Is it worth buying an SACD player?

OK. It can play SACD via the analog outputs and via HDMI. It is never available via coax or toslink.

I suspect that the LPCM setting is irrelevant to SACD since (1) DSD is not PCM and (2) none of those values represent the sample rate for DSD. (DSD, btw, is the common data format for SACD.)

Since most SACDs are hybrids, you should be able to compare SACD with the CD layer on the same disc.

Kal

If your DVD player can play the SACD but (1) you cannot hear a difference between "regular CD" and SACD and (2) your player doesn't access the "higher end sampling," it is likely you are only hearing the RedBook (CD) layer of a hybrid SACD. Thus, you are still only listening to a CD.

So, you do need a real SACD player to appreciate what the medium can do. There are many options and, for the most part, all will output analog audio from the SACD layer and almost all SACDs have a dedicated 2-channel track on them.

Specific recommendations? Too many options but they start at about $100 and go everywhere.

Is it worth it? Well, again, that depends on whether you have or will buy enough SACDs to justify the purchase. Go to www.sa-cd.net and see what there is that appeals to me. If so, don't wait as you are coming very late to the party.

Kal (who is now hoarding SACDs and players)

Buconero117 wrote:

No. Wait until the SACD masters are issued on blu-ray.

Depends on how patient or old you are. I don't see a comparable level of purely musical releases to happen for quite a few years.

Kal

Unsound:
I think it interesting that Sony has yet to offer a Blue Ray player with SACD decoding. That makes me wonder about the future of SACD.

Yes but they introduced two new SACD players at CEDIA.

Pzuckerman:
BTW, SACD and DVD A are generally accessed by analogue, not digital connection.

Until recently when DSD via HDMI has become common.

Kal

Many of the early Sony SACDs were single-layer, that is, SACD only.

Kal

Go to www.sa-cd.net for a more comprehensive listing.

Kal