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Which SACDs?

I recently acquired an Oppo BDP105. I primarily use it for its DAC and to play CDs. It will play SACDs.

I do not have any SACDs and I don’t really intend to collect SACDs.

But I wouldn’t mind having a few just to see what they’re like. So I’m looking for recommendations for a few must-have SACDs.

I’m into rock. Dire Straits, Police, Floyd, Steely Dan, Rush, Knopfler. A little classical. A tiny bit of jazz. But, I'm open to almost anything that is sonically pleasing.

I’m assuming Aja, DSOTM, Brothers In Arms, Wish You Were Here will be on the list. What else?

What is a good source for SACDs?

What are the chances I’ll be able to tell the difference between SACD and CD? (The rest of my system is Aerial Acoustics 6B towers. Madrigal Proceed HPA2 amp, AR LS-16 tube pre-amp).

I do not have golden ears.

Thanks,

George
n80
tpreaves's avatar
tpreaves
2,686 posts
 
The early Elton John releases sound really good. Think Tumbleweed Connection,Honky Chateau,Madman Across The Water,etc.
jrosemd
152 posts
 
Most of the Analogue Productions SACDs are excellent.  
Yes, you will be able to hear a difference.  I have A-B'ed between SACD discs and regular CDs.  The SACD's sound similar to vinyl, while the regular CDs play as though the sound is muffled.  With the SACD's, you will hear extended frequency response on both ends of the spectrum and details in the music which you have never heard before. 
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,407 posts
 
Here is a source for SACD:
https://store.acousticsounds.com/cat/4/SACD

Since the Oppo also acts like a DAC, you can purchase DSD files from the same site and play through it. I think you will enjoy the music though SACDs.
elliottbnewcombjr
5,521 posts
 
My experience, SADC, the real difference is that the noise floor is lower, music emanates from a black pool of silence.

Oscar Peterson, Music for my Friends :Piano/Silence,  a good example of that I found.

After a while, I decided, it's a bit un-natural, so I stopped buying them.

Then, I got back into good old noisy LP's, more enjoyable, and my best source: Reel to Reel is noisier than LP
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,597 posts
 
I find the difference between CDs and SACDs usually subtle, but it is a difference that I find enjoyable on many SACDs. I don’t think you’re going to be blown away and start buying lots of SACDs.

If you’re not a collector type audiophile, you may just want to improve your streaming gear to take advantage of the many Hi-Res albums available on Qobuz. Tidal and its MQA resolution is controversial, as you probably know, and I’m not familiar with their sound quality.

That said, an excellent SACD that I think is clearly better than its CD cousins and is still in print is Hendrix’s "Axis: Bold As Love."

Review here:   https://www.analogplanet.com/content/best-digital-release-ever-analogue-productions-reissues-%E2%80%9Caxis-bold-love%E2%80%9D-sacd
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