God I love Super Audio Compact Disc

1356789

Comments

  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited January 2007
    I think the technology has progressed enough that if you buy any cheap but well known name brand universal or separate player you will get very decent sound.

    The biggest factor to the quality of the sound is now really the discs. If the disc is poorly done it will sound like crap on a cheap & an expensive machine.

    I know that some of you seem to have a problem with remastered music because you think it's too loud. Well I'll take that loud but cleaned up, cleared up remaster over any copy, of a copy, of a copy, of a copy, of a copy, of an original disc any day of the week & just turn the volume down!
    The difference is just astounding!

    Now as you get better equipment, the differences will become more noticable.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited January 2007
    I will now further confuse the matter....

    On certain hybrid SACDs (ones with the CD layer), the CD layer is also HDCD-encoded. As I understand it, HDCD-capable CD players generally don't let you turn on/off the HDCD feature, right?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • snow
    snow Posts: 4,337
    edited January 2007
    Danny Tse wrote:
    I will now further confuse the matter....

    On certain hybrid SACDs (ones with the CD layer), the CD layer is also HDCD-encoded. As I understand it, HDCD-capable CD players generally don't let you turn on/off the HDCD feature, right?
    i believe in most hdcd capable players it automatically sees the hdcd layer and plays it versus the cd layer. when you play a hybrid disc it will give you the option of playing either the sacd or cd layer, and if your player has hdcd capability it chooses the hdcd when you select cd. REGARDS SNOW
    Well, I just pulled off the impossible by doing a double-blind comparison all by myself, purely by virtue of the fact that I completely and stupidly forgot what I did last. I guess that getting old does have its advantages after all :D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited January 2007
    snow wrote:
    i believe in most hdcd capable players it automatically sees the hdcd layer and plays it versus the cd layer. when you play a hybrid disc it will give you the option of playing either the sacd or cd layer, and if your player has hdcd capability it chooses the hdcd when you select cd. REGARDS SNOW

    Thanks, Snow.

    BTW, here's the just-published article at highfidelityreview.com on the upcoming Sony car SACD players....

    http://www.highfidelityreview.com/news/news.asp?newsnumber=10972765
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited January 2007
    Danny Tse wrote:
    I will now further confuse the matter....

    On certain hybrid SACDs (ones with the CD layer), the CD layer is also HDCD-encoded. As I understand it, HDCD-capable CD players generally don't let you turn on/off the HDCD feature, right?

    Don't forget to mention the XRCD format, which plays, well on pretty much everything.

    Of course I have digital vinyl....WTF??????? wa................

    Is it any wonder......Its a ball of confusion.........

    RT1
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited January 2007
    reeltrouble1 wrote:
    Don't forget to mention the XRCD format, which plays, well on pretty much everything.

    Is it any wonder......Its a ball of confusion.........

    XRCD is just a well-mastered CD....it doesn't use any decoding. And yes, XRCD on the CD layer of a hybrid SACD was proposed....and shot down by JVC, the company behind XRCD.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ninerbj
    ninerbj Posts: 870
    edited January 2007
    BUT..........
    Does anyone else have bass issues when playing muti-channel SACD's????
    "she had the body of Venus, with arms."
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited January 2007
    Danny Tse wrote:
    XRCD is just a well-mastered CD....it doesn't use any decoding. And yes, XRCD on the CD layer of a hybrid SACD was proposed....and shot down by JVC, the company behind XRCD.


    Who's on first . . .
    What's on second . . .
    I dunno who's on third . . .
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited January 2007
    the biggest improvement with my new Denon over the Sony i used to have is not necessarily the fidelity, but the bass management.

    Bass management is the only weakness in SACD that I can think of. Other than that (oh and the marketing), it's perfect.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited January 2007
    aaharvel wrote:
    the biggest improvement with my new Denon over the Sony i used to have is not necessarily the fidelity, but the bass management.

    Bass management is the only weakness in SACD that I can think of. Other than that (oh and the marketing), it's perfect.

    Are you speaking of the speed of the bass or the tightness or depth???
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited January 2007
    i'm refering to the lack of flexibility of the player itself. When you switch your speakers to "small" in the players internal system (as required when using the analog outputs) as my speakers obviously are, the player cuts off the bass at 100hz (puke). It's not adjustable, as I prefer a 60hz. cutoff for both movies and especially music.

    IOW, the bass sounds terrible.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited January 2007
    Okay now that it has been established that SACD is (opinions rendered) better than vinyl, can I get some software suggestions please?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited January 2007
    Norah Jones - Come Away W/Me (Only the multi-channel side is SACD quality, and you'll have to bump up the bass +10db. due to a recording error.)
    Miles Davis - K.O.B.
    Jerry Goldsmith - Film Scores
    Pink Floyd - D.S.O.T.M.
    John Mayer - Heavier Things
    Sheryl Crowe - The Globe Sessions
    Nickel Creek - Self Titled & This Side
    Anything Sarah Brightman

    just to name a few..
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,083
    edited January 2007
    I wouldn't say that SACD is 'better' than vinyl. Just different.

    I've never listened to SACD in multichannel and I never will.

    The Norah Jones SACD is a joke. The vinyl is MUCH better.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited January 2007
    then today i'm buying the Vinyl for C.A.W.M. Thanks Troy.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • strider
    strider Posts: 2,568
    edited January 2007
    hearingimpared wrote:
    Okay now that it has been established that SACD is (opinions rendered) better than vinyl, can I get some software suggestions please?


    Allman Brothers- At Fillmore East
    Derek and the Dominos- Layla
    Bela Fleck- Drive :D
    Beck- Sea Change
    Charles Mingus- Ah Em

    I've heard that Chris Thile's (of Nickel Creek) solo release is pretty good as well.
    Wristwatch--->Crisco
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,083
    edited January 2007
    aaharvel wrote:
    then today i'm buying the Vinyl for C.A.W.M. Thanks Troy.


    If you do it, get the 200gm pressing.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pblanc
    pblanc Posts: 261
    edited January 2007
    I was concerned that SACD was a dying organism. Is it gaining market share? I agree that SACD is how CD "should be" and that a well recorded and mastered SACD is on par with a high grade vinyl analog source. Maybe even better, since the dynamic range and S/N ratio are better. I think overall I still generally prefer the "warmth" of vinyl but I suspect SACD has the potential to be more accurate.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited January 2007
    Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
    Allman Brothers - Eat A Peach
    Jeff Beck - Blow By Blow
    Alison Krauss & Union Station - Live
    Deep Purple - Machine Head
    Aerosmith - Toys In The Atic
    Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan - In Session
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited January 2007
    TroyD wrote:
    If you do it, get the 200gm pressing.

    BDT

    thanks Troy, i'm looking into it. But what is 200gm?
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • snow
    snow Posts: 4,337
    edited January 2007
    eagles farewell tour. pink floyd darkside of the moon. allison kraus and union station live. all are exceptional recordings on sacd. REGARDS SNOW
    Well, I just pulled off the impossible by doing a double-blind comparison all by myself, purely by virtue of the fact that I completely and stupidly forgot what I did last. I guess that getting old does have its advantages after all :D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited January 2007
    Snow, the Eagles have never had anything released on SACD only on DVD-A. And the Farewell Tour is a DVD-V not a DVD-A.

    Believe me, if they ever release that disc on DVD-A I will be all over it like white on rice. I wish they would release it, it is an outstanding concert!
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,083
    edited January 2007
    200gm is the weight of the vinyl. It's of better quality than the standard 150gm pressing.

    Worth the extra coin.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited January 2007
    aaharvel wrote:
    Norah Jones - Come Away W/Me (Only the multi-channel side is SACD quality, and you'll have to bump up the bass +10db. due to a recording error.)
    Miles Davis - K.O.B.
    Jerry Goldsmith - Film Scores
    Pink Floyd - D.S.O.T.M.
    John Mayer - Heavier Things
    Sheryl Crowe - The Globe Sessions
    Nickel Creek - Self Titled & This Side
    Anything Sarah Brightman

    just to name a few..


    Thanks to everyone for the suggestions . . . hmmm now how to sneak some funds to get an SACD collection going . . .
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited January 2007
    aaharvel wrote:
    then today i'm buying the Vinyl for C.A.W.M. Thanks Troy.

    What's C.A.W.M. ???
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited January 2007
    hmmm........Keb Mo and Keb Mo and did I mention Keb Mo, I especially enjoy "Just Like You" by well, Keb Mo.

    RT1
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited January 2007
    Wow, I've been checking out SACD prices on a whole lot of websites. . . they are not inexpensive.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited January 2007
    TroyD wrote:
    200gm is the weight of the vinyl. It's of better quality than the standard 150gm pressing.

    Worth the extra coin.

    BDT

    thankya thankya.

    Hearing, it's Come Away With Me (Norah Jones) I was too lazy to spell it out.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited January 2007
    Sorry I didn't have my internet acronym decoder handy.:p
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited January 2007
    Go to yourmusic.com and check out their limited selection (Dylan, Clapton, Carpenters, etc.) at $6.99/each shipped.

    If you have a local Best Buy and they are still carrying SACDs, the discs should be under $14.99/each. Last Friday, I came across a stack of SACD to Sam Cooke's "Portrait of a Legend" (an out-of-print SACD title) for $9.99/each at my local Best Buy....so the deals are out there.

    BTW, have you check out sa-cd.net for a listing of available SACD titles? For your information, the SACDs of Sam Cooke, the Police, Peter Gabriel, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, and any Sony single-layer titles are considered out-of-print. So get them if you find them.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter