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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
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,606 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
tom6897's avatar
tom6897
1,484 posts
 
Diana Krall- Temptation, Look of Love, Love in Paris,  etc.
James Taylor- Hourglass
Jennifer Warnes - any of them if available.
Jacintha- any of them
n80 OP
2,133 posts
 
Thanks guys. Some good stuff to look into.

Got a little sticker shock when I looked for Wish You Where Here SACD on eBay. None used. Lowest price new was about $55.

I certainly believe a SACD can sound better than a CD but am skeptical that it would sound 10 times better!  ;-)

Just read the review above, and some others, of the Hendrix album. It is $45 but I might bite on that one.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,479 posts
 
@n80,

Check to see if Acoustic Sounds still has them.  The are the ones who produced  the SACD.  I think I paid around 40$ from them when they first came out.  If you find it, be careful.  There are 4 versions on the disk:  the surround sound on SACD and the stereo version on SACD.  Also you have the stereo CD version and the surround CD version all on 1 cd.  Thats why it is a bit more expensive.
elevick
2,638 posts
 
SACDs have a much higher bit rate than Red Book CDs.  They should sound better, all things being equal.  
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