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What high-end multichannel SACD players are there?

Hello,

My SACD collection is growing! It looks like SACD is here to stay, as more and more discs are popping up on the MusicDirects of the world.

Anyway, I have an ONKYO SP1000 universal player. It plays SACDs. It is multi-channel. It sounds pretty decent, but I'm sure there are much better players out there.

I'm trying to find out what my options are to replace it with a better sounding SACD player. Looks like there are a bunch of players out there from the likes of Esoteric, DCS, McIntosh, Ayre, Krell, etc... BUT they ALL seem to be only 2-channel!

Isn't one of the main points of SACD to be MULTI channel? All the dics have multichannel tracks, and I would hate to give up the option to play them by moving to a better sounding player.

Basically what I'm wondering is this - What are the options for a true high-end SACD player that also has mutichannel capabilities?
goatwuss
goatwuss OP
877 posts
 
Thanks guys.

Budget is up to $3k or so, new or used, could swing more for a really compelling solution.

Current line of thinking is Oppo 95 going over HDMI, unless I stumble across a much better sounding option over HDMI. It wouldn't make sense for me to go analog as my D2 will just re-convert to digital to do room correction and bass management.
jdub39
486 posts
 
If room correction is your primary focus with your sacd playback then the Oppo 93 is a safe bet with your Anthem, having said that, if the best of both worlds and SOTA player is what your after( ESS Sabre Dac's are at the top of the pile) , then the Oppo 95 is killer on multi channel sacd via its analog outs! I feed my Anthem avm20 the analog outs from the 95 both 7.1 and 2 channel xlr. You owe it to yourself to research this well, I replaced a Denon 5900 universal player and Pioneer 51fd with the 95, properly setup using the FL/FR quad heaping of the Ess Sabre dac's for the main channels, the 95 bested all three regardless of format being played back. The 95 is also outstanding playing back usb hi rez files. bottom line the 95 is the highend multi channel sacd player your looking for !
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,649 posts
 
Current line of thinking is Oppo 95 going over HDMI, unless I stumble across a much better sounding option over HDMI.
Why 95? If you are going HDMI, get the 93.
theo's avatar
theo
2,659 posts
 
Goatwuss, I am using my Denon analog 6 ch out to the 6 ch input on my D2v and it is passing thru without using room correction. I have HDMI setup for BR and have tried it both ways and analog is much better. I ask if spending 3K and buying the Oppo will you have the Modwright mod done? I couldn't afford that but I would have considered it to be a way to go. If you do let us know how that works out;
goatwuss OP
877 posts
 
Thanks for the responses guys!

Hi Kal - I was thinking the 95 instead of the 93 to future-proof myself a bit. Right now I have my stereo and HT systems combined. I'm hoping to be able to separate the two within a couple of years so at that point I wouldn't mind having the better better analog section. Possibly Modwright?

Maybe in hindsight you are right - if I'm going HDMI only right now, maybe it's smarter to start with the 93, and then later on when I split the systems get another 2 channel player with a better analog section. Something to think about....

Also - I recently snagged a pair of Revel Studios, a big motivating factor being that you owned them for a few years! Fantastic speakers!!!

Theo - Are you going analog direct into the D2v? If so - then aren't your crossovers and everything all screwed up? (ie. bass management)
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