I'm thinking SACD would be cool. Any opinions?

madmax
madmax Posts: 12,434
edited December 2002 in 2 Channel Audio
I've been looking at SACD players. Is there any particular one that is considered a good value amoung SACD enthusiasts? I would like it to handle progressive scan DVD as well. I'm not sure if the same unit will do both well but...
madmax
Vinyl, the final frontier...

Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
Post edited by madmax on

Comments

  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited December 2002
    SACD and DVD-A are fantastic! Multi-channel SACD is excellant also. Check out the Pioneer Elite DV-47a, it will play SACD, DVD-A, DVD-V, CD-R, CD-RW, & MP3. Oh yea the Progressive Scan picture is Freakin' Incredible!!
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
    2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,704
    edited December 2002
    Check out the Philips DVD963SA, it does CD with 24bit/192kHz upsampling, SACD 2 channel and multi, DVD-A, DVD-V with progessive scan. It's new on the market, replaces the respected SACD1000 for alot less money, runs about $500.00.
    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

  • rlw
    rlw Posts: 231
    edited December 2002
    The sale on the Phillips SACD1000 for $399 is supposed to be the hot ticket.


    Gosh, if you knew somebody who worked at this store, they could make sure you got on the list for when the sale started this weekend.
  • capitan100
    capitan100 Posts: 172
    edited December 2002
    SACD is great.
    Home Theater
    Sony DA7ES 7.1 A/V Receiver
    Sony DVP-NC80V - SACD/DVD player
    CS400 - Center channel
    RT2000i - Fronts
    RT1000i - Surrounds
    a/d/s MS3/u - subwoofer
    Hitachi 62 inch HD TV

    2 Channel Room
    Niles HDL-4 Speaker Selector
    Niles HDL-6 Speaker Selector
    Sony V555ES receiver
    Sony DVP-S7700
    Polk SDA-2B
    Polk Monitor 5
    Thiel 03a
    B&W 2001 ZMF
    Signet SL-250 B/U
    a/d/s L400e
    Wharfedale Valdus 100SE
    Polk PSW 350 - subwoofer
    Pioneer Elite Big Screen
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,704
    edited December 2002
    The SACD 1000 is great for sacd, but the cd playback leaves a little to be desired, still for sacd use only the $399.00 price isn't a bad deal. The new model for $100.00 more is a much better player.
    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

  • jrausch
    jrausch Posts: 510
    edited December 2002
    Interesting read. look for reviews of this up and comming chip.

    http://www.stereophile.com/shownews.cgi?1502
    "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it."
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited December 2002
    Increased dynamic range! Sounds like a cool chip! Great article.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited December 2002
    rlw,
    The sale on the Phillips SACD1000 for $399 is supposed to be the hot ticket.

    where can I get more information?

    F1Nut,
    Check out the Philips DVD963SA, it does CD with 24bit/192kHz upsampling, SACD 2 channel and multi, DVD-A, DVD-V with progessive scan. It's new on the market, replaces the respected SACD1000 for alot less money, runs about $500.00.

    do you have eta on this player? I heard that build quality will not be as good as sacd-1000. I am strictly interested in buying a SACD m/c and stereo player only (the rest of the features are not needed) do you have an opinion on the best sounding SACD out there? thanks, fh
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited December 2002
    Originally posted by Frank Z
    SACD and DVD-A are fantastic! Multi-channel SACD is excellant also. Check out the Pioneer Elite DV-47a, it will play SACD, DVD-A, DVD-V, CD-R, CD-RW, & MP3. Oh yea the Progressive Scan picture is Freakin' Incredible!!

    or the 47ai is next on my list.

    Nice unit is my opinion.

    HBomb
    ***WAREMTAE***
  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited December 2002
    fyi,
    Phillips sacd-1000 has been selling like peanuts at tweeter. Just order one that they have to bring it over from other stores. At $399 I think it is a great bargain, besides, tweeter will let me upgrade it to other player in the future for full credit, should I think it's not the player to own.
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,704
    edited December 2002
    polkatese,

    The Philips unit should be out in a week or two. I haven't heard any negatives about the build quality, it's suppose to be reference quality and I can't wait to hear it. The best SACD player? How much do you want to spend? Accuphase makes a real nice one for about $15,000! Sony ES has a couple, the XA777ES which is highly rated for about $2500.00 (I like) and the C555ES 5-disc unit for about $750.00 (I like too).

    F1nut
    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

  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited December 2002
    F1nut,
    thanks, perhaps I meant to say, the best sounding SACD for the money and my budget, that is no more than 1,000. I've been reading about the XA777ES, it's discontinued and currently no one sell them used (ebay and audiogon). I had bad experience with the sony multi-disc unit, the door/flap will eventually failed (3 to 4 years) and the drawer motor will not have enough torque to roll out the tray. It happened on my old LD player. I will audition the new Phillips when it's out.

    cheers, fh
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,704
    edited December 2002
    I didn't know the XA777ES was discontinued, I'll check with the guys at the local shop. Do you know what the replacement is? The problem you had with the drawer is the Achilles tendon of Sony CD/SACD players. You'd think after all these years they would have figured out how to it right!
    BTW, I might be wrong on the price of the other Sony, I think it's more.
    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

  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited December 2002
    F1nut,
    my mistake, SCD-XA777ES is still in production, $3000 msrp, but can go as low as $1700 on the street. I must have confused with some reviews. What is interesting, it seems that there is enough demand for this player to be modded with modwright, that made it sound even better. Have you listen to any of these modified units? curious the hell out of me, since now I am thinking $400 investment on sacd-1000 + mod (about $1200) can put it to surpass sony scd-1........see why I keep getting into this kind of mess....
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,704
    edited December 2002
    polkatese,

    I have not heard a modified unit, it's hard to believe it could sound better, but I'd love to hear one. It is a mess, no matter what you buy, next week something better comes out!
    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

  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited December 2002
    i think this one runs about $1,400 MSRP
    who knows how much it cost on the street. have not heard it.. no one around here carries it
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
  • rlw
    rlw Posts: 231
    edited December 2002
    I really don't have any more information on SACD - but I'd suggest you check out AudioAsylum.Com, on the HiRez digital forum. Somebody over there is bound to bend your ear.

    I just came across folks raving about the price/performance of the unit, I think it's been highly rated by Sterophile [maybe a Class B"] component, so I figured I'd toss the idea out.

    Let me know how it works out for you.
  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited December 2002
    Danger Boy,
    That is a very nice unit, SA-14, it's second from the top of the line SACD from Marantz, lots of dough, though...MSRP is actually $2,900...either way, it's waayyy out of what I am willing to pay for a SACD player from Marantz, now if it's Rotel, that's a different story....just my opinion.

    rlw,
    thanks, I placed an order at Tweeter, $399 for top notch MC SACD player (that is my sole reason in acquiring it) is a great deal. Hell, at that price, I can't even get entry level Sony XA222ES, and the Philips is definitely get a big nod for its SACD quality. I'll let you know how it performed. I was told that tweeter should have it by Monday or Wednesday.....and that purchase should conclude my upgrade rampage for the year........
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,031
    edited December 2002
    polkatese,
    .....and that purchase should conclude my upgrade rampage for the year........
    Now there's 2003 around the corner.;)
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited December 2002
    Dan,
    funny you mention 2003, Sony SAT-HD200 already on my list.....:lol::lol::D:D
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited December 2002
    fyi, if you are interested on the Philips SACD, here is a review by Sound and Vision Magazine:
    Philips SACD 1000 Super Audio CD/DVD-Video PlayerPhilips SACD 1000 Super Audio CD/DVD-Video Player
    (original review, April) It was a no-brainer to give a Reviewer’s Choice Award to the Philips SACD 1000. This flagship, “statement” component represents digital audio technology at its finest. (For $1,999, you’d expect no less.) The SACD 1000 was the first on the market to play both stereo and multichannel Super Audio CDs, and while the number of SACD titles is still small, what’s available sounds fantastic. If you need a bigger discography, the SACD 1000 also plays DVD-Video discs. For extra credit, it includes a Dolby Digital decoder and a progressive-scan component-video output. However, proving that there is a difference between excellence and perfection, its bass management works only with DVD-Video discs, not SACDs. Yes, it would be better if the player was able to redirect bass to a subwoofer if you have small main speakers. Still, the SACD 1000 is easily one of the best disc players to cross our threshold this year. Now, if only it played DVD-Audio discs, too . . . .
    Philips Electronics - www.philipsusa.com, 800-531-0039
    — Ken C. Pohlmann
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited December 2002
    At $399, yes it is a budget price with first rate quality.....here is another review by Hi-Fi Choice of UK. Can you see why I am so excited about this player :
    Although the SCD-1000 is no budget model, it does contain six channels of SACD technology together with all the decoding required of a fully-fledged DVD player.
    Jitter is exceptionally low at 165psec for such a complex machine while any clock noise or uncorrelated noise-like jitter is utterly banished.

    Distortion, too, is just about the lowest ever recorded at 0.0002% (or -114dB) through the midrange at peak output.

    This 'increases' to 0.0005% at -10dBFs and just 0.005% at -30dBFs.

    Even at the treble extremes, distortion is some 1000x lower than the unfortunate Integra RDV-1 at 0.006% while the wide 112dB S/N ratio is close to a true 19-bit performance (the theoretical limit for SACD is about 20-bits).

    Combine this with complete freedom from digital images, excellent low-level linearity, >100dB channel-to-channel separation and it's easy to appreciate why the SCD-1000 is such a clean and impressive-sounding product.

    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
  • jdavy
    jdavy Posts: 380
    edited December 2002
    SACD is great if you listen to lots of music and do not mind replacing most of your collection. Worth the $ if you got it to blow.
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited December 2002
    A lot of good input from everyone. As for me I definitly want the following: SACD, Progressive Scan and DVD-A would be nice.

    That eliminates everything presently available below $1000 except the Philips DVD963SA for $500 and the Pioneer Elite 47ai for $700.

    Any thoughts between those two?

    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited December 2002
    The 47ai came out right after I got my 47a. Yeah the latest model would have been nice but I'm still very happy with the performance of my player.
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
    2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
  • har_navalta
    har_navalta Posts: 957
    edited December 2002
    Yeah, I'm planning to get Pioneer Elite DV-47Ai :) too...
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited December 2002
    This bugs me a little bit. I was almost ready to take the plunge but someone over at hi rez asylum posted his in depth comparison of the '47ai vs his modded sony. He said the '47ai was fairly equal but that it sounded a little transistory as oposed to a fuller tube like sound from his modded sony. He said both were good but that the female voices seemed a little thin with the '47ai. I know this thinness (at least on my equipment) and have been trying to get away from it because it is standing in the way of some really good listening. I may try it anyway so long as I can send it back.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • liv4fam
    liv4fam Posts: 311
    edited December 2002
    Sony 999ES.

    Descent for the money
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited December 2002
    Well,
    I just took the plunge and ordered the DV-47Ai. I can't wait to try it out!!!
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited December 2002
    i really like the looks of these players.. anyone else notice how great looking they are? I can't afford any of them. but they are nice looking huh?
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin: