Future Philips drive mechanisms will most likely be DVD/Super Audio CD compatible, and we could see a shift towards inexpensive lines due to competition in the marketplace. Meanwhile, the present Marantz, under control of D&M Holdings, has started to develop its own drive mechanisms. Relying on outside suppliers brings the risk of being supplied components with a short lifespan. Therefore, the Company decided to initiate in-house development of drive mechanism.
The first Marantz in-house drive mechanism (referred to as an "engine" by Marantz) was installed in the multi-channel Super Audio CD players Marantz SA-17S1 and Marantz SA-8260. The mechanism was a linear tracking system with a twin laser single pickup structure that houses a 650nm red Super Audio CD laser and a 780nm red CD laser in a single optical system. This superior engine featured reduced unnecessary radiation, and was designed to be energy efficient.
The laters Marantz engine is mounted in the Marantz SA-8400 stereo only Super Audio CD/CD player. Although names, such as CDM1 and CDM9 Pro used by Philips, have not been asigned to the Marantz engines, this newest engine utilizes a twin laser single pickup linear tracking system similar to that of the first Marantz engine.