SACD finally taking-off? non-classical listeners

Onhwy61, it is refreshing to read a post that is factual and informative. I am good friends with Russ Burger of RBDG. He is frequently featured in Spin magazine and is responsible for the design of several fine recording studios.

Our conversations have covered much of what you have posted, in addition I've sat in with him during recording sessions in his own place.

A valuable insight to the workings of producing the end product we wind up with.

I bought my first SACD player (Sony 333) recently and have acquired about 10 SACD's. I have about 500 redbook CD's. The SACD's sound great...imho...about %40 better than redbook. So, I will enjoy what I can get out of SACD, and keep upgrading my CD player to get the most out of my rebooks. If SACD eventually goes belly up.....I don't much care........It will not change the fact that the SACD's I own sound really good and I should be able to enjoy them even if the format dies.

I do think that the current battle over formats sucks, since there are obvioulsy improvements to be made to the CD.....but my inexpensive investment in a SACD player has been worth it, even if in the end I end up with only 20-30 outstanding sounding new pieces of music. I agree with those whose say, in the end, it is all about enjoying the music.

Pardales, what CD player or combo do you or did you have before?
I've listened to Gamut CD1 with red-book CDs and I've never heard anything sound even close for the price range offered.

For redbook's I had an Anthem CD-1 (as transport) feeding the Perpetual Technologies combination. However, I no longer have that set, and am in the process of considering/auditioning new/used single box players in the 3K range. I am seriously considering the Cary 306/200, and a few other players in that range. I do not have access to the GamuT but am looking into it a bit. Maybe you could email me more about the GamuT (off the thread). Thanks,

You may want to also look at the new Ayre player in that price range. Good choices abound.