Is SACD really this lousy?


Bought a Sony SCD 1 and this is boring me in my system. Have had it for 2 weeks and just cannot get interested. Previously I had a CAL CL2o and we were astounded by how the DVD DAD's sounded-fall into the soundstage, reach out and touch the performers. Also the dynamic range used every bit of the VTL's 275 watts into the Maggies. The 44/16 side of the CL20 was at best lukewarm. This after coming off a Meridian 508 20. Then I tried the Wadia 270/27ix. In my system, all the write ups were proven wrong. Then I went to the Linn Ikemi. It was great except I couldn't forget that sound of the DVD's with the CL20. Sooooo....off I went to get the Sony SCD 1. I don't have a dealer here but trusted it wouldn't dissappoint. WRONNNG! I called Steve Huntley at Great Northern Sound to see if he could do anything. He said it was a great player, it's just that Sony missed the boat when it came to the analog section. He is in fact drawing up a mod to deal with this very thing that he says will approach the Accuphase. That however will cost anywhere from $1500 roonies for the SACD side to $3500 for both. Anybody have any comment on this or am I the only one experiencing disappointment?
jmazur402f
Hate to hear of your disappointment.Off the top of my head,your is the first neg.on sacd I have heard.The one you have is the new lower priced one? At last, what caught my eye;this and your Cal 20 as a cd transport (lukewarm at best) I have a pioneer 09.great dvd player.Aspires too lukewarm/cd player status.Do you have a 24/96 dac?I have Theta data3+5a w/24/96 Purcell'tween. Saving up for Delius. I got this from the Stereophile combined SACD, Elgar reviews.Improve ALL your cds.Never having heard;I got the Purcell/can't wait for the Delius and I'm delighted with the first half.DVD-A was supposed to hit the streets July,1.Too much confusion for me.Not to mention,so far a crappy cd player included free. Actually it was the software, or lack thereof that helped make my choice.Got 1,000 or so cds.How many you got?
I've been laughing at the SCD-1's op amp output stage since it came out last year. Go back and read "CD-vs-SACD-vs-DVD-vs-vinyl".
Had similar experiences with the SCD-1 and returned it after about a week. Maybe it should have broken in more (played it 24hrs a day) but it sounded thin and lean. high end was marvelous - but no body to the sound.
I would submit that it needs about 300 to 400 hours of break in for both the DSD and PCM sides. I find that with SACD's it is just the about the best thing I have heard and on par with a +20K Basis/ARC REF Phono stage system, that I have heard. Newer direct to DSD recordings such as the Groove Notes Jacintha SACD sound absolutely marvelous. Sorry to hear that you didn't like the unit.