DVD/SACD on the Verge?


I've been looking to upgrade my cd player for some time now and suddenly there are several top rated models becomming available like the Audio Aero Capitole, Cary 306/200, Meridian, Wadia and Electrocompaniet. Does this mean that the transition from redbook players is finally about to begin? One dealer advised me to wait until May when a lot of new players will be introduced.
tonyp54
All good post above, but in addition, one thing I am also finding is that the SACD titles that are available as a rule sound significantly better than redbook cd's on a redbook cdp. To be more specific just this last week I received an order of three SACD's from Music Direct, Jacitha's Here's to Ben Webster, the Delo recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and WAter Lily's Mumtaz Mahal, and quite frankly all of these recordings are to my ears significantly better and more musical sounding than most of the audiophile grade conventional cd's. Here's the real kicker my CDP is a Wadia 16i which although it has been extensively modified by Steve Huntley at GNSC is old technology with only 20 bit/44.1 khz resolution, yet much of what is advantaged in the SACD format comes across even on this machine.

I agree with the others that more titles have to be released and by now there really is no excuse as to why they are not. I would love to hear the Steely Dans Two Against Nature on SACD, what a kick that would be.

Just my two cents worth.
Another important factor is to get interesting titles that are not copies of PCM recordings.In my experience I have found just the opposite, that audiophile redbook will and usualy does sound better and good CPs than the SACD counterparts that have been transfered from PCM.On the other hand,a true DSD recording is without question superior.
I fully agree with the many good points mentioned about
the lack of SACD & DVD-A software. I think it should also
be mentioned, that many of the SACD discs I see for sale
are priced upwards of $20.00. And many are priced in some
of the catalogs at $25.00 & $30.00.
I love my music as much as anyone - but I'm not about
to rush out and replace my 400+ CDs with SACDs at $20.00
or more a pop.
As the owner of a commercial media duplication company,
I would also like to point out that the actual manufacturing
costs to produce a CD are well below $1.00. And SACDs are
not a great deal more expensive to manufacture.
Not too many years from now business majors will study SACD & DVD audio to learn how to not market a new product.Obviously those who are behind both formats have not studied history & are doomed to repeat it.
Tony, What many people non't realize is that a good SACD player will greatly improve the sound of your regular CDs. There are now between 300 to 400 SACD disks released so far. Some good and soom not. As you wait for more SACD releases, just sit back and listen to the improvement in sound in your old CDs. To get more information on this, please read Kalman Rubinson's review of the Sony SCD-XA777ES SACD/CD player in the January, 2002 issue of "Stereophile" magazine.