If we’re talking about the best CD players we have tested in the past decade, pound for pound, the Marantz CD6007 has to be in the conversation.
Not only is it a fantastic five-star performer, it has walked away with multiple What Hi-Fi? Awards over the years, too.
But the truth is, it’s a little long in the tooth. It launched back in August 2020 and, following a refresh of Marantz’s other hi-fi and home cinema electronics, it has always been a matter of when not if it would be replaced.
Following the recent unveiling of the CD 70, that time has come. That’s right, when current stock runs out, the CD6007 will be no more.
So what does its replacement have to offer? Should you be looking to swap old for new? We’ll cover all this and more below.
Marantz CD 70 vs CD6007 - Price
Given current market conditions, you won’t be surprised to hear that the CD 70 costs more than the CD6007 did when it launched back in August 2020. The size of the jump really depends on where you buy it.
The new model will set you back £499 | €600 | $750 | AU$1000 (exc VAT), compared with the £399 | €449 | $650 | AU$999 that you have to pay at the time of writing for its predecessor.
The CD6007 can regularly be found discounted across various territories now, though, and it’s unlikely we’ll see anything off the CD 70 for a while. So if you want a saving on a mighty fine Marantz CD player, the old model is the way to go for now.
Marantz CD 70 vs CD6007 - Design and build
The shift to Marantz’s more recent design language is quite obvious, but which you prefer the look of can only come down to personal taste.
Each player offers something different and although the CD 70 might appear the more modern of the two, there’s still a lot to be said for the more industrial and workmanlike appearance of the CD6007.
The CD70 has a chunky front panel with a main section that protrudes from the rest of the fascia and is flanked by textured surfaces on either side.
The CD6007 appears a bit more straightforward and uncompromising in its stance, but there’s still enough character in its appearance to give it presence on your hi-fi rack.
The CD 70 is the slightly larger of the two units, but the difference in dimensions isn’t massive – 10.9 x 44.2 x 35.1cm next to 10.5 x 44 x 34.1cm (hwd).
Inside, the CD 70 uses an upgraded power supply, which Marantz claims helps to reduce noise. The headline news, though, is that the CD 70 gets a new ES9020Q DAC chip compared with the older ES9010K2M chip found in the CD6007. The new model also gets an upgraded digital clock to reduce jitter (digital timing errors).
Marantz CD 70 vs CD6007 - Features
The dot-matrix display on both appears virtually identical, as do the buttons on the front – although the eagle-eyed among you will notice that their positions and functions have changed a little.
The CD6007 has its controls positioned vertically, with individual buttons for play, pause, and stop on the right of the unit, and eject, skip forwards, skip backwards and a button for switching to the USB input on the left.
The CD 70, by contrast, has its buttons positioned horizontally, on either side of its ‘porthole’. Skip forwards, backwards and one button combining play and pause sit on the right; input selection, stop and eject on the left.
Both offer a USB Type-A input to the left of the display and a 6.3mm headphone socket, complete with a volume-control knob positioned on the right.
A remote control comes with the CD 70 and looks very similar to the remote you get with the CD6007, but with a new finish. Look a little closer and you’ll see some of the labelling has changed, together with some of the icons used.
The rear layout of both machines is identical. There is an analogue output, plus optical and coaxial digital outputs.
File compatibility remains the same with both machines able to play CD, CD-R and CD-RW discs, while the USB input that features on each machine supports the same file formats: WAV, FLAC, ALAC, AIFF and DSD.
The CD 70 offers a choice of two digital filters for sound quality, similar to the CD6007, and also the option to turn off the digital outputs and the display if you’re not using them, both of which, Marantz claims, will help improve sound quality.
Marantz CD 70 vs CD6007 - Sound
We are about to put the new Marantz through its paces, so we’ll reserve final judgement on sound quality for when our review team has completed their testing.
On paper, however, Marantz has attempted to improve sound quality for the CD 70 through a number of design improvements, including the use of a new DAC and upgraded power supply.
If it can build on all the qualities of its predecessor then this could be a very special CD player indeed. In our Marantz CD6007 review, we called it a “crisp, open performer” and said ”larger-scale dynamics are delivered with verve and punch”.
Let's hope it doesn't stray too far from a winning formula.
Marantz CD 70 vs CD6007 - Initial verdict
Marantz has introduced a few new components for the CD 70, so we have high hopes for its new-generation disc-spinner. This area of the CD player market has shrunk considerably over the years and rivals are few and far between.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed, and we all know how much of a formidable performer the CD6007 has been over the years.
Will the new model be worth upgrading to if you're an existing CD6007 owner? As soon as we have spent enough time with the CD 70 and done all the relevant comparisons, you’ll be the first to know!
MORE:
Read our full Marantz CD6007 review
Our pick of the best CD players for every budget
