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Here's the deal:
I want (need) to buy a SACD player - Price range: Sub $1000. I don't care about video quality as this will be solely for Music. I will listen in 2 channel stereo - I have a Rotel 1080 amp and a Yamaha preamp. I want quality of sound.
Please, if you respond, list your top thre and a short Pro/Con for each.
Thanks you very much !!!!
James
PS: I plan on updating as I learn, so no problem if I have to buy the "Next One" in 2 or 3 years.
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Post by zeus September 21, 2007 (2 of 26)
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zeus said:
You might want to check out this thread:
/showthread/13357//y?page=first
Lots to choose from.
Thanks Zeus - that thread was kind of lacking in giving a new guy advivce - I really know very little about SACD players - I just want to avoid making any significant errors in selecting one, or at least making the error with knowledge that I was making one. There seems to be several key considerations that I have heard (but still don't understand) such as the issue of PCM vs 1bit output? Most makers of these systems don't seem to come right out and say what there system can and can not do - Again any advice would be met with open arms : )
James
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Post by trntbl September 22, 2007 (4 of 26)
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My 2 cents:
- avoid players with video playback. No matter what the manufacturer says, CD/SACD sound is mediocre at best. (I´m talking about players costing less than say 2000 USD).
- go for multichannel player. Otherwise you really are missing the point with SACD.
- use high quality multichannel pre-amp with shortest possible signal path and NO processing. Ideally just 5.1 channel volume control. Forget receivers and all that cinema stuff.
kristian
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The only real need for multi-channle is if the music is "synthetic" and produced specifically for multi-channel, e.g. Bjork. For "normal" music, stereo is fine.
I use a _S3 with a multi-channel setups so that is not a biassed view.
If you really want stereo, this is available for £400 in the UK, so that is under budget. Plus, it's audiophile.....
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/3329
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trntbl said:
My 2 cents:
- avoid players with video playback. No matter what the manufacturer says, CD/SACD sound is mediocre at best. (I´m talking about players costing less than say 2000 USD).
- go for multichannel player. Otherwise you really are missing the point with SACD.
- use high quality multichannel pre-amp with shortest possible signal path and NO processing. Ideally just 5.1 channel volume control. Forget receivers and all that cinema stuff.
kristian
1) having seen the "universal" (well pre Blu-ray/HD DVD spat anyway) players in several recording studios that many here respect highly, I disagree with that opinion. A "universal" player has served me fine in the past/present/possibly future and several studios too, so I imagine this would be a suitable solution for most... Even those costing less than $2000.
2) Agree completely.
3) Yes but in the real world, the signal processing capabilities to overcome room deficiencies can produce a better overall sound - it all depends on how lucky you are with your listening environment.
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FunkyMonkey said:
The only real need for multi-channle is if the music is "synthetic" and produced specifically for multi-channel, e.g. Bjork. For "normal" music, stereo is fine.
With respect, I completely disagree. Stereo is ok but for acoustic music, especially that with cori spezzati effects, only MCH will do. In any respect, it sounds far better than stereo can ever sound and the walls melt in a way that is impossible to achieve with stereo...
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Post by trntbl September 22, 2007 (8 of 26)
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Sorry, I forgot to mention that I listen only classical music recorded in real acoustics. Not sure if that´s "normal", though. I agree that popmusic produced completely in studio probably won´t benefit from being multichannel.
kristian
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trntbl said:
I agree that popmusic produced completely in studio probably won´t benefit from being multichannel.
I couldn't disagree more. Pop music may benefit little from the high resolution SACD offers but multichannel production is precisely what makes in interesting.
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Thank you all for you input - If nothing else it has highlighted to me that music is a very personal thing, and needs to be determined for ones self. To that end, as I buy my SACD CDs, I feel comfortable starting with a pure CD/SACD player. I'm sure there will be improvement in two ways: First, the player I have selected, the Marantz SA 8001 (I hope not a mistake!) is far better than anything I have owned to date, so the the sound will have to be improved, and Secondly, SACD over CD even in Stereo will be an improvement(??)
I can see the argument that Mult-Channel would have some benefits with some music, but for the next several years I think that pure stereo will be enough for me - I just hope the quality is improved. I look forward to SACD and one day even MC!!!
Thanks again for your input!
James
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