Digital Drive

RE: When playing a redbook CD on a SACD player

88.97.21.18

This Post Has Been Edited by the Author

In Reply to: RE: When playing a redbook CD on a SACD player posted by rivervalley817 on September 01, 2020 at 09:41:55

" should immatthewj be concerned re: wear on the player due to menu choice?"

Good question. There are two elements in play here. One is the life of the laser, the other is the mechanism that changes the two optical pickups.

In regard to mechanical wear most of the true SACD mechs have used a gearing system to swap between the two. Unfortunately the gears for many of the most used OEM SACD mechanisms ( e.g. from Sony or Technics/Esoteric) have used plastic gearing with a limited life. I know as I have been through a few on some VERY expensive transports.

So the OP could minimise the switching from one to the other. But then the question of laser degradation over time comes into question.

Overall there is no good answer. If you are going to use the same player to access DSD recordings and PCM ones @ 16/44.1 via optical disc then expect to have to replace the entire OPU unit every few years. If you are a light user the intervals between changes may be more widely spaced. Incidentally although I have said that I am referring to bona fide SACD mechanisms I am aware of a number of questions arising here about universal DVD mechanisms that will no longer read SACDs.

Currently I am waiting to see how the newish Denon/Marantz OEM mechanism works out (mine is only a few months old currently and is very lightly used as most of my CDs are ripped to a NAS).

NB : I don't know if the OP has a true SACD mech or is using a universal DVD type.

"We need less, but better" - Dieter Rams

Follow Ups:

RE: When playing a redbook CD on a SACD player - immatthewj 14:36:14 09/01/20 (2)
- RE: When playing a redbook CD on a SACD player - PAR 15:13:44 09/01/20 (1)
  - RE: When playing a redbook CD on a SACD player - immatthewj 22:13:45 09/01/20 (0)