SACD : why ?

Was the SACD unit properly broken in ? It needs at least 300 to 400 hours to bring out its best. I own a top notch CD/upsampler frontside and comparing it to a well broken in Sony 777, my findings were not anything close to being as decisive as you infer. Besides, your so called "blind test" proves nothing, because it was not properly carried out, apart from being unfair and cheating on those unfortunate participants. Being a vinyl man and no friend at all of redbook CDs, especially as far as large orchestral music is concerned, my finding were, that SACD was indeed a step forward, as far as big symphonic sound was concerned. What I found lacking in the Sony (compared to vinyl, NOT CDs ), were dynamics and resolving power. That was the reason I am having the unit upgraded on its analog side by the Audience people.

Badwisdom,
Here is my take. I feel that SACD will not survive also.I have heard it but I wouldnt go out and spend thousands of dollars on the player nor the software.One way to test the fromat end of the industry is to look at HDCD. A very simple format that they can easily make a standard format for all cds no matter what kind of music or record label. Also if you where to do a percentage of audiophiles versus regular run of the mill receiver/ no name $200 speakers. No offense , they are usally the happiest with their sound and dont feel the need to upgrade every few months like myself. Which gives them deeper pockets than me. The point is the % of people that they are trying to reach is maybe 30%. Which is anyformat will not survive. I talk to people who dont even want to spend $18.00 on a new cd. So if HDCD couldnt make it as a standard format then what makes anyone think anything else will? Especially at 25 & $30.00 per cd? Only time will tell. Me I am saving so I can Have my Revel Salons and my Mark Levinson 33H mono blocks. I have redbook cds that are mind blowing in sound And I paid 12.99 at Circut City. Good Luck let the smoke clear. Dan

We used the Accuphase transport 100 and matching DAC (the 101 i think) for both CD and SACD play.

And this was just an opinion cornfedboy, a prediction. The test was more than revealing to us : even if there is a massive difference in sonics, people can't hear it enough to justify the expenses. imho.

Of course you are entitled to your opinion,but this story just does not seem to wash,at least with me.I could put 15 people in a room and tell them nothing about what type of disks were being played and I can guarantee there would be at least 1 person who would find it to sound better or worse.The fact that you even tell someone there is a difference automatically is biasing them.It is only human nature .There are some SACDS that are not much better ,if at all ,than their counterpart PCM disks.I totaly agree with that statement.One that immediatly comes to mind is Carol Kings's Tapestry.On the other handBlood Sweat and Tears is greatly superior to the PCM disk.Mind you,these are all tape transfers and not straight DSD recordings.The DSD transfers are truly ouststanding,and I would be hard pressed to believe that an average person could not hear some sort of difference.As for DVDA,I for one think it is inferior(at least at this time) to SACD.Some of course will dissagree.I think that if Sony does not start releasing some popular recordings in the SACD format quickly,they will have let a golden opportunity slip by,and let DVDA get a foot in the door.As it stands now,anyone who bought the first generation pieces,own probably one of the better transports made,and are assured that even if SACD should fail,they have a top notch player that competes with any of the big buck pieces.So it is a win win situation either way.

Two things worry me. One, Joe public doesn't even seem to know about dvd-a or sacd.....it hasn't hit like cd...and the price of the music will not allow joe public to support it. Something better and cheaper could derail both super formats.....I'm sticking to my vinyl until the dust settles...cd sales are starting to slip....when vinyl sales slipped in the early 80's "perfect sound forever" was prematurely rushed to market to save us. Now we're still waiting for a "more perfect sound"....time for some imperfect music.....cheers, Bluenose