I haven’t had the chance to hear the SACD, but I have HAD a HDCD Madrigal Proceed CDD/DAP. The thing sounded great (I thought until I had the chance to audition a REAL analog set up) I was so impressed with the sheer silence of the background and sound floor that I had to bring in my player and hook it up for my test. Not only did the turntable stomp the chit out of my $6000 set up, but it opened my eyes to how quiet and real a properly set up, cleaned and cared for vinyl playing system can be. I subsequently sold the high dollar digital and bought a modest player and a good turntable. I cannot remember the last CD I bought. I am having too much fun buying and listening to music on vinyl and dropping my jaw in comparison. People I must say that CDs are great for convenience and size. You can’t listen to your top albums in the car, or carry a turntable Walkman, and such but for the pain in the ass purist sound, analog is unbeatable. Analog to 1s and 0s then read back to analog is a process where something is lost period. As for laser disks as mentioned earlier, they were big, but they were not digital, as I learned they are FM. and are not 5.1 or DTS sound compatible, DVD is. Digital has convenience related advantages, but its ALL ABOUT THE SOUND. If SACD can reproduce the magic of vinyl to the ears of a digital convert, then I say alleluia!!! But it has to have the cost advantages, the availability of vinyl records. Until then, hear the music. Peace, Soundnught.
Is SACD really this lousy?
Bought a Sony SCD 1 and this is boring me in my system. Have had it for 2 weeks and just cannot get interested. Previously I had a CAL CL2o and we were astounded by how the DVD DAD's sounded-fall into the soundstage, reach out and touch the performers. Also the dynamic range used every bit of the VTL's 275 watts into the Maggies. The 44/16 side of the CL20 was at best lukewarm. This after coming off a Meridian 508 20. Then I tried the Wadia 270/27ix. In my system, all the write ups were proven wrong. Then I went to the Linn Ikemi. It was great except I couldn't forget that sound of the DVD's with the CL20. Sooooo....off I went to get the Sony SCD 1. I don't have a dealer here but trusted it wouldn't dissappoint. WRONNNG! I called Steve Huntley at Great Northern Sound to see if he could do anything. He said it was a great player, it's just that Sony missed the boat when it came to the analog section. He is in fact drawing up a mod to deal with this very thing that he says will approach the Accuphase. That however will cost anywhere from $1500 roonies for the SACD side to $3500 for both. Anybody have any comment on this or am I the only one experiencing disappointment?