30-Year Marantz Engineer and Philips Bitstream DAC Creator, Rainer Finck, Discusses His High-Fidelity Engineering Career Milestones
Digital audio pioneer Rainer Finck reflects on his illustrious 40-year career, which has seen him leave a lasting impact on the industry.
Beginning in the mid-'80s, Finck's career took off as an application engineer at Philips Semiconductors. There, he played a crucial role in the development of the original Bitstream Conversion method. This pioneering technique formed the foundation for the eventual creation of SACD (Super Audio CD) and Direct Stream Digital (DSD), two key formats in high-resolution audio.
The 1990s saw Finck bring his digital audio expertise to Marantz, where he spent three decades designing and engineering several of the brand's most iconic products. During this time, he collaborated closely with fellow Marantz legend, the late Ken Ishiwata.
Reflecting on his career, Finck named several products he is most proud to have developed. In the early years, his work at Philips Semiconductors paved the way for advanced digital audio conversion, eventually displacing the 16-bit digital-to-analogue conversion technique. His team's creation, known as the Bitstream method, remains influential, forming the basis for DSD256 – a technique used in modern audio systems.
At Marantz, one of Finck's most significant contributions was the introduction of the Linear Music Filter (LMF) in the Marantz CD-7 – a CD player that remains one of the brand's most revered offerings. The LMF, an analog filter with desirable characteristics, significantly improved the sound quality of CD players.
Another notable achievement during Finck's tenure at Marantz was the development of the Marantz TT-15 turntable, which joined the Reference series in 2006. This turntable, produced in collaboration with Clearaudio, signified a successful venture that is still in production today.
In 2017, the SA-10 disc player arrived, showcasing technology that has since been carried into subsequent Marantz digital products, including the 30n SACD player/streamer. The SA-10's proprietary technology, Marantz Musical Mastering (MMM), combined elements of single-bit conversion and new filtering techniques, elevating Marantz's digital audio performance.
Celebrating his 40th anniversary at Marantz, Ishiwata designed and released the SA-KI Ruby disc player and PM-KI Ruby amplifier. The duo showcased cutting-edge technology from the brand's flagship models, with the amplifier boasting a discrete MM phono stage without global feedback, a first for Marantz.
During the high-tension Brexit era, Finck orchestrated the transformation of the British versions of Marantz's budget 6006 Series components, which garnered critical acclaim and became popular among UK listeners. The modifications improved the dynamic behavior and reduced temperature drift in the integrated amplifier, while the CD player experienced reduced noise on the analog power supply, accompanied by further refinements to enhance sound quality.
While Masimo's acquisition and planned sale of Sound United closed the chapter on Finck's Marantz journey, he is now working with Karl-Heinz Fink at FinkTeam, the speaker manufacturer founded by the Outstanding Contribution Award 2022 winner. At FinkTeam, Finck and Fink are collaborating on exciting new projects that combine electronic innovations with exceptional speaker design.
Overall, Rainer Finck's substantial contributions to the digital audio industry, particularly through his work at Philips Semiconductors and Marantz, have left a lasting impact. His pioneering spirit and dedication have shaped the landscape of high-end audio, ensuring that his work will continue to influence future developments in the field.
[1] Enrichment Data: Finck's significance lies in his foundational role in DSD technology's origins and his practical innovations at Marantz that elevated the performance and reputation of their high-end audio products. His work bridged pioneering digital audio developments with refined product design, enhancing listener experience and setting standards for quality in the industry.
- Rainer Finck's career in the digital audio industry, centered on his foundational role in DSD technology and his practical innovations at Marantz, significantly impacted the high-end audio landscape.
- Finck's early work at Philips Semiconductors led to the creation of the Bitstream method, which impacted high-resolution audio formats like SACD and DSD.
- At Marantz, Finck introduced the Linear Music Filter (LMF) in the Marantz CD-7, a CD player renowned for its improved sound quality.
- Finck also collaborated with Clearaudio on the Marantz TT-15 turntable, a product still in production today.
- The SA-10 disc player, featuring Marantz Musical Mastering (MMM) technology, showcased advancements in digital audio and has been carried into subsequent Marantz products.
- Celebrating his 40th anniversary at Marantz, Ken Ishiwata designed the SA-KI Ruby disc player and PM-KI Ruby amplifier, both showcasing cutting-edge technology.
- Finck orchestrated modifications to the British versions of Marantz's budget 6006 Series components, boosting their popularity among UK listeners.
- Post his Marantz journey, Finck is currently working with Karl-Heinz Fink at FinkTeam, a speaker manufacturer, on projects combining electronic innovations with exceptional speaker design.
- The future of the digital audio industry will continue to be influenced by Finck's work, ensuring that his pioneering spirit and dedication remain a driving force in shaping its evolution.
