Is SACD really this lousy?

i've heard SACD, audio DVD, CD (44.1) and the best analouge frontends out there. best thing i've ever heard is 1 inch, 2-track master tape through a hot-rodded Studer-Revox (tube) reel-to-reel @ 30 ips. but how practical is that? ever tried to find master tapes? i have roughly 5,000 lps and 1400 CD's. i still collect lps but, contrary to the experience of david99 (BTW, you ought to get a spellchecker and maybe buy a used version of Strunk & White), find that new lps, if they are available at all, cost as much or more than new CD's on sale (as they always are somewhere). fact is, if you want to listen to almost anything new, you're confined to digital sources. live with it! it ain't gonna change, no matter that there are a handful of us still around with the means and desire to buy $20k+ tt/arm/cartridge combos. and, unless you play your records at something approaching a whisper, you're gonna get noise, no matter that you have, as do i, the best-of-the-best equipment and software. my experience is this: the Accuphase SACD transport played through an Accuphase DC 330 all-digital preamp is vastly superior to any of the Sony's; problem is the former is likely to cost at least 4x's more than the Sony under discussion (at this point, i don't have a qoute on the SACD transport but the digital pre with all the option boards you'll want will run you $18-21k). notwithstanding this observation, the SACD format, with 1st-rate electronics and speakers, is clearly superior to CD, 24/96 audio DVD and CD(44.1). since there are only about 100 SACD's in the present worldwide catalogue, i've not been able to a/b them with lp's. i suspect, tho, that the SACD may, in fact, surpass all but the best-of-the-best lp sources/frontends. all that said, you guys are all focusing on the wrong problem here. SACD, and perhaps CD, may already be doomed formats (i hate it, too, but vinyl is already on life support). MP3 and Napster have changed the face of audio already and, IMHO, may wipe out the whole highend, as we know it, in the next 2-3 years. SACD will not be supported by the oligarchy that controls it unless those few of us on the outer reaches of the audio market embrace it as a format an order of magnitude better than any alternative. absent that, expect to be yolked with compressed, narrow-band dreck that you won't need anything better than Radioshack offers to appreciate fully. but, borrowing (no, stealing) from dennis miller: that's just my opinion; i could be wrong.

Cornboy-now this is getting absurd.As far as my spelling go back and check yours,teacher.As far as your comment on the prices and avaliability of new music,it just shows how out of touch you are.Have to play LPs at a whisper?? Again,know what you are talking about before you jump in.

I am amazed at how far off track this tread has gone. The original post ask for comments regarding "EXPERIENCE" with a specific piece of gear and it seems to have turned into a debate. I can remember when my 8-track provided me with music. Certainly not the best but I Love music and will enjoy it however I can. Even my first transitor radio provided me many hours of enjoyment. I guess my point is, it's primarily about the enjoyment of music. Not the gear or format.

Jmazur: The breakin is required for both SACD and CD outputs. I received the Bel Canto EVo late May after issues with the design were resolved. This amp replaced a $7K McCormack DNA2 LAE. For $2400 you can't go wrong. It extremely musical, resolving, and neutral sound. Its definetely on par with LAE but I couldn't directly A/B them. You will see a review in Stereotimes soon. As for SACD, buy the DMP SACD disks (Just Jomin, Quality of Silence, Tricycle and Alto). I find SACD to have better resolution, 3D imaging/soundstage depth/width and less fatiquing than CD. I also forgot to mention you need to use the Marigo Mat. Did you try the RCA ic yet? Drubin: The bybee mod on the p300 replaces a cheap surge filter (mine did't have one) to "quantum charge the flowing electrons" prior to regenerating AC. Call Audionut for more info, its easy to install. It reduced system noise further revealing even more detail and body.

In response to Rfenol@notes.teradyne.com, there is nothing wrong with your analog. The set up you have is nearly what I had one year ago. At that time I had a Basis Mk5 and Graham with Ruby 2. If you are not satisfied with that set up because of noise, then you need someone else to adjust it for you. As far as suggesting what will give you 100% satisfaction, no person can possibly guarantee that. I will say that if you dislike the analog system you currently have, upgrading will not change your mind. Yes, there is much better analog systems, but as you say, it will never be the Boston Symphony. Neither will SACD, again the topic of this discussion, which concerned an Audiogon poster's dissatisfaction with a new format. And to Goose 89, you are correct, the point should be about enjoying music. In fact I had a topic that was about favorite music. The topic here is the ugly topic of trying to come to grips with the formats that are provided to us audiophiles, regardless of what we want. I am speaking from experience regarding all the formats being discussed here. The problem with all of us music junkies is we are all hoping to get closer to live music. The whole purpose of recorded music is to allow us to listen to people who are not available to perform for us, some of which are already deceased! The argument over format is a natural one, as we spend more money on the software than the hardware (in the long run) and really, it makes about as much difference as any of the pieces of hardware.