SACD Player--Do you use it and feel you'd replace it if it broke?


I've always been curious about SACD.  For many years I was near 50% cd and 50% vinyl in my listening.  I ditched CDs and went all vinyl for awhile. In the last 2 years I have upped my digital game with a great tube DAC and enjoy Tidal quite a bit.  As I now have better sounding digital I've wondered if my previous bias slightly against digital clouded my view of SACD.  

I'm thinking that if I bought one and had 10-15 killer SACDs I would feel it worth it.  This would require the SACDs to be of great music I love and also offer something special sonically. 

And now, THE Question:  What can you tell me about your SACD use and would you replace the player if it broke or was otherwise out of commission? 

Thank you so very much.  This forum makes it possible to get intel like this without knowing a living soul using SACD that I could have a beer (or two :) and learn more from a firsthand user. 
128x128jbhiller
I agree with Tom.With a really good dac redbook  gets  very close to SACD sq.
I had a Sony SCD 1 for about 12 years. It ceased playing SACD but was great on Redbook CD. New lasers for it were not available so I sold it and bought a Marantz SACD player. I really like the sound quality of SACD.
Unquestionably the SACD format is better than CDs, and is in many ways the equal to vinyl in tonality.  I would definitely replace a broken SACD player, in fact, I have already done so.  My current player is a McIntosh model 600 which is superb.  I had a lesser player which skipped terribly. 

I have purchased about sixty or seventy SACDs, mostly jazz, with some classical and rock thrown in.  I just wish more titles were available.

jbhiller


My pleasure. Those older Rotel players are still very good for CD playback, IMO.  If considering a SACD spinner, check out offerings from, Marantz, Pioneer Elite or Sony ES.  No, I am not into music server/streamer(s).  There has never been a better time to play CD/SACDs.


Happy Listening!

I have McIntosh MCD-450 and I would say the SACD version usually sounds more alive than redbook. No comment on quality of recordings. My general perception. However, the difficulty in finding SACD I want to listen seems to outweigh the benefit. Not readily available in my local market which I prefer to support. Granted haven't made much of an effort to search online. Have tried but get intimidated by what is SACD and what is not based on the advertising. If there were a site that was easy to navigate, I would love some input on this. In the end however when I compare SACD to my vinyl version, the vinyl is usually more pleasing to my ears.