Interested in getting a SACD player, but have ?s

[donconsolmagno]

Hey, I'm hoping there are some of you that know about this format. The few questions I have are this...

Do labels still release music on this format or is it just about dead because I remember a few years ago you would see the Stones & Dylan reissued on it but not so much anymore? And if there is, is there any site that shows release dates?

What is the best website to obtain SACD releases and/or players because I'd have to pick one up because I only have a 40gb PS3?

I have yet to hear an SACD but listen to music for at least 2 hours a day and appreciate great sound quality, is this really something I should invest my money?

Thanks

[crazzeto]

I'm not sure what version of the PS3 is SACD compatible, I think its possible that support for the audio format was removed from the 40GB model. I think that both DVD-A and SACD are both dead audio formats now, though it might be possible to get some content still off of ebay/amazon market place. I have the NiN Downward Spiral SACD delux edition release. I haven't heard it in all it's glory yet though, I don't have a player. Hopefully when I eventually get a PS3 I'll get a compatible model and be able to see what it's all about.

[godamongmen]

Did you know ordinary CDs already have lossless and uncompressed sound quality?

[rded]

I think the 60 and 80GB versions of the PS3 support SACD while the 40GB along with the 20GB are the stripped down versions. I'm trying to understand your situation, do you want a dedicated CD/SACD even dvd-A player or you're not quite sure which version of the PS3 to get? Depending on your set-up and budget of course, there are plenty of excellent univesal players out there that'll do the job.

Try this website www.musicdirect.com They have a marantz univ player for about 1.3k if that's up your alley.They also have a great selection of SCADs and DVD-A I know for a fact that lexicon is liquidating its RT-20(universal player) and can be had for a bit over 1/4 of the msrp.

[Double_Tap]

Originally Posted by donconsolmagno

Hey, I'm hoping there are some of you that know about this format. The few questions I have are this...

Do labels still release music on this format or is it just about dead because I remember a few years ago you would see the Stones & Dylan reissued on it but not so much anymore? And if there is, is there any site that shows release dates?

What is the best website to obtain SACD releases and/or players because I'd have to pick one up because I only have a 40gb PS3?

I have yet to hear an SACD but listen to music for at least 2 hours a day and appreciate great sound quality, is this really something I should invest my money?

Thanks

SACD isn't completely dead, but it's heading there. Good music is still released on it though. I usually buy SACD discs from Amazon. If you really like quality music, it's worth it. There's usually a bunch of threads over at AVS on players. The higher end Marantz players are nice. I like the specs on the Pioneer SACD players, but never got to listen to them in person. I also like the Modwright stuff; their reputation is solid for whatever they do.

Modwright

[crazzeto]

Originally Posted by godamongmen

Did you know ordinary CDs already have lossless and uncompressed sound quality?

Did you know that SACD offers greater than 2ch 48/16 sound quality?

[Chickengas]

SACD and DVD-AUDIO seem dead. I have listened to quite a few SACD CD's and think they DO sound better than CD. Listen to Pink Floyd on SACD and you'll know what I'm talking about. If you really enjoy music,i'd definately get into the SACD and buy as many as you can, because I beleive they are dying off.

[donconsolmagno]

Originally Posted by rded

I think the 60 and 80GB versions of the PS3 support SACD while the 40GB along with the 20GB are the stripped down versions. I'm trying to understand your situation, do you want a dedicated CD/SACD even dvd-A player or you're not quite sure which version of the PS3 to get? Depending on your set-up and budget of course, there are plenty of excellent univesal players out there that'll do the job.

Try this website www.musicdirect.com They have a marantz univ player for about 1.3k if that's up your alley.They also have a great selection of SCADs and DVD-A I know for a fact that lexicon is liquidating its RT-20(universal player) and can be had for a bit over 1/4 of the msrp.

Yeah, I have two 40GB that do not support SACD. I was more interested in SACD because I heard it was better, but I'd take a SACD/DVD-A combo, I was looking into Sony's 5-Disc SACD changer since I already have their 300 CD changer that's less than a year old that I grabbed at a going out of business sale for $25. So yeah, I wasn;t looking to spend over 300 on a player, I just recently upgraded my reciever, floorstanders and sub, which I'm still waiting to get delivered this week and have always been interested in SACD.

I really like hearing the audio coming off my blu-rays and figured that SACD would sound quite similar than the dullness/flatness of the cd. What really got me interested was listening to the Doors albums on CD then getting the blu-ray movie and it just sounded so much better than the 1999??? reissue boxset I have. I might be leaning towards the Oppo Universal Player for 169, as an intro to get started to see how much I like this format, or just stick to grabbing up vinyl reissues. I don't see this lexicon you are talking about.

I heard that SACD was better than DVD-A, so that's why I was more interested in SACD, plus I already own a couple hybrids, Pink Flloyd, Stones, Dylan, etc. I think I read you have to have DVD-A on the screen whereas SACD runs just like a regular CD. But thanks for your feedback and let me know of anything else, I guess I'm between the 5-disc Sony changer or Oppo Universal player, any idea what would be better?

http://www.musicdirect.com/product/80577 & http://www.amazon.com/OPPO-DV-980H-U...9612638&sr=8-2 <-Onkyo

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SCD-CE595...9612638&sr=8-1

[Chickengas]

I paid $49 for my Sony DVD player last year and it plays SACD. It even has separate 5.1 CH outputs. What I'm saying is, you don't have to spend a lot of money to hear good SACD quality. There are samples of SACD on the internet that you can download and burn. You said you can appreciate good sound quality, so I'd just jump into...you wont be sorry. It does sound great.

[rded]

I'd say DVD-A and SACD have their own strenghts and weakness but if you have a univ player then you;ll have the best of both worlds! I havent heard the 2 univ players you mentioned but I'd take the oppo anyday especially if you go up their line.... How much is your budget anyway if I may ask?

FYI rumor has it that a flagship Denon Univ player is in the works and will hit late q1 of '09 and it'll play BDs, DVD video and audio, CDs and SACDs.

[/dev/null]

I would not use your PS3 for SACD playback, as the DSD signal is downconverted to PCM audio. You'll get the best playback out of a standalone unit that is either sending the DSD signal direct to your pre/pro, or an analog signal to your pre/pro. Your pre/pro, if DSD capable will most likely bypass most of the DSP functions to preserve the DSD playback. If going analog, again, try to bypass your DSP. Most units will run their DSPs at 96k/24bit, some at 192k/24bit.

Here's an exerpt of another post I wrote...

The human brain uses time to figure out where a sound is coming from. A sample rate of 48kHz is only able to reproduce a sample once every 48000th of a second, right? The human brain is able to discern timing differences smaller than that. The average person can detect the difference of about 15 microseconds, while some are able to discern 3-5 microseconds. A single 48k sample is 20.8 microseconds. Hmm... A single 96k sample is 10.4 microseconds. The appreciation of 96 kHz (or higher) audio, compared to 48 or 44.1 kHz audio, is a binaural (2-ear) phenomenon. If we plug one ear, it is unlikely that anyone would be able to distinguish a 96 kHz recording from a 48 kHz recording. The converse of this is that when listening with both ears, everyone can distinguish 96 kHz recordings from 48 kHz recordings, and everyone prefers the 96 kHz recordings. Going one step further, the reason they prefer the recordings is not because steady-state tones from 26 kHz to 48 kHz can be represented, but probably because some kind of time-domain resolution between the left and right ear signals is more accurately preserved at 96 kHz.
The lossless and PCM audio is able to reproduce the original high sample-rate audio. AC-3 DD and standard DTS is not.
I have taken hi-res audio that I have recorded, and made 48k, 44.1k, MP3 and AC-3 down-sampled conversions of it. Even my friends with 'lead' ears are able to tell the difference. True, they can't tell me what they are hearing, but they prefer the PCM over the MP3/AC-3, and prefer the hi-res over the PCM down-sampled versions.

CD Redbook audio, at 44.1k/16bit was the best technology could do in the early 80's. And honestly, it's not that great when put up against 'good' analog(by good, I mean studio quality recorders and such), or the DVD-A and SACD formats. Even 2ch vs 2ch.

Peter M

[Jaws17]

If companies are still making players for this price, there must be a good market somewhere!

http://www.musicdirect.com/product/73491

Or this one

http://www.musicdirect.com/product/73490

Check out the prices!

[crazzeto]

Originally Posted by Jaws17

If companies are still making players for this price, there must be a good market somewhere!

http://www.musicdirect.com/product/73491

Check out the price!

good god, I can't imagin spending that much on a cd player ever.

[Jaws17]

Originally Posted by crazzeto

good god, I can't imagin spending that much on a cd player ever.

Lets see, all my savings or a CD/DVD/DACD player?????? What to do what to do??

[REDoverBlu]

i paid about 50 bucks out of pocket for my SACD player used at bb...and the dark side of the moon is wow....it is def worth picking one up especially if your into classical music for the selection of classical on sacd is very extensive....


lucky for me my great master works class has sparked a classical music interest