2. digital
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Is SACD really this lousy?

Bought a Sony SCD 1 and this is boring me in my system. Have had it for 2 weeks and just cannot get interested. Previously I had a CAL CL2o and we were astounded by how the DVD DAD's sounded-fall into the soundstage, reach out and touch the performers. Also the dynamic range used every bit of the VTL's 275 watts into the Maggies. The 44/16 side of the CL20 was at best lukewarm. This after coming off a Meridian 508 20. Then I tried the Wadia 270/27ix. In my system, all the write ups were proven wrong. Then I went to the Linn Ikemi. It was great except I couldn't forget that sound of the DVD's with the CL20. Sooooo....off I went to get the Sony SCD 1. I don't have a dealer here but trusted it wouldn't dissappoint. WRONNNG! I called Steve Huntley at Great Northern Sound to see if he could do anything. He said it was a great player, it's just that Sony missed the boat when it came to the analog section. He is in fact drawing up a mod to deal with this very thing that he says will approach the Accuphase. That however will cost anywhere from $1500 roonies for the SACD side to $3500 for both. Anybody have any comment on this or am I the only one experiencing disappointment?
jmazur402f
jkphoto
167 posts
 
I agree. With the right setup, CDs are "more than OK." SACDs, in the two lengthy auditions I have had, are very inconsistent. One disc makes your mouth water, the next sounds brittle. In all cases, the bass sounded very well defined but somehow a little recessed. Have we gotten used to the "Wadia sound?"
treyhoss
287 posts
 
I had the opportunity the other day to hear the SACD format for the first time - I've really been putting this off! The associated equipment was the Vandersteen 2ce (I was there to audition these!) new McCormack 125, McCormack pre (?model) all run with silver cables and interconnects (?brand). At first we were listening to "normal" CD's and I found the Sony SACD-1 to be overly bright with a very thin midrange and not much depth. The dealer was nice enough to replace the SACD-1 with a Parasound CD-2000. I felt the sound was much smoother with the Parasound, overall. THEN, the dealer put in an SACD disc. All of a sudden the highs were clean, crisp and the mid had warmth and the soundstage got deep - a HUGE difference! Anyway, I'm not going to do anything yet due to the limited # of titles but it did get me excited about what could come in the next couple of years. Listining to the SACD was the closest I've EVER heard digital come to analogue!
ghogman
16 posts
 
Get a good turntable and cartridge and hear Analog! Wait until digital gets figured out(years) and spin some records.
tml2
234 posts
 
Albert you hit the nail square on the head.Music is analog.Thats what our systems process.Not bits and bites.What makes one CD player better than another.The better the digital to Analog conversion is.Sit back and wait about 2/5 years when they may have figured it out.Dont let Sony and the others do R&D with your hard earned green.I take great joy in putting friends in the sweet spot and switching from CD to Vinyl.The most heard comment is.I thought CD's where supposed to sound better.Though I would never get rid of my Cd player.There are times when one just wants to sit back and enjoy the convinience of loading 6 dics in the tray and not moving for a few hours.Enjoy the music.
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