State of HDCD and SACD


I am contemplating a new digital front-end and wondering if I should give preference to HDCD or SACD. It seems that you do not see these two technologies combined too often in a CDP, at least not well!

So, what I want to decide is "What has more of a future as a format?" I think both can sound excellent - that's not the question. I have a MiniMax CDP in my 2nd system that does great things with HDCD, and I previously owned a Shanling T200 that was great with SACD (and Redbook).

If I decide to put my eggs in the HDCD basket I'll probably get a Raysonic CD128. If SACD, a Marantz SA-11.

So, I would appreciate hearing takes on the respective futures of these formats. SACD has many titles available but still a drop, of course, compared to Redbook, and it seems views differed greatly on its future the last time I looked into it, about a year ago.

Would also consider other recommendations for players. Is there something there under $3K (preferably new - I don't trust used digital transports) that does HDCD and SACD and does them both well?
paulfolbrecht

Showing 1 response by soundboy

By all indications, 2007 may just be SACD's biggest year. About 2 weeks ago, Sony announced the introduction of the first car SACD players. As for Sony pulling the plug on software, you guys did see the continuation of the BMG Living Stereo series of SACDs? In 2006, there were about 700 new SACD titles released worldwide, which was on par with what was released in 2005. This year, we are seeing SACD releases from Genesis, the Moody Blues, the Pixies, Rick Lee Jones, and possibly Enigma. Not to mention all the classical and jazz SACD titles being released all the time. While SACD will never reach mass acceptance, it's not exactly on its deathbed either.