SACD Player vs. CD Player in CD reproductions

Howie,

Having owned both the Sony and Tri-Vista I can tell you first hand, the Sony isn't even close on either SACD or CD.

I have been wondering about this issue. Recently I have made some comparisons between good remstered redbook CD's and their SACD counterparts. I have done this on a few different systems of varying quality (mid-fi, very hi-end). Some of the discs I have compared are Bill Evans -- Sunday at the Village Vanguard and R.E.M. Reveal. To my ears, the most recent redbook remaster is AS GOOD as the SACD or DVD-A. This comparison is using the same CDP, levelling the volume as much as possible.

Of course, the SACD blows away earlier version of the redbook, like first or second generation CD transfers from the 80's and early 90's. But when it comes to the most recent redbook remaster. The difference is insignificant (IMHO). Now, if it is a pure DSD recording, then that is by far the best sound I have ever heard -- but there are not enough of those for me to take it seriously and most of the music I love will never be newly recorded. I am seriously thinking of investing in the best redbook player I can afford, and selling my non-hybrid SACD's.

I am thinking SACD has been a good ride -- it opened up new genres f music listening for me (jazz and classical) -- but I think I may be done with it.

I think all digital format reproductions have advanced greatly in the last several years. I presently have a universal player and must say that I find sacds on it are strikingly more realistic and entralling than other formats, but cds are better than I have heard on previos players, especially HDCDs and XRCD24s. Nevertheless, I highly suspect the Reimyo CDP 777 just playing cds is better. What I should do is have both the Exemplar 3910 and the Reimyo!

Elduende14, most (if not all) of today's SACD/CD/DVD-A players are not as good performers with regular CD because the signal level for CD (PCM) is much higher than SACD (DSD). In order to equalize the level difference, most players use Digital circuits to attenuate the CD level so it is close to SACD. This is usually done in the digital domain using Digital Signal Processor, or it can simply be done in the DAC if it features attenuator control built in. In both cases, this results in data truncation when CD is played. This is the reason why many of today's SACD or Universal players are not really good performers with regular CD which can be clearly heard on a reference system compared to a reference CD player (or transport/DAC combo).

There is a solution to this problem but not many are aware of it. One of the few companies who have addressed and eliminated this problem is EMM Labs (Meitner). Of course, this applies for my products as well.

Regards,
Alex