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Which software are you buying?SACD or LP

For those that have SACD, LP, and possibly top-notch CD playback, which format are you buying of any given recording? E.g., Would you buy the 45RMP LP set of kind of blue ($150) or the SACD ($30) or should I just stick with my CD. This question pertains to recordings that you own, older recordings that you don't own, and new music.

I love the sound of all three formats but am never sure which to buy. My thoughts are conflicted, LPs are getting rarer and SACDs will be available for a while. However, SACD MAY replace LP in my system in a couple of years if it sticks and then I'd have all this expensive vinyl that may or may not have grown in value. Then there is the whole issue of buying SACDs to justify owning an SACD player.
metaphysics
metaphysics OP
192 posts
 
Albert, I usually get LPs from ebay, Acoustic Sounds, Audiophile International, and LPNow. Paul, I am indeed in MA and also share your love for the VK50SE. I also have a complementary VK75SE amp.
rcprince
3,079 posts
 
I'm buying about equal amounts of vinyl and SACD these days, but the vinyl is reissues that aren't out yet on SACD and may not be for a while, if ever (Classic RCAs and Decca and EMI reissues)--my figuring is to get them now before they're out of print and the price goes out of sight. No matter which format wins out, I'm in a no-lose situation with the vinyl because I think these reissues are terrific and I'll be listening to them even if they come out on SACD. I've found that if I have the recording on vinyl, I generally don't get the SACD unless I really like the record and only have one copy of the vinyl. Still also buying CDs, unless it's a specific recording I want that I think may be released in SACD format shortly (such as Telarcs, Delos and Sony Classical recordings). As you can tell, most of my purchases are classical, so I've not yet been faced as much with Albert's dilemma.
artmaltman
769 posts
 
I had an opportunity to borrow the Sony "777" player and test a stack of SACD's. Many of them were barely better than their cd counterparts. Others were astonishingly good, really everything one dreams of and then some. Then there is the compatability issue - all of the SACD's except the Sony's were dual layer and could play on a car cd player in addition to a home SACD player. Then price is a factor. If the SACD is two bucks more than the cd, why not get it?

So my answer would be: it depends on the quality of the recording and logistical needs (dual layer?) and pricing too. And availability.

That said, I was facing an equipment purchase issue and ended up buying a high end cd player (Cary 303) rather than an SACD player. The only SACD's that were sensational were demo SACD's, the others were better than cds but not home runs, and the 777 cd playback was quite good but there are better...

I am very curious as to how well Sony's upcoming $300 SACD players (fall 2001) will perform. Might be that the way to go is high end cd player and $300 SACD player.

I have read that it's EASIER to build an SACD player because much less filtering is involved. Any truth to this, as far as you know?
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