Recommend and SACD Player..?

wingnut4772
wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
edited October 2007 in Electronics
OK... What would be an SACD player that would be better than my Benchmark DAC1 with Redbook to do SACDs justice. I know that there have been SACD player recommendation threads but the DAC1 comparison adds a twist to mine.:D
Looking for Audiogon used cheap etc. ya da ya da.

Edit: That's what I get for starting a thread so early....
Sharp Elite 70
Anthem D2V 3D
Parasound 5250
Parasound HCA 1000 A
Parasound HCA 1000
Oppo BDP 95
Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
Totem Mask Surrounds X4
Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
Sony PS3
Squeezebox Touch

Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
Post edited by wingnut4772 on
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,236
    edited September 2007
    Look into Sony es. There SACD players are the best in the market at there respected prices. The 555es is a 5 disc and killer piece. Look for it.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,149
    edited September 2007
    For Sony's, I'd keep your eye open for the Sony SCD-C333ES. It is two channel only and its way better than any of the later mulit-channel varieties (except maybe the XA777ES or XA9000ES). A lot of people talk about the Sony DVP-S9000ES, which is a single disk, DVD/2ch SACD. Its supposed to have excellent sound and build quality, but it is known to have trouble playing CD-R, so that may be a factor for you. (it definetely is for me!)

    I've also heard excellent things about the Marantz SA-8260, SA-8001, and their higher up reference models. Of the lower models, I think the 8001 is the better sounding (and 2ch only). I have heard of some reliability problems (or maybe just problems reading certain discs?) with the Marantz players, so you may try to find one new w/ a warranty or refurbed w/warranty.

    Check out www.ac4l.com , they are authorized Marantz refurb dealer. I've bought from them before with no problems. In fact, I've been using a refurbed Marantz CC-4000 that I bought from them for more than 5 years now. Not a single problem.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,114
    edited September 2007
    I thought you only have about 5 SACD's in your collection. Unless you intend to increase your SACD library I wouldn't even bother. But if you must (you know how we Polkies are!!!) then I would suggest an OPPO. This way you at least kill two birds w/ one stone. You get incredible video & really good SACD without spending a lot of coin.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,098
    edited September 2007
    For the bucks, I'd look at a modded unit. I've had 2 Sony players modded by Matt Anker at sacdmods.com and both are fantastic. Shack has the other one now, ping him and I'm sure he'd give you his .02 on it.

    IMO, a cheaper and better solution.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • mrbigbluelight
    mrbigbluelight Posts: 9,878
    edited September 2007
    Lasareath wrote: »
    I just bought the OPPO DV-980H, it cost me with a 3 year warranty and shipped only $226.00

    http://oppodigital.com/dv980h/

    Lasreath, I clicked on that link, and the DV-980H was going for $169.
    With shipping to the Midwest, it came to $181.

    Just looking, but ..... pretty good price.
    Sal Palooza
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited September 2007
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    I thought you only have about 5 SACD's in your collection. Unless you intend to increase your SACD library I wouldn't even bother. But if you must (you know how we Polkies are!!!) then I would suggest an OPPO. This way you at least kill two birds w/ one stone. You get incredible video & really good SACD without spending a lot of coin.

    I know. I am just kicking it around for thought. You think the Oppo is better than my Pioneer Elite 79avi?
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,149
    edited September 2007
    wingnut4772 wrote: »
    I know. I am just kicking it around for thought. You think the Oppo is better than my Pioneer Elite 79avi?

    Probably not for sound. For video, the Oppo 981HD is one of the best though.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,114
    edited September 2007
    wingnut4772 wrote: »
    I know. I am just kicking it around for thought. You think the Oppo is better than my Pioneer Elite 79avi?

    That I can't answer. The OPPO is no slouch though. Is it really worth it for the 5 SACD's that you have. The money would be better spent on your vinyl rig IMHO.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited September 2007
    I bought the Oppo to play CDs, SACDs and DVDA. I thought I was going to get into the crazy world of High Resolution Audio. And I did . . . the SACDs easily kicked my CDs butts on the standalone OPPO, but then I got a PS Audio DLIII DAC. Now my CDs running through the PA DLIII sound the same if not better than my SACDs running straight off the OPPO onboard DAC (AND I didn't have to rebuy my music collection.) The Oppo is an alright transport. For now, I'm keeping it around to serve double duty for movies. But, soon I will look into the new PS Audio Transport and boot the Oppo form Music all together. My opinion, if you plan on only listening to Music and not buying a separate DAC, then go for something made by Cambridge Audio or Rega. Dont' waste your money with the Oppo and the universal audio gimmick. SACD is for the big boys who can afford the $3000 players.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,129
    edited September 2007
    Darla, some other info that you may find helpful.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57781
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited October 2007
    Thanks guys. Off to research.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,259
    edited October 2007
    wingnut4772 wrote: »
    I know. I am just kicking it around for thought. You think the Oppo is better than my Pioneer Elite 79avi?

    Probably not........check that....HELL NO. For SACD to top the redbook output of the Benchmark you are probably looking at a player in the $1.5-3K range. A simple $500-600 typical player isn't going to get the job done......you already have one of those. Make sure to do your homework so you don't end up throwing your money away.

    You will need to look at some sort of a modded unit like TroyD mentioned. Sony Modwright's come highly recommended as well the Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista (I think that's the one F1 has).

    I haven't really done my homework for the more expensive SACD players but you need to go big to top the Benchmark. The Pioneer is already a fairly capable SACD player and you see/hear the results.

    Good luck
    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited October 2007
    Best SACD player: PS3 :)
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • brijenjas
    brijenjas Posts: 311
    edited October 2007
    Silverti wrote: »
    Best SACD player: PS3 :)

    Maybe, but I have to upgrade my recevier/pre/pro1 to use it. for SACD.

    SACD on the PS3 is over HDMI only
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited October 2007
    brijenjas wrote: »
    Maybe, but I have to upgrade my recevier/pre/pro1 to use it. for SACD.

    SACD on the PS3 is over HDMI only

    Ya, that does suck.
    Testing
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    Testing
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,259
    edited October 2007
    Silverti wrote: »
    Best SACD player: PS3 :)

    You're joking, right?
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited October 2007
    heiney9 wrote: »
    You're joking, right?

    Dont think so, are you?
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • MikeC78
    MikeC78 Posts: 2,315
    edited October 2007
    heiney9 wrote: »
    You're joking, right?

    I guess if you've never heard anything else.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited October 2007
    I use my Oppo transport to feed my Timbre DAC and it makes Redbook listenable. When I play the SACD of lets say DSOTM or Ziggy Stardust it blows away the Redbook version but I would never recommend an Oppo 970 HD for use as a serious SACD player. I've heard what a Tri Vista SACD can do and there is no comparision. Too bad the Tri Vistas are dropping like flies. They have a problem with the Phillips transport and once it takes a dump there is no repairing it. I think F1Nut mentioned this in another thread or maybe even this one.:o
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,259
    edited October 2007
    Silverti wrote: »
    Dont think so, are you?

    No, I guess I take audio a little more seriously than using a PlayStation 3.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited October 2007
    Just because something CAN play SACD doesn't mean it SHOULD (at least for HiFi applications). PS3 falls squarely into that category. It is basically a no cost option that Sony can add for marketing.
    "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
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,259
    edited October 2007
    Silverti wrote: »
    Dont think so, are you?

    I would also kindly point out the original post was asking which SACD player would sound better than her Benchmark dac playing redbook cd's. The PS3 isn't even on the same planet as the Benchmark dac.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited October 2007
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Probably not........check that....HELL NO. For SACD to top the redbook output of the Benchmark you are probably looking at a player in the $1.5-3K range. A simple $500-600 typical player isn't going to get the job done......you already have one of those. Make sure to do your homework so you don't end up throwing your money away.

    You will need to look at some sort of a modded unit like TroyD mentioned. Sony Modwright's come highly recommended as well the Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista (I think that's the one F1 has).

    I haven't really done my homework for the more expensive SACD players but you need to go big to top the Benchmark. The Pioneer is already a fairly capable SACD player and you see/hear the results.

    Good luck
    H9

    I can't see myself spending that much $$$$...
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,259
    edited October 2007
    wingnut4772 wrote: »
    I can't see myself spending that much $$$$...

    Well perhaps when you do your homework something might turn out to be affordable. Especially if you locate a used Modwright or a couple of the others F1 and others have mentioned. I would think you could get into a Modwright Sony unit for around $1K, but then again I haven't really looked to hard into it.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited October 2007
    shack wrote: »
    Just because something CAN play SACD doesn't mean it SHOULD (at least for HiFi applications). PS3 falls squarely into that category. It is basically a no cost option that Sony can add for marketing.

    Hell everyone is entitled to their options but elaborate further on why a PS3 is not fit for Hi-Fi?
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,259
    edited October 2007
    Silverti wrote: »
    Hell everyone is entitled to their options but elaborate further on why a PS3 is not fit for Hi-Fi?

    Same reason an iPod or similar device isn't considered Hi-Fi. (I know you weren't talking to me ;) ).

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited October 2007
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Same reason an iPod or similar device isn't considered Hi-Fi. (I know you weren't talking to me ;) ).

    H9


    So pure 7.1 channel non-compressed trueHD audio over HDMI with a 1080P signal at a good 50 mb/sec backed by the most powerful proc out there (Cell) is considered in the same boat as an IPOD for audio?


    I don’t consider HI-FI's requirement of a price tag to be valid, any "hi-fi" system that includes this format would work quite well with a ps3 at its head right now (BR). In 6 months, probably not... but right now?
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited October 2007
    ....
    "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
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited October 2007
    Silverti wrote:
    I don’t consider HI-FI's requirement of a price tag to be valid, any "hi-fi" system that includes this format would work quite well with a ps3 at its head right now (BR). In 6 months, probably not... but right now?

    This is a tired old argument that HiFi isn't based on price. Price is a function of quality of components and workmanship, just like anything else. I have tried many of the so called "bargain giant killers" and each one has been average at best...and certainly no competition for hi quality (not high price) gear. What would be different in a PS3 vs a quality CDP ?(1080P certainly has no bearing)...maybe power supply caps, output caps, opamps, clocks, power supply, connectors, etc...not just stuff to make it look expensive, but stuff to make it SOUND better. I like Sony SACD players but the PS3 is a game and video machine that happens to have audio...as an afterthought at best. Open one up and compare the quality of the audio components to that of a "more expensive machine". They won't tell you the how it sounds different but it will show that the quality of the sound was the primary focus.
    "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
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited October 2007
    shack wrote: »
    ....

    ____________________________________________________________
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