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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
albertporter's avatar
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albertporter
4,949 posts
 
I have not heard SACD in my own system, and if it is really vastly superior to regular CD, that would be WONDERFUL! The remaining problem is for those of us that are over 20 years old. The library of CD music has taken over 25 years to be the wonderful selection that it is today. Even if SACD is twice as popular (and I doubt the general public, non audiophiles care) it could be 10 or 15 more years to get a great selection of software to feed your system. The point here is that we need music to listen to right now! Life is short, and I for one do not want to wait forever for a miracle that is always just beyond reach. If I were a digital guy, I would get my CD's where they sounded the best I could get, and listen to the vast library that is available in that format. And, as I HAVE done, avail myself of some of the millions of LP's that are available in the traditional analog format in a sound that is simply amazing, provided you are willing to invest the time and money to get it right.
mikeg's avatar
mikeg
173 posts
 
Jamazur. I don't have vinyl so I won't comment on how the two compares. I did previously own the CAL CL-15 and upgraded to the SCD-777ES. I think the SACD output blows away the CL-15 std cd output. You must break the player in for 400 hours. Buy the Purist Audio Breakin CD II. Things I added to upgrade my system which had a positive effect on the SCD-777ES were : PSAudio P300, Black Mamba powercord, Rosinante DarkMatter Shelf (owned before and used on CL-15 also). I have heard that the balanced output were a joke on SCD-1 so I would recommend trying a RCA interconnect. The Cable Co. is recommending Symposium Roller Blocks instead of Shelf. I also added the ByBee internal mod for the P300 (worth every penny, $200). I use a passive preamp into the Bel Canto Evo 200.2 and Nirvana S-X ic. This combination with my speakers results in the most transparent, grain free and real sounding music.
jmazur402f OP
3 posts
 
Thanks Mikeg. This is my first post on a service like this and yours is the first useful response that I have seen. The fact of a 400 hour break-in is staggering. I do have the 30 minute PAD CD. So does this mean that I will need to break-in the SACD for 400 hrs as well?
dkuipers
64 posts
 
2 weeks is entirely too short to fairly evaluate the SCD-1. Assuming you bought new, you're just too impatient. The SCD-1 takes over 300 HOURS to break-in. Sorry, that's just the way it is. I speak from experience as I've owned the SCD-1 since February. Just give it some time, it'll open up. VERY nicely. Two other hints: the SCD-1, like every piece of digital gear I've ever owned, definitely responds favorably to a respectable power cord. I use the ESP Essence to good effect. Also, Sony blew it with the balanced outputs, they used a pair of cheap $2 op-amps as phase splitters. If you've been listening using the balanced outputs, try listening to the single-ended outputs instead. I think you'll be shocked.
jmazur402f OP
3 posts
 
Mikeg-also would be interested to hear your comments on the Evo amp. I was up in Minnesota to listen to one of the first ones and it failed. I use VTL MB250's that have 6550's in permanent triode config. The rep from Bel Canto says that it will retain the tube flavor and speed things up.
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