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SACD Player--Do you use it and feel you'd replace it if it broke?

I've always been curious about SACD.  For many years I was near 50% cd and 50% vinyl in my listening.  I ditched CDs and went all vinyl for awhile. In the last 2 years I have upped my digital game with a great tube DAC and enjoy Tidal quite a bit.  As I now have better sounding digital I've wondered if my previous bias slightly against digital clouded my view of SACD.  

I'm thinking that if I bought one and had 10-15 killer SACDs I would feel it worth it.  This would require the SACDs to be of great music I love and also offer something special sonically. 

And now, THE Question:  What can you tell me about your SACD use and would you replace the player if it broke or was otherwise out of commission? 

Thank you so very much.  This forum makes it possible to get intel like this without knowing a living soul using SACD that I could have a beer (or two :) and learn more from a firsthand user. 
128x128jbhiller
tomcarr
1,499 posts
 
jbhiller

Good answers already. My POV is that some SACDs do indeed sound better than redbook, but the most important factor is the quality of your DAC, whether in a CDP or standalone plus transport. My suggestion would be buy the best-sounding gear you can, and if it also supports SACD, so much the better. But, as already metioned above, your redbook CDs will sound better too. My experience has been the better the gear, the less difference between redbook and SACD.
Hope this is helpful.

Tom
jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller OP
1,399 posts
 
Thank you all!

I'm definitely going to give it run and try one.  My DAC is wonderful.  I pulled out an old Rotel HD CD player today and played a couple of CDs through it, running the signal through the digital out to my DAC.  Comparing it to Tidal feeding the DAC on the same music, the Redbook sounds great.  It's a close race with the Redbook slightly ahead on clarity of some notes from instruments in the background.
jtcf's avatar
jtcf
1,617 posts
 
I agree with Tom.With a really good dac redbook  gets  very close to SACD sq.
richmos
124 posts
 
I had a Sony SCD 1 for about 12 years. It ceased playing SACD but was great on Redbook CD. New lasers for it were not available so I sold it and bought a Marantz SACD player. I really like the sound quality of SACD.
michaelburke
6 posts
 
Unquestionably the SACD format is better than CDs, and is in many ways the equal to vinyl in tonality.  I would definitely replace a broken SACD player, in fact, I have already done so.  My current player is a McIntosh model 600 which is superb.  I had a lesser player which skipped terribly. 

I have purchased about sixty or seventy SACDs, mostly jazz, with some classical and rock thrown in.  I just wish more titles were available.
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