Upgrade CD transport/player vs. Sacd transport/player

@richardbrand -

Hi -

Accepting that the SACD roll-out and its associated support could have been handled differently and better, but just what does Joe Audiophile do in 2025?  It's not like SACD is in better shape from when first introduced 25 plus years ago.  

After I purchased the PSA Audio SACD transport, I purchased a Gustard DAC which had I2S connectors and lo and behold, it didn't get to the appropriate DSD/ PCM data level.  So, I2S to I2S connections don't always work.  As I understand it, the pins on each side of the HDMI connector have to line up correctly (as much as I remember or understand).

I just wanted my transport to work with SACD as it should and the most straightforward way to accomplish that was to purchase a PSA DAC.  I guess I could have researched this a lot more.  I just wanted to play my SACDs.

Rich 

@larsman  +1

 Thank you, really tired of those, who constantly cry "Streaming is nearly as good as physical media" then their solution is spend more money on a streaming package. Some of us have a vast library of optical media, some of which can not be found by streaming. Go disc, Go! 

Just for fun I looked up estimates for number of albums available. 

Red Book CD ~ 5 to 10 million

Streaming ~ 5 to 10 million

Vinyl Albums ~ 3 to 4 million

SACD ~ 25 thousand

If you have a sizable cd collection, then I would focus on getting the most out of it by pairing a solid cd transport with a great upsampling DAC.  I bought a PS Audio MKII DAC primarily for streaming, only to find that I generally preferred to listen to my old CDs, which now sounded better than ever. As others point out, SACD content is very limited, and a number of artists I like have pulled their music from streaming services, or some of their work was never available for streaming in the first place.  I got the Audiolab 7000cdt after a fair amount of research because I wanted to stay under $1,500 if possible.  (Vinyl is my first love and where I want to put more of my budget, in general .)  it was a clear upgrade over my similarly priced Marantz cd player, which I gave to my daughter.  I find I’m actually buying CDs again, and I don’t have t trash my collection.  For me, it’s a win/win.

@rar1 

just what does Joe Audiophile do in 2025

Depends where you live and what genres of music you listen to.

If you like classical, then Presto offers over 6000 new SACDs for delivery anywhere a postal service can reach.  

Big European orchestras with their own labels like the Berliner Philharmoniker and the London Symphony Orchestra are set up for silver disks of all types.

You need a transport at least, and Sony has one at a ridiculously low price point, which also plays Pure Audio Blu-Rays.  You need a pre-amplifier, AV pre-processor or integrated which has native HDMI input.  Not a problem if you are in Europe, Japan or Australia.

Then you can splurge on some superlative recordings from 2L - the Nordic Sound and compare CD, SACD and Pure Audio in up to 9-channel high resolution, plus Doby Atmos, all in the same silver disk package.

Or you can follow Joe down mysteriously odd rabbit holes