SACD vs Redbook impressions...

reeltrouble1

hearingimpared wrote:

Holy Mixup Batman Which Hole Do You Prefer???

Waaaaaaaaa, Joe you are wide open, but I will not do it.

I prefer the holes marked Stereo, ie R and L, most machines auto sense an SACD just hook the connects for the fronts, read your manual and see how to set your machine to default to the stereo layer.

RT1

TN_Polk_Lover

Wow! This is a great thread. I don't own an SACD player, but have often thought about getting one. I've really learned a lot from this thread. I love this forum! Thanks guys!

TN_Polk_Lover

I should have said "Thanks guys and gals!" Didn't mean to come across as too sexist.

hearingimpared

snow wrote:

Your welcome joe. i (assumed) that your current display had component or hdmi inputs. in the current set up plug into the regular video output on the oppo. hook the stereo L-R jacks to the mixed L-R outputs not the L-R outputs on the standard 5.1 outputs this way when you get to the options mentioned earlier. it will downmix all 5.1 material to 2 channel stereo and output it through those outputs. i think you can simply plug and play if you wish. but to achieve the best sound its best to go through the setup options mentioned in the first post. of course now through the regular video output. versus the component or hdmi output options. REGARDS SNOW

Hey Bro how about if I don't have a display in the room with the Oppo can I use the display on the front of the player to do the setup?

snow

hearingimpared wrote:

Hey Bro how about if I don't have a display in the room with the Oppo can I use the display on the front of the player to do the setup?

no it wont display the menus on the player itself. i suggest bringing the player to wherever the nearest display is. setting it up, then taking the player back to the room where it will be used. the settings will remain where you left them at until you change it again. REGARDS SNOW

hearingimpared

First off I can't play SACDs on my Oppo until I hook it up to a TV and do a setup. I'll have to do what Snow sugggested and bring it to the TV in the living room. . . I don't have any high end video as of yet.

Phil (peasall001) came over to today to check out my rig, brought over a cheapy $150 Sony CD/SACD changer. We played two SACDs; Pink Floyd, "DSOTM" & Proprius: Arne Dominerus Group, "Jazz at the Pawnshop (JATP)." without an A/B against the same titled redbook CD.

I was completely blown away. The best way for me to describe what I heard was that there was more information, clarity, detail and downright punch just like the audiophile LP versions of the same titles. The imaging was pinpoint accurate especially with the JATP as I am very very familiar with this recording and where the musicians are positioned on the stage as per descriptions and pictures by Gert Palmcrantz the audio engineer who recored these live sessions. When I played those titles with the redbook CDs (w/Marigo stabilizing mat) with the Oppo connected to my $4000 Timbre DAC with a digital cable there was no comparison the SACDs kicked butt. Now granted the Oppo isn't a high end player but after all I am just using the transport directly to the expensive great performing DAC.

Now I've been reading the two threads "God I love SACD" & this one and I have seen a few people say that their expensive redbook front end beats SACD. Based on what I heard today on those two recordings, I have to say that my first experience with SACD today on a cheapy SACD changer made me a believer in SACDs as the much better performer than the redbook CDs.

I listened to those recordings several times using both formats. . . there is simply no comparison. Now I don't know if I could possibly agree that SACD is as good as or better than vinyl. . . that remains to be seen and I willl know that better when I get my turntable up and running.

I'm wondering if I will notice the same differences and improvements with other recordings on SACD.

I don't know about the sound of a high end SACD player but I was very impressed with SACD on Phil's cheapy Sony.

Joe

ben62670

Now only if the record companies would try to actually market the higher quality of SACD then maybe just maybe they would sell a couple of them.

Ben

Oh yeah I just bought DSOTM today also.. very nice very nice indeed.

snow

im glad you liked it joe. its funny because i would buy an album of something i really dont like of hi res music, to hear the instruments. but i would never buy a cd of the same. its too bad you couldndt turn off the vocals at times.:D
REGARDS SNOW

cfrizz

I'm glad you enjoyed your first taste of SACD sound Joe. DVD-A's are just as good.

snow

cfrizz wrote:

I'm glad you enjoyed your first taste of SACD sound Joe. DVD-A's are just as good.

emerson lake palmer- brain salad surgery on DVDA is incredibile. REGARDS SNOW

hearingimpared

cfrizz wrote:

I'm glad you enjoyed your first taste of SACD sound Joe. DVD-A's are just as good.

ATTA GIRL get me obsessing over something else . . . My wife is already doing the wind up because she heard me tell Phil that I'm going to have to replace the redbooks with SACDs!!!!

shack

What have I been trying to tell you Joe. Sony gets it right when it comes to SACD. Sure there are better...but the bang for the buck quotient is high.

ben62670

shack wrote:

What have I been trying to tell you Joe. Sony gets it right when it comes to SACD. Sure there are better...but the bang for the buck quotient is high.

I love my Sony SACD player, and I have a pretty hi res system. Its not what a lot of guys have here, but its way better than anything you would buy in BB or CC. I was listening to Allison Krause (I can't spell) and her vocals just gave me goose bumps. Then my friend walked in and it gave him goose bumps, and then this girl who doesn't say much, or smile that much walked in, and she just had a big o'll smile on her face.

Gotta love it.

Ben

snow

ben62670 wrote:

I love my Sony SACD player, and I have a pretty hi res system. Its not what a lot of guys have here, but its way better than anything you would buy in BB or CC. I was listening to Allison Krause (I can't spell) and her vocals just gave me goose bumps. Then my friend walked in and it gave him goose bumps, and then this girl who doesn't say much, or smile that much walked in, and she just had a big o'll smile on her face.

Gotta love it.

Ben

agreed on all counts, sony makes nice SACD players and allison krauss is awesome.allison krauss and union station live. has to be heard to be believed. she is one of those rare talents that when she sings it looks effortless. its like honey for the ears.:D REGARDS SNOW

SCompRacer

hearingimpared wrote:

I don't know about the sound of a high end SACD player....
Joe

How would you like to find out with a used modded SACD player? Like a one week trial thing, then I put it up for sale.

reeltrouble1

over 4 times the sample rate and millions more bit quatization levels for dynamics, it can't help but be better, because it is better software, many times better.

It just has to be there on the master tapes then transfered correctly to the disc.

I think it was F1 who said when done correctly SACD is Glorious.

Better than vinyl, well, eye of the beholder and all that, I cannot decide, sometimes I favor one over the other for a bit, they are just different. If you cannot stand the occasional pop or click, stay with the SACD.

waaaaaaaa, one week trial, evil Rich, devilishy evil.....Joe has got it bad.

RT1

hearingimpared

SCompRacer wrote:

How would you like to find out with a used modded SACD player? Like a one week trial thing, then I put it up for sale.

For real???

ben62670

snow wrote:

allison krauss and union station live. has to be heard to be believed. she is one of those rare talents that when she sings it looks effortless. its like honey for the ears.:D REGARDS SNOW

Sweet sweet sweet. When they heard it they couldn't believe how good it sounded, and then I told my friend it was live he nearly crapped a brick. He is a musician himself (he definately is no A.K.)

hearingimpared

Okay I hit a snag here. I got the Oppo set up to detect and play SACDs when in the tray. BUT THIS IS PISSING ME OFF!!! I put my new SACD copy of DSOTM. Ya know the first five tracks how they blend into each other. . . not so here. Every time the track changes to the next there is a slight stoppage of the music it switches tracks then continues on. I've heard this before on bad burn jobs on CDs but this seems to be the Oppo.

Anyone have any thoughts?

snow

hearingimpared wrote:

Okay I hit a snag here. I got the Oppo set up to detect and play SACDs when in the tray. BUT THIS IS PISSING ME OFF!!! I put my new SACD copy of DSOTM. Ya know the first five tracks how they blend into each other. . . not so here. Every time the track changes to the next there is a slight stoppage of the music it switches tracks then continues on. I've heard this before on bad burn jobs on CDs but this seems to be the Oppo.

Anyone have any thoughts?

yes its a problem that the player has with a few discs. DSOTM is one of them. go here to get a fix. it is the latest firmware upgrade in beta form. http://www.oppodigital.com/dv970hd/dv970hd-firmware-4a-1220.html it should fix that problem. REGARDS SNOW

shack

hearingimpared wrote:

Okay I hit a snag here. I got the Oppo set up to detect and play SACDs when in the tray. BUT THIS IS PISSING ME OFF!!! I put my new SACD copy of DSOTM. Ya know the first five tracks how they blend into each other. . . not so here. Every time the track changes to the next there is a slight stoppage of the music it switches tracks then continues on. I've heard this before on bad burn jobs on CDs but this seems to be the Oppo.

Anyone have any thoughts?

It is a glitch in the machine. Oppo has inserted a 2-3 second pause beteen tracks on ALL SACD playback. Not in any other format. Supposedly there is a beta firmware upgrade that will eliminate the problem. It should be available on the machines in a couple of months.

snow

shack wrote:

It is a glitch in the machine. Oppo has inserted a 2-3 second pause beteen tracks on ALL SACD playback. Not in any other format. Supposedly there is a beta firmware upgrade that will eliminate the problem. It should be available on the machines in a couple of months.

here is the fix for it. http://www.oppodigital.com/dv970hd/dv970hd-firmware-4a-1220.html REGARDS SNOW

shack

I don't need a fix. I don't own one. Don't want one. Not going to get one.

snow

shack wrote:

I don't need a fix. I don't own one. Don't want one. Not going to get one.

ok.:D

hearingimpared

shack wrote:

I don't need a fix. I don't own one. Don't want one. Not going to get one.

I do need a fix. I have one. Have no choice. Wife really fed up with the spending.:mad: :rolleyes:

PS: she broke balls tonight after Phil left because she thought that he brought over a very high end SACD player today and heard me raving about the sound. She of course assumed that I was going to spend another K on this hobby. I assured her that I absolutely wasn't going to do something like that. The question is how do I do something like that without lying to her.:rolleyes:

reeltrouble1

wattayouwantforafranklinortwo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its a video machine that plays high rez., not the other way around.

You just have to hum to yourself for the little 2-3 sec. break, use your imagination my good man, tap your foot a few times and I am glad you found the holes.

Besides forwards or backwards its an oppo, its confused. It was built by committee, including members of the bean counters, not an audio nut like you who knows this pause is incorrect.

Breathe, Breathe in the air..........

RT1

snow

for any who want the fix here it is for the 3rd time. lmaoooo. http://www.oppodigital.com/dv970hd/dv970hd-firmware-4a-1220.html

SCompRacer

hearingimpared wrote:

For real???

For real. I should have it back next week. It is a ModWright Sony 999ES with Platinum Level Signature Truth Mods and clock upgrade. Platinum Level includes the AC and Slipstream Bybee filters. The power supply for the tubes is SS. The tube power supply umbilical cord is copper by Acoustic Zen. Try it and let me know what you think.

I sent it back to Dan late December because it had a sticky drawer I wanted repaired or replaced. I was also going to upgrade to the tube rectified power supply which significantly improves detail and seperation. He was getting ready for T.H.E. Show and offered me deal I could not refuse on a 9100 demo. He allowed me to cancel the tube PS and put the money towards the 9100. Only drawback was waiting for it.

hearingimpared

snow wrote:

for any who want the fix here it is for the 3rd time. lmaoooo. http://www.oppodigital.com/dv970hd/dv970hd-firmware-4a-1220.html

Thanks Snow I saved the link in my favorites folder in my upgrades subfolder.

Unfortunetely you have me confused with a guy who has a CD burner. Oh wait a minute that's what that silly thing in the new computer I have is. How come there is only one tray???

hearingimpared

reeltrouble1 wrote:

wattayouwantforafranklinortwo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its a video machine that plays high rez., not the other way around.

You just have to hum to yourself for the little 2-3 sec. break, use your imagination my good man, tap your foot a few times and I am glad you found the holes.

Besides forwards or backwards its an oppo, its confused. It was built by committee, including members of the bean counters, not an audio nut like you who knows this pause is incorrect.

Breathe, Breathe in the air..........

RT1

Oh maaaaannnnn! I knew this wasn't going to be a good $150 spent despite Chris Martens stellar review in TAS.:mad: Once again, I should have listned to Jesse!:o