Super Audio Cd Players

[Bogey]

 Worth getting one at this point?  What are the low end ones like?

[Scarpia]

I have this one:

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=11035706

It had a street price of around $300, is from the Sony ES series, and I am very pleased with it.   I don't hear an enormous benefit from high resolution, but having surround sound can be very nice.  It seems to be discontinued, and Sony only sells very cheap ones and very expensive ones now.   A shame Sony has never put much support behind SACD. 

[Todd]

Worth getting one at this point?  What are the low end ones like?

Depends on how many SACDs you own, or plan on buying, and/or how much you like surround. 

It might make more sense at this point to go with a good, separate DAC and then use a cheap disc player as one source, and downloads, including hi-res downloads as another.  When my current hardware dies, this is the route I will go.

To your second question, I have two cheap "universal" players in two of my systems.  Like Scarpia, I don't really hear much of a difference between SACD and CD layers, though in rare cases the difference is pronounced.

[DavidW]

My Oppo player is universal and plays sacd and dvd-a.  Don't care for sacd, imo they sound good due to careful recording and mastering.  The Oppo 980 was cheap (what $150?) and my 981 was $220 and they had the same audio components.  Sadly they were discontinued though so you'll have to pay more to waste money on a dead format.

Bill, the best bang for your buck is a universal blu-ray player, where they add in dvd, cd, sacd, dvd-a, mp3 and avi playback.  The universal players of old (i.e. dvd players) are being phased out or being made by crap companies, and dedicated players for cd and sacd are greatly overpriced since there is not demand for them.

[Bogey]

Thanks folks.  Very helpful.

[Scarpia]

Looks like oppo has a new machine that plays blu-ray and sacd for $289. 

[Daverz]

I'm considering the Oppo BDP-83SE.  I only have about 20 hybrid SACDs, though, and I'm still 2-channel only.  Nearly all my listening these days is via Squeezebox.  Even new CDs get ripped for listening.

[mamascarlatti]

@Dvarerz
Please tell this woefully ignorant tech dinosaur about Squeezebox.

[Daverz]

@Dvarerz
Please tell this woefully ignorant tech dinosaur about Squeezebox.

Basically, you put your audio files (I use FLAC) on a PC running the Squeezebox Server.  I use a PC in my loft.  Then one of the Squeezebox receivers connects to your stereo (either via analog output or digital outputs) and connects to the server via a wireless or wired connection.  I use an iPod Touch as a remote control.

[Bogey]

After your helpful insights, I believe I will skip the SACD player and just shoot for a decent cd player down the road.  Thanks folks!

[karlhenning]

Good morning, Bill!

[DavidW]

After your helpful insights, I believe I will skip the SACD player and just shoot for a decent cd player down the road.  Thanks folks!

Like Todd said, you can shop for a dac and just digital out from a cdp as transport, shifting the money into the dac.  The beauty part is that also works for getting your music to your hifi from your pc (provided that your sound card has optical or spdif out).

[kishnevi]

Like Todd said, you can shop for a dac and just digital out from a cdp as transport, shifting the money into the dac.  The beauty part is that also works for getting your music to your hifi from your pc (provided that your sound card has optical or spdif out).

[tentatively clears his throat]
Could you translate/expand that into something a non-techy person like me (who just manages to figure out which wires plug into where on his PC because the holes are color coded) can understand?

Thanks

Jeffrey S.

[Scarpia]

[tentatively clears his throat]
Could you translate/expand that into something a non-techy person like me (who just manages to figure out which wires plug into where on his PC because the holes are color coded) can understand?

Thanks

Jeffrey S.

You can get one of these (or similar)



http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/set_territory.php?TID=27&Redirect=/summary.php?PID=320

You connect various digital signals to it, from your CD player, from your DVD player, or from your computer where you have audio files stored, and it does the work of creating the analog signal for your stereo amplifier.  The advantage is you buy one very good digital to analog converter and all of your digital signal sources benefit from it.  The only problem is Sony won't allow SACD data to be sent over a digital cable.  The one pictured will accept USB signals, or coaxial or optical S/PDIF cables and supports numerous formats, such as 16 bit, 24 bit, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 96 kHz, etc.

[kishnevi]

You can get one of these (or similar)



http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/set_territory.php?TID=27&Redirect=/summary.php?PID=320

You connect various digital signals to it, from your CD player, from your DVD player, or from your computer where you have audio files stored, and it does the work of creating the analog signal for your stereo amplifier.  The advantage is you buy one very good digital to analog converter and all of your digital signal sources benefit from it.  The only problem is Sony won't allow SACD data to be sent over a digital cable.  The one pictured will accept USB signals, or coaxial or optical S/PDIF cables and supports numerous formats, such as 16 bit, 24 bit, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 96 kHz, etc.

Now I understand.  Definitely something for the long term consideration.

[drogulus]

     If you're a non-techie use a good AV receiver. They all have DACs in them.  If you don't want to move your stereo next to your PC you can just run a long cable. If you use a separate DAC you'll have to run a set of analog cables to your stereo. Why not consolidate? For $400 you can get:

     

     _{(click pic)}

     Denon AVR-1610

     Product Features

    * Multiple surround sound decoders built in. Learn more about surround sound home theater
    * Surround sound decoders
      Include Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Digital Surround EX, DTS ES Discrete 6.1 and 6.1 Matrix, DTS Neo:6 and DTS 96/24. Also provides high-definition support with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD decoders.
    * 375 watts total power
      75 watts x 5 @ THD 0.08% for powerful sound.
    * HDTV-compatible component video and HDMI outputs
      Ensure compatibility with HDTV monitors and HDTVs.
    * Built-in AM/FM tuner
      With 56 station presets so you can enjoy your favorite radio stations.
    * Speaker A/B switching
      Lets you connect and switch 2 amplified audio sources to a single set of speakers.
    * Inputs
      Include 3 HDMI, 2 component video, 1 S-video, 3 digital audio.
    * Outputs
      Include 1 HDMI, 1 component video, 4 composite video, 3 preamp, headphone.




     Onkyo, Yamaha and Pioneer also have good units in this price range.