutter 0.1% Dimensions as receiver Manufacturer Marantz Japan Incorporated UK distributor Marantz Hi-Fi UK Limited, Kingsbridge House, Padbury Oaks, 575-583 Bath Road, Longford, Middlesex UB7 OEH. Telephone 0753 680868. UK retail price £999.90 complete, less speakers.

John Borwick