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SACD or vinyl? Looking for great sound and mid $$

I'm planning to upgrade my system and software as I find myself enjoying listening to music as I never have previously. The music that I plan to add is more jazz and classical which I am just starting to appreciate and therefore have a limited collection. Perhaps, I should provide a little background:

I began my quest for musical nirvana listening to a great number of speakers (B&W cdm, reference 3a, totem, opera, pro-ac, etc.) in shops with vastly different amplification and sources. I started to question the validity of the auditions when I began noticing my dislike of different systems that had the same sources (e.g. Music Hall cd 25 and the cambridge 500).

Reading all the while that I should start my upgrade path with the source, I thought a hybrid cd/sacd player would be the place. I heard a DSD recorded SACD that blew me away but I became sidetracked when I couldn't find a single sacd that I wanted available at my local store. I then thought I should just get the best cd player my money could buy (enjoyed the audio note 2.1x), and then I heard vinyl...

My question is should I get a SACD based system or vinyl? I've heard some of the most lifelike sounds ever in SACD (the cymbals and snare drum in Bennie Wallace's, "Moodsville" were sensational). On the other hand, the vinyl version of Johnny Cash's guitar strings in American Recordings was also stunningly lifelike and gripping.

I understand that the number SACD releases is increasing and the number of vinyl releases is decreasing, however we have a great used record store locally and the software is quite reasonably priced. On the other hand the convenience of SACDs is very attractive - my wife won't laugh at me or begrudge the fact that I am washing my LP's instead of the dishes :)

I'm also curious about price points. With a good LP, where does one need to start price wise for a tt/arm/cartridge to get the equivalent of an SACD playback of say the Shanling scd-s200?

I hope you can help a soul in search of good sounds.
conscious

Showing 3 responses by dougdeacon

dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Great point Bob. The enormous supply of affordable jazz and classical LP's should clinch the decision. Unless he's into new jazz, everything he likes is available now. Who knows when or if much of it will be reissued on SACD, or at what price?

I'll respectfully disagree with Musicslug about dynamic range, since the experience in my system is decidedly the other way around. LP's contain musical information at much lower levels than CD's, and also contain dynamic peaks that can relocate the sofa. Whether you can reproduce either or both is a function of your system and how well you clean your records. Ms. Concious should be pleased if he starts washing anything. That's more than most guys do!

The Shanling scd-s200 retails for about $1900. Lots of decent analog front ends could be had for that budget.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Look out, here comes another convert! You should have listened to Rushton's well reasoned warnings, Concious. Now it's too late.

I'm unfamiliar with Rega cartridges, but many say even better sound can be had for similar money. Colitas' cartridge is one idea and I'm sure there are others.

Ask your dealer for the price of a P3 with an RB250 arm. Not only will you save money, you'll get better sound. As Colitas mentioned, there are several reputable modifiers of Rega arms. They all believe the RB250 is sonically superior to the RB300.

These Rega arm mods offer great bang-for-buck sonic improvements and are universally admired (except by Rega of course). Changing the arm end stub and the counterweight, as Colitas suggested, should improve both bass and clarity. Visit www.expressimoaudio.com or www.tonearm.co.uk for details.

You might buy just the P3 from your dealer and add a fully modded up arm from one of the above. Simple and economical.

Buying used should get you more for you dollars of course, but if you're uncomfortable with that then a P3/modded RB250/??? cartridge would be excellent value. Welcome to the madhouse!
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Larryi, you're right about the available music of course, but CDs do not appeal to Concious. He wants a natural sound that redbook discs do not provide. His true choice is between enjoying the convenience of SACD despite a limited repertory and an unknown future, or to suffer the many inconveniences of LP's to enjoy a vast store of music in the genres he prefers.

One could argue that this is a false choice, since there's no reason (except money) not to have both formats. But when funds are limited this dilemma presents a serious decision. Hopefully our responses have helped clarify the relevant issues so he can decide which compromise makes the best sense for him.
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