EMM LABS sacd vs cd

To answer my own post after two weeks with the DCC2/CDSD combo: Break in with SACD is as crucial as with CD. The sound I'm getting now with SACD is aaaaamazing. It reminds me of the EXPLODE command on a computer program I use i.e. PCM exploded; bass, timbre, air etc.....left, right, front, back ...every where. I'm at the point where I can say I am finally satisfied with the sound of my system, limited only by the quality of the recording. Associated equipment: DCC2 & CDSD, ARC VT100 MkIII, VALHALLA IC & SC, KIMBER PK-10 PALLADIAN PC's, AUDIO MAGIC ECLIPSE Conditioner, VERITY AUDIO SARASTRO.

Yes you've finally come to your senses! :D SACD does the holographic surround effect with 2CH that redbook can't match. Not sure whether that's realistic but it's fun nevertheless.

Howie thanks. Right on. I was listening to DAVE BRUBECK's TIME OUT, what a difference!! (even KIND OF BLUE). The reason IMHO that CD "seems" more dynamic is because there is so much more detail & timbre to the music with SACD, which seems to "diffuse" the sound. But at higher volumes the dynamics and detail reveals itself.

Jjwa, I am curious what break-in ritual you used for the SACD playback functionality of your CDSD and DCC2. I went through an extended break-in ritual for the redbook CD aspects of my CDSD/DCC2 combo, but I have logged minimal SACD hours. Did you use a full frequency range SACD played on repeat to break-in the SACD functionality? How many hours of break-in were required for SACD to sound its best to you?

Hi Cincy Bob. I did not use any break-in-ritual. I just continuously played the approx. 20 new SACD's I accumulated over my four month wait for the CDSD. It was discouraging to say the least because the sound was flat and constrained, just as it was initially for redbook. But now it just sings.......approximatey 200 hours.