SACD Dominates Recommended List

Stereophile factors in price into their recommendations. A better sounding piece could be rated lower because it costs much more. That's probably the case with the Levinson combo. As another example, Stereophile and others have concluded that Accuphase makes the best sounding SACD player. It's not on the list at all--probably because of it's $28K price. Right now, people are buying new SCD-777's under $2K, new SCD-1's under $3K, and new SA-1's under $4K. The Stereophile review of the 777 concluded that for it's price, it was a bargain even if only used as a CD transport.

Tommart. Where are people buying Marantz SA-1's under $4K?? The player retails for $7500 and average discount is 10- 20% since shopping around for one. You are saying the dealers are blowing them out at almost 50% with your forum.

As the owner of an SCD777ES I'll tell you this:
Either run with the big dogs or stay on the porch!

SACD is the best thing that's happened for audiophiles in a long time. This media is phenomenal, and finally reveals the true promice of digital. As to Redbook, it's well known that both the 777 and SCD1 need about 400 hours break-in to sound best. All you high-dollar guys who have to have "insert name" brand expensive SACD player, that's cool, you wait and it will come, but I'll have the last laugh 'cause your $12,000 player has the SAME transport as my 777.

Quit yer whining, and get on with the show. Better sell off that huge money transport/dac now, while you can still get some of your $$$ back.

I do not mean to sound harsh, but the reality is SACD is here to stay, like it or not. I've got over 30 great titles in less than 6 months and growing, and mainstream music stores such as Tower Records are setting up SACD sections in their stores as we speak.As to redbook, it reminds me of an old saying: "The king is dead, long live the king!".

Paul

Here's the problem. I have over a thousand CDs and even more vinyl albums. Most of the titles I see coming out on SACD I already have or I don't want. I can choose from many tens of thousands of used CDs or records for $5 to $10 a copy or spend $25 on a SACD of music I already have. How many copies of "Kind of Blue" do you need? I hope SACD does catch on so people dump their CDs like they did their vinyl and I can get them for a bargain at the used store.

Hello Bruce:

I feel your pain, as I have over 1200 Redbook CD's myself.
Buy the Sony, find the outboard DAC of your dreams, and have the best of both worlds. Some of today's better DAC's, like the Dodson, or the AudioNote 1.1 offer either DIY or modular upgrade paths.

Some of the SACD's I've purchased have been dupes of stuff I have on redbook, but the increase in sound quality in many cases has taken the sting out of the cost. www.hmv.com out of Canada currently offers the best prices but has the smallest selection, but it is getting better.

Paul