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Hi,I've just begun investigating the various alternatives to RBCD, most specifically SACD.
This has occurred somewhat by accident really. I initially purchased a demo Samsung HD841 DVD player in the summer of 2005 due to its relative low price and DVI output. At the time I wasn't aware that the Samsung also played SACD's--it was intended for video use only and seemed suitable for my needs.
During the spring of 2006 I purchased several used Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan hybrid SACD's--I purchased them all at once and didn't realize that the discs were hybrids--at that time I was aware of the existence of alternative formats but knew nothing about them. My lack of interest was in large part due to the fact that I wasn't prepared to make the financial investment in hardware and software in what I at least thought wasn't a universally settled on hi-rez format.
Anyway, in addition to digital media a also have a fair amount of vinyl. Unfortunately, due to the inconsistencies in the quality of new vinyl (I posted a query on this subject in the Vinyl Forum last week) I've found myself browsing the digital forums for information on the direction digital is heading.
Over the weekend I transferred the Samsung to my two channel system and picked up a few used SACD titles: Miles Davis, Kind of Blue; Derek and the Dominos, Layla; and, Yo-Yo MA, Silk Road Journeys. I've been listening on and off and have to say I'm not too sure what to make of the Samsung as an audio player. I never bothered to AB the Samsung with my Rega Planet based on the assumption that the two units were in wholly different classes.
I'm still listening but I have to say that the Yo-Yo MA piece was quite amazing and Kind of Blue was quite enjoyable--on the Samsung no less.
Now, I know there are all kinds of variables here: age of source tape, mastering, original recording techniques, some discs hybrid, some discs SACD only--but I'm definately intrigued by what I'm hearing.
So, the Rega Planet is now eight years old and I'm sure digital technology had taken a few steps forward. I havn't been spending alot of time reading reviews of cd players in the meantime however, and now there's SACD, DVD-A and other formats as well.
So, I'm now back to thinking about upgrading my digital player and the choices appear to be RBCD only, RBCD/SACD, or, universal player.
I have no idea where SACD, DVD-A are headed. Nevertheless, I've read a lot of positive reviews of the available SACD discs and am thinking that it makes sense to consider either a CD/SACD or a universal player so that I can incorporate those formats into my music collection.
I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the Samsung as that is the player that's providing me with my first exposure to SACD.
I'm also wondering about the future of digital (as it relates to discs and not downloading) and am wondering what other's think of the universal players (Marantz for example) as opposed to dedicated CD/SACD players.
I guess the bottom line here is that I find myself being increasingly disappointed with the vinyl offerings and am coming to the conclusion that vinyl fits best into my collection (with exceptions) as a source of music that can't be had in other formats.
I have alot of RBCD's that sound great to me, and many that don't--the same applies to vinyl. So, I'm thinking of upgrading the Rega Planet to a player that accomodates more than just RBCD and am really intersted in what others are doing these days.
BTW my system is comprised of Rega Plant & NAD 533 turntable, Audio Refinement Complete Integrated Amplifier and Paradigm Studio 20 v.1 speakers.
Thanks in advance.
Steve W.
Follow Ups:
I don't have direct experience with the Samsung, so I will let others comment on it.But I do have substantial SACD-DVDA-CD experience with Sony and Pioneer units, and have a definite POV on what you should consider.
I have found that units that can do DSD decoding directly, without converting to PCM, do the best job of revealing SACD's superior sound. In fact, if I had to use a system that didn't do DSD direct, and didn't do multichannel, I probably wouldn't bother with SACD.
I own both the Pioneer 578a univeral and three Sony lower-end SACD/CD players..the olderC775 changer, the older C222ES changer, and the newer C2000ES changer. The Pioneer converts SACD through PCM. Although it is a nice sounding unit (exceptional in DVD-A) it is substantially inferior to any of the Sony's in their "Direct Mode" on SACD disks. The Sony's also lose much of the vaulted SACD transparency when any mode other than "Direct" is chosen; in other words, when speaker compensation or a subwoofer crossover is used. Of the three Sonys, the later C2000ES, available on eBay as a grey market import for less than $300, is far and away the most transparent, although the older C222ES is smoother in the midrange and in some ways more "high-end" sounding as a result.So my take in conclusion: go SACD, but go with a Sony ES model that allows you to use either 2ch or 5ch direct mode to obtain pure DSD decoding. In this mode you definitely will get really fine sound.
Harry
My budget is between $500 and $1000. Based on that I was considereing the Marantz CD/SACD or universal players.My preference was for a single disc player, consequently, I hadn't considered the Sony players. In the past I operated on the assumption that by default money not spent on disc changing features went toward enhancements in other features more important to me than the changer features, including sonic quality--maybe that is a wrong assumption these days.
With respect to the Marantz SA-8001 and earlier SA-8260: do these players do DSD decoding directly without converting to PCM? The Marantz website doesn't indicate whether the SA-8001 does DSD decoding directly, whereas the information on the Marantz SA-15S1 specifies "High Performance D/A Converters for DSD/PCM Signal processing". I'm not sure what that means other than signal processing is mentioned only for the SA-15S1.
Any thoughts on single disc players that process DSD directly? Perhaps I'm overthinking this and and should just go with a Sony for the time being?
Thanks.
...because they sell more of them. Sony's only single channel player is the SCD-XA9000ES at $3000.I've heard rumors that the Denon 2910 and 3910 have a "direct mode" that is pure DSD, but I've never seen that confirmed.
I believe the older 8250 player did have a DSD direct mode....don't know about the newer players.
The really cheap universal DVD player usually do everything in PCM and have no Direct Mode that bypasses it, I am told. I know this is true of my Pioneer 578A.
Harry
5 channel audio is more than I want to take on. I'm not sure how the Samsung handles decoding, I'll take a look at the manual.Thanks for your input.
I don't think you mentioned a budget but the Marantz SA-15 at $2000, is a two channel SACD/CD player that from all indications is an excellent RB and SACD player. The SA-11 at $3400 is also highly regarded, albeit at a significantly higher price. Also the discontinued SA-8260 (which I own) is an excellent player for the money. I use it in a two channel system. I also have a Sony NS999ES DVD/CD/SACD player in my HT system that I occasionally use to listen to multi-channel SACDs...but while I find multichannel SACDs interesting and different I do most of my SACD listening on my two channel system with the Marantz player.
On a budget? Want direct DSD signal out? Want best sound for the dollar? Want a univeral player,that is software upgradable?
You have to get the OPPO DVD970HD universal for $149.00 USD
Order on line. I sold my Rotel 1072 after buying it. It's amazing. Read the (numerous) reviews! They're right!
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