2. digital
  3. 1168841401

State of HDCD and SACD

I am contemplating a new digital front-end and wondering if I should give preference to HDCD or SACD. It seems that you do not see these two technologies combined too often in a CDP, at least not well!

So, what I want to decide is "What has more of a future as a format?" I think both can sound excellent - that's not the question. I have a MiniMax CDP in my 2nd system that does great things with HDCD, and I previously owned a Shanling T200 that was great with SACD (and Redbook).

If I decide to put my eggs in the HDCD basket I'll probably get a Raysonic CD128. If SACD, a Marantz SA-11.

So, I would appreciate hearing takes on the respective futures of these formats. SACD has many titles available but still a drop, of course, compared to Redbook, and it seems views differed greatly on its future the last time I looked into it, about a year ago.

Would also consider other recommendations for players. Is there something there under $3K (preferably new - I don't trust used digital transports) that does HDCD and SACD and does them both well?
paulfolbrecht
huntermusic
76 posts
 
Ejif
sorry to hear about your troubles.

re: SACD.

i simply love the format. I own damn near every SACD that comes out. The ones I don't like I re-sell or give away. There is so much good chamber music and symphonic material that i listen to weekly. The REne Jacobs version on SACD of The Marriage of FIgaro is a performance for the ages and the sound is gorgeous.
There is never enough good jazz but I think there will be more if we buy the reissues and also some of the newer jazz. I just bought a Chessky SACD of Vocals for Audiophiles and it is a great musical album, not just great sounding (but it is that). I don't share too much of the rock pantheon but I have found a lot of the MFSL SACDs of Gaucho, Supertramp, and the Sony Dylan SACDs. I thought the Rolling Stones re-issue/remasters were a little bright for today's systems but would probably sound great if your speakers were Altec Big Reds from the 60s.

So my pov is that there is great music to listen to. Stravinsky, Brahms, Mozart, Bach (the B-Minor Mass is incredible as are the St. John and St. Matthew Passions).

there is a lot of music to discover. And then we have the Mercury and the RCA series reissues.

My problem is that I don't have enough time to listen to the SACDs that I have.
jla
231 posts
 
I have owned some decent SACD players and ulimately decided to purchase a Meridian G08 since the SACD format is so limited. I recently purchased a cheap Denon 756 new in box for $100. Now I can listen to the 40 or so SACD's that have been collecting dust for the last 10 months. The Denon certainly isn't as good as the Meridian, but at least I can listen to my SACD's and the sound isn't too bad either. Actually, it is pretty good. I recommend investing in the best red book player you can afford. I would much rather listen to red book on my Meridian than SACD on my Denon.
cleaneduphippy
323 posts
 
Pretty cool site, for people who have HDCD compatable players, even if it is in Swedish.

http://www.hifimusic.se/hdcd/index.php?p=base&letter=A

Was surprised by the number of titles that are HDCD. Just quickly going through the titles I found at least 10 titles that I already own.

Makes me glad that I'm picking up a HDCD compatable player (NAD CD542), looking forward to hearing what HDCD can do.

Will report my findings.
hifisoundguy
630 posts
 
There's a ALL new CD format out now from FIM records....its a process called K2HD. Someone over on stereomojo.com said it was superior to SACD or DVD-A!
More to discover