New Sony NS999ES is in.

Trelja the problem with your post is you state your opinions like they are absolutes.
One of the key pro-SACD members on Audiogon truly believes it to be better than vinyl if done with the right kit.
Lots of people,lots of opinions but really SACD is clearly better than CD?
Not even those who agree with that statement agree with your final statement.
SACD is noticably inferior to CD in terms of the years best new music-how much is available on SACD?

Being the owner of a 999ES, which I bought last Christmas ('02), I can confirm it does take a few hundred hours to sound its best - AND there are separate run-in periods for both the redbook and the SACD! The SACD will really open up after about 400 hours (approx) but will sound noticebly better after about 300 hours. Also, when you go into the audio set-up menu, look for the "CD audio" and change the setting from 16/48 to 24/96. You will probably want to set it at the latter, esp. if using an outboard DAC like I was. Enjoy! P.S. I think the SACD sounds great given the right recordings. "Most" sound better than their CD counterparts, some are equal and there are a couple that don't sound as good (Santana's Abraxus for one IMO). That is another thread, however:-) Enjoy. -Tony

Tony thanks for the balanced comments hopefully this will help the original poster,as will Trelja's.
Loontoon should also note if he does have some reservations about SACD he shouldn't discount SACD hybrid purchases in the future,most of these I've heard represent the best CD/redbook version available.

Ben_Campbell, you are the SACD Scrooge in this Christmas season.

You are quite sensitive when the topic of SACD is brought up. To the point where quite a high percentage of your opinions rendered here on Audiogon have to do with SACD. I for one, feel you have made your point(long ago), and have grown tired of it. It makes you look petty and resentful, and I know you are a better man than that.

As I have made statements regarding the superiority of SACD over CD, I have touched a nerve in you. You then feel obliged to say I am speaking in absolutes(which I am in some cases there). There is no problem with my post other than that which you have.

Do you want to argue that digital players need time to break in? If so, we'll go another round. Until then, have some egg nog, throw in a CD(or SACD, if you still have the player), and enjoy the holidays.

Bah humbug.
Trelja the sensitivity is all mine,unique in the world of Audiogon,such is life when you are a sensitive soul like me.
Of course the more observant Audiogon members will know my opinion on SACD and it must get boring.
Their day must be brightened up by the enlighting posts that the pro-SACD continually wheel out- gems like yours-the difference between you making a statement and me is?
SACD I would accept is probably superior at a level I personally haven't heard-that make you happy?
I say this despite others,many others who are far from convinced about the format,on all kinds of different levels.
Note yet again I refer to the original poster and tell him to still consider SACD's,even if only for redbook,the chances are he'll compare layers and maybe make his own mind up.
For the record most of my posts are on music.
As for break in-I have yet to be convinced totally about it.
Doesn't make you wrong.
Oh and I bought somewhere in the region of 30 SACD's this year-I've kept all the hybrids-which still amounts to 20.
Apologies for boring you.
Seriously-have a merry Christmas.