The Marantz CD17 KI Signature has all hallmarks of Marantz-quality sound in abundance, characterized once again by supreme smoothness and a big, natural bass.
It is just this degree of excellence in the 'warmth' department that makes a quality Marantz machine like this such a good ambassador for digital, but the temptation to pursue this sympathetic reading at the expense of clarity and sparkle is always resisted.
The combination of the two extremes and the integration between them in the CD17 KI is extremely impressive, resulting in a huge sound where required.