Duilawyer, NonA, etc got me to thinking with their posts denigrating SACD. So, this past weekend I did some more thorough listening tests myself and have come to the conclusion that while SACD sounds marginally better than CD about half the time, when there is a difference it really isn't all that great. And sometimes, the CD layer sounded more dynamic and crisp than the SACD layer - ideal for rock music. Gradually, I found that the only real improvement with SACD for me is multichannel over stereo. So, I did some experimenting with the various digital processing schemes on my Denon AVR 5800 and found I got some pretty good results with well-recorded CDs in "5-channel stereo" and "stadium" modes.I had taken a miniscule improvement and built it up in my mind to the point where I completely neglected making any meaningful comparisons between standard CD and the hi-rez formats; I had begun to take SACD superiority on faith alone. I'm done with this SACD folly. What a waste of the last three years of my life.
Thank you Duilawyer for "deprogramming" me!
P.S. I also listened to the CD layer of the Schubert Trios SACD that I trashed in an earlier post and found I was mistaken. I now enjoy it very much. There are no wrong notes.
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Topic - This is very difficult for me to admit, but.... - Dalton 10:34:22 01/26/04 (191)
- A cat chasing it's tail - BobH 21:59:30 01/27/04 (4)
- Wow Is Back - Robertc88 09:33:28 01/28/04 (3)
- BTW, I took my own advice... - tunenut 13:34:16 01/28/04 (2)
- So Far, Utilizing Inmate Recommendations - Robertc88 02:36:33 01/29/04 (1)
- can't beat libraries... - tunenut 09:22:18 01/29/04 (0)
- Re: So - stvnharr 10:19:45 01/27/04 (0)
- Wait a minute... - Steve Parry 23:25:14 01/26/04 (1)
- Exactly What I Was Thinking - Robertc88 16:01:11 01/27/04 (0)
- Sincere and heartfelt - Congratulations - DkB 23:08:27 01/26/04 (28)
- Congratulations to you as well... - rebop 14:19:37 01/27/04 (26)
- Very sorry.... - DkB 23:55:39 01/27/04 (25)
- Typical Snob - morinix 21:47:47 01/29/04 (11)
- No amount of tuning is going to make an 128kb/s MP3 file sing like an LP -nt - theaudiohobby 08:43:49 01/30/04 (6)
- McCartney and Armstrong don't sound the same either - morinix 10:05:50 01/30/04 (5)
- that's a copout -nt - theaudiohobby 10:53:38 01/30/04 (4)
- Not at all - morinix 12:59:28 01/30/04 (3)
- Re: Not at all - theaudiohobby 14:22:54 01/30/04 (2)
- Re: Not at all - morinix 17:01:47 01/30/04 (1)
- Re: Not at all - theaudiohobby 01:02:02 01/31/04 (0)
- "Component level tuning and voicing the actives makes ANY format sing" - Methos 06:51:16 01/30/04 (3)
- Re: "Component level tuning and voicing the actives makes ANY format sing" - morinix 08:23:55 01/30/04 (2)
- I was hoping for more specifics, if you don't mind sharing. nt - Methos 09:00:31 01/30/04 (1)
- Re: I was hoping for more specifics, if you don't mind sharing. nt - morinix 10:11:00 01/30/04 (0)
- Sorry too... - rebop 07:18:19 01/28/04 (11)
- Not really...... - Chris Garrett 17:59:04 01/28/04 (1)
- Re: Not really...... - rebop 07:48:26 01/30/04 (0)
- Absolute Statement - DkB 17:33:03 01/28/04 (0)
- What Recordings Are You Comparing? - Robertc88 09:19:11 01/28/04 (7)
- Re: What Recordings Are You Comparing? - rebop 11:41:11 01/28/04 (0)
- The quality gap is wider for classical recordings - Caymus 11:32:26 01/28/04 (5)
- Its not just a gap, its a Chasm! - DkB 19:44:01 01/28/04 (4)
- Re: Its not just a gap, its a Chasm! - theaudiohobby 20:31:52 01/29/04 (3)
- In The Same Boat - Robertc88 02:38:34 01/30/04 (2)
- Re: In The Same Boat - theaudiohobby 06:16:53 01/30/04 (1)
- You Think SACD Is A Better Resource - Robertc88 15:18:30 01/30/04 (0)
- hence my new signature line - theaudiohobby 06:00:33 01/28/04 (0)
- Hee, hee, hee - Records R Black 11:55:04 01/27/04 (0)
- Re: This is very difficult for me to admit, but.... - clubmyke 22:52:02 01/26/04 (2)
- Why can't you play the CD layer of hybrids in cars ? - oscar 06:12:24 01/27/04 (1)
- I can do both. (nt) - jnr 08:25:26 01/27/04 (0)
- I've also read of people who hear very little to differentiate between SACD and well-done CD.... - oscar 19:30:09 01/26/04 (0)
- Re: This is very difficult for me to admit, but.... - svisner 17:13:51 01/26/04 (4)
- About That Mahler SACD - Robertc88 02:36:35 01/27/04 (2)
- Re: About That Mahler SACD - svisner 04:33:15 01/27/04 (1)
- That Was My Next Stop - Robertc88 16:06:07 01/27/04 (0)
- "badly mixed recordings can't be saved by any format" - Metralla 17:58:49 01/26/04 (0)
- Belles 350A !? - px>h 17:13:21 01/26/04 (5)
- Belles: >> But upstairs . . . too much haze and mist for jazz and classical << -- Oh really? . . . - Martin , 05:56:23 01/27/04 (4)
- ..another "get a better system" post.., nah just use a boombox! - px>h 06:38:08 01/27/04 (3)
- OK, Take a look at yours . . . - Martin , 10:35:20 01/27/04 (2)
- Re: OK, Take a look at yours . . . - Chris Garrett 14:53:03 01/27/04 (0)
- Re: OK, Take a look at yours . . . - px>h 10:42:16 01/27/04 (0)
- So what are you going to do... - Jim Treanor 16:54:28 01/26/04 (0)
- Bravo! Now do the same for other unproven audiophile myths - Caymus 15:56:24 01/26/04 (5)
- Sensible comment, but how unbalanced are we to ...... - John C. - Aussie 17:19:14 01/26/04 (4)
- Re: Sensible comment, but how unbalanced are we to ...... - Skeptic 18:00:32 01/26/04 (3)
- That was my question too! - Metralla 18:07:35 01/26/04 (2)
- Re: That was my question too! - John C. - Aussie 19:14:48 01/26/04 (1)
- Re: That was my question too! - Max 01:30:18 01/27/04 (0)
- What I Do Feel Is A Much Better Bang For Buck - Robertc88 15:19:02 01/26/04 (0)
- I Reiterate - One QB, No Controversy!! - Robertc88 14:52:16 01/26/04 (0)
- Agree. SACD vs CD: minimal improvement in a poor or excellent ballance systm, greater imprvmt in a regular/popular systm - yingwang 14:39:27 01/26/04 (1)
- Can you elaborate further on your comments? - jeromelang 17:09:44 01/26/04 (0)
- Generally speaking.....you are RIGHT!!!! - Audio Pharaoh 14:37:22 01/26/04 (1)
- You said it!!!!nt - Guss2 18:26:57 01/26/04 (0)
- Refreshing to read such an honest post ..... - John C. - Aussie 14:17:50 01/26/04 (49)
- John C.'s comment re. vinyl sums it up for me, viz. ... - Feanor 09:17:46 01/30/04 (0)
- Re: Refreshing to read such an honest post ..... - Christine Tham 16:46:49 01/26/04 (12)
- Scary - Robertc88 02:22:02 01/27/04 (3)
- Re: Scary - Christine Tham 02:41:52 01/27/04 (2)
- Rega P3 - Robertc88 16:23:36 01/27/04 (1)
- Re: Rega P3 - Christine Tham 18:34:01 01/27/04 (0)
- Thanks for the suggestion but ..... - John C. - Aussie 17:03:49 01/26/04 (7)
- would love to listen to your system one day :-) (nt) - Christine Tham 18:26:46 01/26/04 (6)
- Easily fixed - come & visit Tassie :-)) nt - John C. - Aussie 19:35:24 01/26/04 (5)
- we just might - maybe around easter or so!!! (nt) - Christine Tham 20:42:10 01/26/04 (4)
- Great!!! Contact details & a map are ...... - John C. - Aussie 20:56:56 01/26/04 (3)
- Do you find difficulties in getting all these gears in TAS ? (nt) - akltam 05:12:01 01/27/04 (2)
- Yes, but .... - John C. - Aussie 13:10:07 01/27/04 (1)
- Re: Yes, but .... - akltam 18:30:30 01/28/04 (0)
- Fantastic room and grounds! (nt) - Skeptic 16:38:17 01/26/04 (1)
- Thanks - retirement is kind to us (nt) - John C. - Aussie 17:00:30 01/26/04 (0)
- Re: Refreshing to read such an honest post ..... - regmac 14:39:02 01/26/04 (1)
- Thanks for a mature reply - John C. - Aussie 14:50:25 01/26/04 (0)
- Curious why you think his view is more "honest" - Records R Black 14:32:29 01/26/04 (30)
- I get nervous when terms like "non-believer" come up... - rebop 13:01:44 01/27/04 (2)
- Re: I get nervous when terms like "non-believer" come up... - Records R Black 13:44:06 01/27/04 (1)
- Re: I get nervous when terms like "non-believer" come up... - rebop 07:40:16 01/28/04 (0)
- Re: Curious why you think his view is more "honest" - John C. - Aussie 14:44:10 01/26/04 (26)
- Don't agree that I was "emotional" - Records R Black 14:59:10 01/26/04 (25)
- Re: Don't agree that I was "emotional" - regmac 15:44:49 01/26/04 (23)
- wasted years - tunenut 10:18:05 01/27/04 (0)
- Of course there's a vast right-wing conspiracy (long) - Records R Black 07:42:13 01/27/04 (21)
- Re: Of course there's a vast right-wing conspiracy (long) - regmac 11:25:33 01/27/04 (20)
- Hey, how about a friendly mention for us Christian fundamentalists as well??? - honshued 14:15:36 01/27/04 (1)
- Re: Hey, how about a friendly mention for us Christian fundamentalists as well??? - rich121 19:36:57 01/27/04 (0)
- My grasp of the obvious is complete, and you are quite the enlightened poster - Records R Black 11:48:31 01/27/04 (17)
- Re: My grasp of the obvious is complete, and you are quite the enlightened poster - regmac 12:44:34 01/27/04 (16)
- By the way, to see evidence of my "snit" toward Dalton, - Records R Black 13:51:20 01/27/04 (0)
- Catholic/Islam, did you get that right? and "no one's ears should be believed" - Records R Black 13:27:11 01/27/04 (5)
- Re: Catholic/Islam, did you get that right? and "no one's ears should be believed" - regmac 13:55:13 01/27/04 (4)
- is that your standard response whenever you are backed into a corner? - Christine Tham 18:04:36 01/27/04 (3)
- Re: is that your standard response whenever you are backed into a corner? - regmac 07:21:51 01/28/04 (2)
- Mind if I change my moniker to Solipsism or just Solipsis? nt - honshued 15:32:17 01/28/04 (0)
- "The line is applicable to anyone who writes much and says little." - tunenut 14:01:46 01/28/04 (0)
- '"mid-fi" SACD players are incapable of rendering a sonic improvement over conventional CD.' - Methos 13:24:16 01/27/04 (8)
- Re: '"mid-fi" SACD players are incapable of rendering a sonic improvement over conventional CD.' - regmac 16:05:52 01/27/04 (7)
- Oh, I don't know...can you recognise your own mother's voice, without resorting to a DBT to make certain? :-) - Methos 16:37:03 01/27/04 (6)
- Re: Oh, I don't know...can you recognise your own mother's voice, without resorting to a DBT to make certain? :-) - regmac 07:36:39 01/28/04 (5)
- Yes, I'd enjoy that, regmac...should I bring my player along, as well? - Methos 09:07:11 01/28/04 (4)
- Re: Yes, I'd enjoy that, regmac...should I bring my player along, as well? - regmac 13:55:53 01/28/04 (3)
- Not according to Stereo Review. Their panel couldn't detect the 'tighter bass' in a DBT. nt - Methos 16:30:39 01/28/04 (2)
- Re: Not according to Stereo Review. Their panel couldn't detect the 'tighter bass' in a DBT. nt - regmac 17:55:26 01/28/04 (1)
- Julian rarely admitted to hearing a difference between two components, except maybe speakers and cartridges... - Methos 15:59:19 01/29/04 (0)
- LOL. Peace returns - John C. - Aussie 15:34:36 01/26/04 (0)
- You are kidding, are you not? - Skeptic 14:16:56 01/26/04 (0)
- At issue is hearing acuity, to each his/her own. (nt) - pann 14:10:43 01/26/04 (0)
- My recent sacd players have closed the gap between cds and sacds for some cds - Norm 13:28:18 01/26/04 (11)
- Re: My recent sacd players have closed the gap between cds and sacds for some cds - Walter 06:05:03 01/27/04 (1)
- I am playing dvdas, dads, sacds, and cds all through the Exemplar/Denonn 2900 - Norm 07:59:27 01/27/04 (0)
- Really? DVD-As sound fine to me ... - Christine Tham 14:14:50 01/26/04 (8)
- That dvda is the only one that sounds good. nt - Norm 20:40:04 01/26/04 (7)
- How Many Have You Tried? - Robertc88 02:28:03 01/27/04 (6)
- I have 12 now, mainly classical - Norm 06:25:08 01/27/04 (5)
- Not my impression when dvd-a are compared to cd - Walter 05:30:38 01/29/04 (0)
- ahh ... i understand now ... - Christine Tham 11:43:00 01/27/04 (3)
- Not Thrilled - Robertc88 16:32:12 01/27/04 (2)
- You haven't heard . . . - Martin , 07:37:21 01/28/04 (1)
- More Now For Me To Pursue - Robertc88 02:41:59 01/29/04 (0)
- "Rock music" .... possibly explains your view. - Dr. Philosophy 13:08:17 01/26/04 (3)
- Sorry, but I think the Stones and Dylan disc are some of best for hearing the difference, and it's a big difference. - jnr 14:55:47 01/26/04 (2)
- Its no contest on any level of system <nt> - Walter 05:34:37 01/29/04 (0)
- Agreed nt - honshued 16:39:24 01/26/04 (0)
- Re: This is very difficult for me to admit, but.... - Retsel 13:05:21 01/26/04 (4)
- Re: This is very difficult for me to admit, but.... - Records R Black 13:55:40 01/26/04 (3)
- Re: This is very difficult for me to admit, but.... - Retsel 14:31:05 01/26/04 (2)
- Re: This is very difficult for me to admit, but.... - jimmyjames 12:50:33 01/26/04 (0)
- the P.S. seems to be less than completely serious... - tunenut 12:35:48 01/26/04 (4)
- Unfortunately, chumming for sharks on the internet never goes out of style (nt) - Dave Kingsland 17:24:23 01/26/04 (0)
- Bzzzz...bzzz nt - Methos 13:01:57 01/26/04 (2)
- Stop it. You're giving me hives. (nt) - Jim Treanor 14:38:35 01/26/04 (1)
- So sorry. I suppose it's back to the drudgery of being a worker bee for moi, then. nt - Methos 15:16:31 01/26/04 (0)
- Re: This is very difficult for me to admit, but.... - theaudiohobby 12:33:42 01/26/04 (0)
- Well, different strokes I guess. - Audiophilander 12:22:26 01/26/04 (0)
- I thought I wouldn't post on this agian but I must (long) - jnr 11:55:00 01/26/04 (0)
- Re: This is very difficult for me to admit, but.... - John B 11:45:10 01/26/04 (0)
- Consider the source media when evaluating any Hi-Res C Ds.. - Dad 11:39:09 01/26/04 (0)
- can you sell your SACDs to me? - Christine Tham 11:35:08 01/26/04 (1)
- I need them more than you - jeromelang 18:15:18 01/26/04 (0)
- SACD vs CD - Bobby_N 11:15:27 01/26/04 (0)
- Have you heard the Stones and Dylan SACDs? - Records R Black 11:11:31 01/26/04 (0)
- Re: This is very difficult for me to admit, but.... - Robert C. Lang 10:55:09 01/26/04 (16)
- "No way" may be an overstatement. - Jim Treanor 14:30:32 01/26/04 (0)
- Re: This is very difficult for me to admit, but.... - Jazz Inmate 11:16:00 01/26/04 (14)
- Re: This is very difficult for me to admit, but.... - Retsel 13:20:59 01/26/04 (4)
- Hill Auditorium - Records R Black 14:07:07 01/26/04 (3)
- Re: Hill Auditorium - Retsel 14:40:06 01/26/04 (2)
- Re: Hill Auditorium - Records R Black 14:43:57 01/26/04 (1)
- Re: Hill Auditorium - Retsel 16:13:51 01/26/04 (0)
- Re: This is very difficult for me to admit, but.... - regmac 13:05:29 01/26/04 (0)
- Re: This is very difficult for me to admit, but.... - Robert C. Lang 11:50:54 01/26/04 (6)
- Let's go to Yoshi's together and see if we can get the semantics down. - jnr 12:09:55 01/26/04 (2)
- Re: Let's go to Yoshi's together and see if we can get the semantics down. - Robert C. Lang 21:29:01 01/26/04 (0)
- I'd rather go on a "field trip" to Paco de Lucia - Jazz Inmate 12:39:09 01/26/04 (0)
- But Robert - Jazz Inmate 12:09:51 01/26/04 (2)
- Re: But Robert - Robert C. Lang 21:43:36 01/26/04 (0)
- I really agree about the Mono recordings, they sound great to me.(nt) - jnr 12:33:42 01/26/04 (0)
- i agree with robert - Christine Tham 11:30:40 01/26/04 (0)
- I make those comparisons regularly, and SACD always wins. - Methos 10:47:52 01/26/04 (3)
- It's so obvious I don't even waste my time anymore. (nt) - JCS 02:49:06 01/27/04 (0)
- ditto that (nt) - Jazz Inmate 10:50:08 01/26/04 (1)
- me too. - oldmkvi 18:04:28 01/26/04 (0)
- Don't quit without... - px>h 10:46:35 01/26/04 (0)
- "What a waste of the last three years of my life" - Metralla 10:45:49 01/26/04 (15)
- Re: "What a waste of the last three years of my life" - Dalton 11:31:32 01/26/04 (13)
- The XA777ES Is One Helluva CD Player! - Robertc88 15:01:07 01/26/04 (4)
- One word - modified - Metralla 18:22:21 01/26/04 (3)
- Ditto....Mods are the BEST thing in audio in a very long time.. - Audio Pharaoh 03:58:54 01/27/04 (2)
- Re: Ditto....Mods are the BEST thing in audio in a very long time.. - bIRD MAN 11:06:33 01/27/04 (1)
- Great !.......further observations.. - Audio Pharaoh 12:22:57 01/27/04 (0)
- That seems like pretty nice stuff, do you get the A/V receiver TOTALLY out of the chain for stereo listening? nt - Methos 12:40:32 01/26/04 (7)
- Yes, the Denon is out of the chain for stereo. - Dalton 12:50:18 01/26/04 (6)
- :) [nt] - Ted Smith 13:39:21 01/26/04 (1)
- Right. Are you SURE the Belles can't see the Denon, 'e might be peeking?! nt - Methos 15:19:14 01/26/04 (0)
- Try making your comparisons with classical and acoustic music. - Methos 12:54:44 01/26/04 (3)
- Re: Try making your comparisons with classical and acoustic music. - theaudiohobby 13:27:45 01/26/04 (2)
- Re: Try making your comparisons with classical and acoustic music. - JoneEG 14:43:06 01/26/04 (1)
- Re: Try making your comparisons with classical and acoustic music. - theaudiohobby 15:34:06 01/26/04 (0)
- Most of the naysayers don't have systems posted. nt - Methos 10:49:51 01/26/04 (0)