SACD 2...for those who have not heard

I agree with bld63. That is clear. The Sacd format is better than Dvd-a sonically. That is clear.(CES proved that)Sacd is for us, Dvd-a with video is for mainstream. Dvd-a is inexpensive relative to Sacd to produce. This has always been my worst fear. If Sacd were to ever switch to include video and add enryption layers to match Dvd-a, who do you think would win the format war. Take it one step further and one can see that if the formats are providing similar features, the Sacd quality is a good bet to take a hit. Why do you think Dvd-a is inferior? Just as Sacd is approaching vinyl(there is a unit reviewed to be on a par or better), we get this setback. As for the equipment issue, If there are two more levels of encryption included in the new players, it would mean that sometime in the near future, the newer cd's will not play on the old players. The biggest joke on me is that I am upgrading my new player(modifier receives it tomorrow). I am thrilled with plunking down $600 on a player whose Sacd component is, in my eyes, obsolete!! I think I shall retire my audio addiction and renew my wife addiction. Sony cannot make us incompatible!!!

It's far from clear whether SACD2 discs will play in SACD1 players. It's very possible they will NOT, because the upgraded copy protection will have to depend on something in the player. If SACD1 players can play the new discs then there's no added security.

So: your new multi-thousand $$$ SACD players may be useless with the new generation of discs.

Anyone who thinks SACD sounds better than DVD Audio has probably not heard a DVD-A or DAD played back on a decent
digital system like the Muse or MSB.

FYI- Classic Recordd will soon release 24/192 DADs. The Classic 24/192 DVD-A discs will be Universal DVD discs in the sense that they will be designed to play on both DVD Audio and DVD Video players. This will involve filling the audio title set with 24/192 data and the video title set with 24/96 data. These discs will therefore also play on universal players that support SACD and DVD Video. The transfers will be done using a specially designed battery powered 24/192 Analog to Digital converter designed by Kevin Halverson of Muse Electronics from original master tapes mastered by Bernie Grundman. Classic Records anticipates the release of 12 titles in 2003.

The game is far from over.

Suggest you also read Digital System Wars at
http://www.iar-80.com/

An excerpt from the article..."Current stand-alone SACD players will not be able to access any video material simply because of their lack of video playback circuitry..." Unbelievable. This will also further blur the lines between DVD-A and SACD to the point of there being no significant difference between the two formats.Multimedia is here to stay, those who don't like the idea can simply not turn on their TV, but it will be nice to have the option. Any fan of The Band will tell you watching the "Last Waltz" on dvd is a nice change from merely listening to the cd.

Boy, I have to agree with Kana813, it's far from over. I tend to see DVD-A marching forward technically while Sony is always reacting to the DVD-A camp, constantly trying to out maneuver them. Besides, 99.9% of the recording studios do all their recording, editing and mastering in LPCM. And 24/96 or 24/192 sampling is all the rage. SACD is nowhere in sight at the recording and mixing stages. Accordingly, except for a few obscure exceptions, what I see is a choice in PLAYBACK technology, not recording technology.

Sonically, I'm not sold on SACD playback either. At first I thought it was great thru my Sony 9000-e DVD/SACD player. Good bass, great midrange. But after a couple of months extended listening I found myself bothered by a certain something in the high end. A thickness & lack of "air" that made the presentation less involving. What really shocked me was when I compared the CD layer of about a dozen hybrid SACDs played back on my Muse Model 9 Signature to the SACD layer on the Sony. I always prefered the CD layer thru the Muse, especially in the high end. More open, transparent with noticably more air, detail & delicacy. I got exactly the same result when auditioning a 777 and SACD-1. Interestingly, when I compared the 9000 with the Muse using some Classic Records DADs, I got a closer result. I still much prefered the Muse but the Sony sounded more integrated and coherent when playing back the DADs.

This was a couple of years ago, but it left me thinking that there is a problem with SACD in the high end. Smooth yes, involving ...no. I actaully prefered CD in the high end and definately prefered the DADs over the SACD format at that time (and within the context of the equipment I had available though).

I can't wait for Classic to release the new disks!