Difference Between SACD, HDCD & MFSL

wesouth
wesouth Posts: 41
edited January 2010 in Music & Movies
I know the formats are different but is the sound any better with SACD? I have several HDCD and many MFSL and even some DVD-A discs. So how do SACD's stack up to these sound wise.
Thanks for responses in advance
My Setup:
Front- Polk Monitor 70
Center- Polk CS2
Rear - Polk Monitor 70
Subs - 2 Polk PSW505
Receiver - Onkyo TX-SR707
Amp - Emotiva XPA-5
Zone 2 Speakers - Polk M40
CD Player - Emotiva ERC-1
Interconnects - Emo X-Series
& Emo Ultra speaker cables
additional components:
Television - Samsung LN52B750
Gaming Console - Microsoft XBox 360
Media Center - Gaming Computer with Blue Ray Drive
Post edited by wesouth on
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Comments

  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited January 2010
    SACD's sound the best if you have a good SACD player. Think of it like a DVD up converting compared to a Blue Ray player.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited January 2010
    I've heard some amazing sacd's and some not so great. I've heard some mind blowing good MFSL redbook's and some meh... I've heard some really really good HDCD's (I've got a Hendrix that is one of the best Jimi's I've ever heard) and some so so. It has a lot to do with the original recording and then mastering or remastering. The new Beatles red books blow away and previous versions I've ever heard including vinyl. In general though I'd say sacd is usually better than HDCD and sometimes MFSL.
    SDA-1C (full mods)
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  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited January 2010
    A lot just depends on the source and associated equipment. My new (to me) Cary CD player does regular good quality Redbook CD's better than my previous Denon 3910 did good quality SACD's. And my Cary does HDCD's better than anything I've heard thus far. But on my old Denon, SACD's sounded a bit better than Redbook on the same player.

    So I'd say all else being equal, SACD can certainly sound better than the other formats, but I think it depends more on the player and the recording than anything else.
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
    Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
    Amp: Pass Labs X-150
    CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
    Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
    Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
    TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
    Cartridge:Denon DL-160
    Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
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