Eadese is correct. I have owned several high end CD players over the past year including a Marantz SA-1. While the Marantz was quite good with SACD, I felt it lacked the emotion of the Mephisto II. SACD is initially very impressive on the surface - loads of detail - expansive sound but in the grand scheme of things, it's not involving at all.
A direct A/B comparison between the Mephisto and an SACD player will show differences (minor) but extended listening will show you that there is a far greater sense of magic when the Mephisto is playing redbook than when an SACD is playing in another player. The Sony DVP-9000ES sounds two dimensional - almost mechanical. It plays all the notes but doesn't seem to put the feeling into the notes. I often attribute this to the differences in musicians - while some are good at playing all the notes, for whatever reason their performance might lack the emotion or soul which should be a part of the piece. This type of a performance which seems very sterile or mechanical, not emotional. I guess its the difference between a musician and a GREAT musician. In the case of the Mephisto vs. SACD players, I feel the SACD lacks soul and the Mephisto is overflowing with it. That is the difference between a CD (SACD) player and a GREAT CD player.
I have used the word "magic" many times to describe what a Mephisto does as it seems to be the most logical term. There really is no other way to describe the Mephisto in ways that people who haven't listened to it (deeply) can understand.
While Eadese is correct that newer SACD and even cheap DVD players seem quieter in the background than the Mephisto they cannot touch it for sheer delight and listening enjoyment.
A direct A/B comparison between the Mephisto and an SACD player will show differences (minor) but extended listening will show you that there is a far greater sense of magic when the Mephisto is playing redbook than when an SACD is playing in another player. The Sony DVP-9000ES sounds two dimensional - almost mechanical. It plays all the notes but doesn't seem to put the feeling into the notes. I often attribute this to the differences in musicians - while some are good at playing all the notes, for whatever reason their performance might lack the emotion or soul which should be a part of the piece. This type of a performance which seems very sterile or mechanical, not emotional. I guess its the difference between a musician and a GREAT musician. In the case of the Mephisto vs. SACD players, I feel the SACD lacks soul and the Mephisto is overflowing with it. That is the difference between a CD (SACD) player and a GREAT CD player.
I have used the word "magic" many times to describe what a Mephisto does as it seems to be the most logical term. There really is no other way to describe the Mephisto in ways that people who haven't listened to it (deeply) can understand.
While Eadese is correct that newer SACD and even cheap DVD players seem quieter in the background than the Mephisto they cannot touch it for sheer delight and listening enjoyment.