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What I want to see in the next gen of SACD players

I was listening to a few SACD's the other night that I have owned for a while. With few exceptions I prefer the sound of most multi-channel CD's in the SACD stereo mode. I decided to do further comparisons between 2-channel and multi-channel on 3 SACD's. Elton John's GYBR, The Allman Brothers Eat a Peach and The Who's Tommy. All three of these I have stated in previous posts sound better in stereo as opposed to multi-channel. Overall, I still feel that way but on further review I found I liked some songs on those CD's better in multi-channel than two channel. Say 2-3 songs on each CD that sounded great in multi-channel with all the others sounding better in 2-channel. This sets up my next point.
I would really like to see SACD players have the ability to "memorize" a preference for a particular disc. In other words, be able to program those one or two songs to automatically play in multi-channel with the others in 2-channel. Currently I have to stop the CD, push the button for multi-channel and then restart the CD over again.
Another function I'd like to see with SACD (and DVD video) is the "marriage" between these two formats. NOT in the DVDA envisionment where there is video content on a music "album" but rather motion pictures whose audio has been mastered/re-mastered in SACD. It seems the next generation of DVD players that will do hi-def (blu-ray for example) should use an SACD sountrack to go with the picture. This would "eliminate" the need for Dolby Digital or DTS I would think while providing better quality audio! And with Sony being the major backer of Blu-Ray you'd think this would be a no-brainer!
Anyway, this is what I want my next SACD player and/or DVD-SACD player to do! What else would you like to see in the next generation of SACD players?
treyhoss
tfkaudio
591 posts
 
Quadophile,
You are probably right. My system is multi-channel and my sub is passive. The sub output of my multi-channel pre-amp is connected to the amp that runs my subwoofer. When listening to a stereo SACD, there is no output to the sub. I don't know how I could utilize the sub for both stereo and multi-channel in my system without re-cabling every time.
That is why I thought 2.1 would be good. If you can tell me how I might utilize the sub in both stereo and multi-channel configurations, I'd definitely give it a try.

Tom
quadophile's avatar
quadophile
418 posts
 
Tom,

Since your sub is passive I doubt it has any high level input, right? If so, I cannot think of any way that you can utilise it. Which sub do you have? Does your sub not have a dedicated amp to drive it?

Sorry for the question but I am unable to really understand your systems configuration and also which sub it is.
tfkaudio
591 posts
 
Hi,
The sub is passive and has a dedicated amp. It has no high level input. I could probably run my pre-amp's pre-outs into the sub's amp and get it working. But, as I said before, I'd have to re-cable to listen to multi-channel utilizing the discreet LFE channel.
treyhoss OP
287 posts
 
Tfkaudio,

You *could* get quality y-jacks from the pre-out with one set going to your main amp and the other set run to your sub. The signal would be full-range from the pre to the sub so you would have to set the cross-over appropriately. You may also have your main speakers "overlap" the low end since both the sub and the main speakers would be fed the same full-range signal. This could be a negative in your system unless your main speakers lack in bass since this range of signal would be played from both the sub and your main speakers' woofers. Short of having a sub that allows for main ins/outs - i.e., signal goes from pre to sub and then to main amp with the crossover filtering out higher frequencies - this is your best option. Tony
tfkaudio
591 posts
 
Thanks everyone and sorry to have gotten off the subject somewhat on this thread.
As for the next generation of players, I agree with the others that software is the main issue right now. Right now (don't laugh) things are good. There are more titles coming out than I can afford to buy. Maybe the selection is sparse considering that not all the new SACD's will be to your taste, but I actually find an advantage in that. I end up buying discs that I might not have purchased had I a better selection to choose from, and sometimes it turns me on to something completely new and exciting.

I still worry that the format won't survive much longer.

Tom
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