New Sony NS999ES is in.

Give it some time, Loontoon...

I have often been very much disappointed in new digital players, only to have myself really take to them after a few days(assuming you are playing it all the time). The first 100 hours often shows tremendous change.

SACD is clearly better than CD. I say that in terms of the foundation and the flow of the music. This won't be apparent on a boom box, but it doesn't take an ultra high end system to distinguish the improvements. When I say "foundation", I am directly going against the statement that CD bass is superior. Allow things to run - in, and you will experience the slam and solidity of the lower frequencies that CD is incapable of in all but the best players. I'm not necessarily talking about ultimate extension, but the entire spectrum up to the midrange.

But, in the final analysis, you are quite correct, vinyl done right is still superior.

Trelja the problem with your post is you state your opinions like they are absolutes.
One of the key pro-SACD members on Audiogon truly believes it to be better than vinyl if done with the right kit.
Lots of people,lots of opinions but really SACD is clearly better than CD?
Not even those who agree with that statement agree with your final statement.
SACD is noticably inferior to CD in terms of the years best new music-how much is available on SACD?

Being the owner of a 999ES, which I bought last Christmas ('02), I can confirm it does take a few hundred hours to sound its best - AND there are separate run-in periods for both the redbook and the SACD! The SACD will really open up after about 400 hours (approx) but will sound noticebly better after about 300 hours. Also, when you go into the audio set-up menu, look for the "CD audio" and change the setting from 16/48 to 24/96. You will probably want to set it at the latter, esp. if using an outboard DAC like I was. Enjoy! P.S. I think the SACD sounds great given the right recordings. "Most" sound better than their CD counterparts, some are equal and there are a couple that don't sound as good (Santana's Abraxus for one IMO). That is another thread, however:-) Enjoy. -Tony

Tony thanks for the balanced comments hopefully this will help the original poster,as will Trelja's.
Loontoon should also note if he does have some reservations about SACD he shouldn't discount SACD hybrid purchases in the future,most of these I've heard represent the best CD/redbook version available.

Ben_Campbell, you are the SACD Scrooge in this Christmas season.

You are quite sensitive when the topic of SACD is brought up. To the point where quite a high percentage of your opinions rendered here on Audiogon have to do with SACD. I for one, feel you have made your point(long ago), and have grown tired of it. It makes you look petty and resentful, and I know you are a better man than that.

As I have made statements regarding the superiority of SACD over CD, I have touched a nerve in you. You then feel obliged to say I am speaking in absolutes(which I am in some cases there). There is no problem with my post other than that which you have.

Do you want to argue that digital players need time to break in? If so, we'll go another round. Until then, have some egg nog, throw in a CD(or SACD, if you still have the player), and enjoy the holidays.