This table is in NEW condition and includes an R10 000 HANA SL Cartridge!!

Performance

For the amount of money the Marantz TT-15S1 costs, it had better sound excellent. Thankfully, it does.

The first time we dropped the Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood on a record, our jaws dropped as the turntable provided such dark backgrounds and dynamic range that we spent the first night rediscovering our record collection.

All the work that Marantz and Clearaudio (the TT-15S1 is built by Clearaudio to Marantz’s specifications) put into damping and isolation paid off. The TT-15S1 provides silent backgrounds, which lets the music stand out more. Violin strings reverberate with authority and there’s an excellent sense of space.

It’s this sense of space that separates the Marantz from entry-level hi-fi turntables like the Proj-ect Debut Carbon. The cheaper turntables just can’t match the sense of space or the inky dark background of higher end turntables like the Marantz.

The Marantz TT-15S1 paired with the Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood provides an exceptionally neutral presentation. This means bass lovers will be disappointed by the lack of bass emphasis of this turntable. Bass is deep and textured but lacks the impact that some listeners may desire. If your audio system is a bit on the warm side, the TT-15S1 would be a complement to bring it back to neutral. However, if your system is already bright, the TT-15S1 may exacerbate the highs.

Mids are excellent and female vocals like Norah Jones and Sia sound incredible with tons of texture and timbre. To many, the neutral presentation of the Marantz may sound a bit boring and at times too detailed. The TT-15S1 is unforgiving in the way it digs details. If a record was poorly mastered, you’re going to hear it. But for properly mastered records, the TT-15S1 is hypnotic.

Final verdict

The Marantz TT-15S1 costs a lot of money but considering its design and audio fidelity, it’s a steal. To put it in perspective, the included Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge costs $1,000 when purchased separately.

The turntable is not perfect, however. Setup requires a few additional tools to really dial in and it’s annoying that no dust cover is included. The included slipmat and record clamp are merely OK but the turntable deserves better. We also want to caution treble-sensitive listeners and bass lovers to look elsewhere as the TT-15S1 is uncompromisingly neutral.

But all of these cons are simply minor annoyances. Taken as a whole, the Marantz offers budding audiophiles the chance to chase higher fidelity without having to buy a turntable that costs as much as a car.

For audiophiles who are ready to graduate from entry-level hi-fi turntables, the Marantz TT-15S1 should be on your short list.

• You can see why the Marantz TT-15S1 is on our list of the Best Turntables

USER REVIEW:

I got this as a temporary table, wondering if I would like it. Boy, do I! This is really high-quality engineering, executed well, and you can tell. The platter is so evenly machined that, when spinning without the mat on, it is difficult to tell whether it is moving. The bearing is solid and quiet. The plinth, platter, and tonearm are very non-resonant, all passing the tap and scratch tests very convincingly. With both a Rega P5 and a Music Hall MMF 5, I’ve had issues with faint rubbing or scraping sounds. These kinds of issues won’t happen with the Marantz. It’s super smooth, and dead quiet. Ergonomics are good, but you may need my two-handed turn-on technique to avoid moving the isolated motor – just hold it down with your thumb with working the switch with the other hand. Check the stylus pressure with a gauge, though – don’t rely on the counterweight marks.