Marantz CD-99SE (1990–1992)
The CD-99SE was Marantz's top Special Edition CD player, introduced in October 1990 and built through 1992. It was developed from the CD-95 and sold as part of a Special Edition set with the PM-88SE amplifier and SD-66SE cassette deck. It was never exported. It was made for the Japanese market only, so most of the surviving documentation is in Japanese.
The CD-99SE used the Philips CDM-1 swing-arm mechanism, the so-called "everlast" transport, mounted on a die-cast base. D/A conversion came from two TDA1541A S1 converters per channel in a push-pull configuration. The converters were specially selected and guaranteed to 0.5 LSB accuracy at small signal levels. The power supply got particular attention: a toroidal transformer with separate windings for each section, plus an independent transformer just for the FL display, all meant to keep noise out of the audio circuits. The chassis was copper-plated, with side die-casting, a 3mm top cover, and a 3mm bottom plate in a sandwich structure for vibration control. Thevintageknob.org describes it as essentially a CD-95 with the toroidal transformer and copper-plated chassis of the LHH1001 - "an all-in-one CD-12 / LHH1000."
Specifications as recorded: frequency response 2 Hz–20 kHz ±0.1 dB, dynamic range 96 dB, S/N ratio 104 dB (1 kHz), channel separation 100 dB (1 kHz), THD 0.0015% (1 kHz). Outputs were gold-plated: one analog pair at 2 V RMS, one coaxial digital (0.5 Vp-p, 75 Ω), and one TOS optical (800nm). Power consumption was 21W. Dimensions were 454 × 106 × 357 mm and it weighed a substantial 13.8 kg. List price was ¥200,000.
The CD-99SE also exists in "Limited" versions. Apparently around 200 were made, though sources are unclear whether that figure covers all versions together or each one. Thevintageknob.org documents two variants. The v1 has two S1 converters marked with crown symbols, and it also came with a simple front sticker instead of stamped "limited" scripting. The v2 was an end-of-production edition using TDA1541A S2 converters, with the Marantz name stamped at the top center of the faceplate in the style of later top Marantz components. Both Limited versions had "Limited" stamped on the drawer front and left off the ten track buttons behind the flap, keeping only the FTS selector. A blog post notes the Limited's specially selected "dual crown" S1 converters as a point of pride for owners.
The record on the CD-99SE comes mostly from Japanese sources and enthusiast documentation. No independent period reviews in English-language publications have surfaced. A Russian forum listing from 2018 (dastereo.ru) shows a private sale of a CD-99SE in Ufa. It was described as in excellent external condition with a couple of small marks on the top cover, reading CD-R discs easily, and including the original remote, manual, and a set of spare drive belts. The asking price was 55,000 (likely rubles), later reduced to 45,000.
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