SACD vs DAC 7

For too many years I've listened to my CDs on a Meridian 602-603 setup, which when purchased was head and shoulders above the competition. I've gotten two or three of the Stones' SACDs and also Tubular Bells, so I thought I'd get a DVD player with built in SACD. I don't like buying far eastern manufactured goods, so I got the Philips.

And its DVD performance is pretty good, but SACD !!!! The elderly Meridian with its DAC7 Bitstream wipes the floor with it. Is SACD all it's made out to be? I'm losing my initial enthusiasm.

 

oxenholme, you seriously can't expect a middle high-end component to compete with the Rolls Royce of CDP's. Perhaps try to purchase a more appropriate strictly SACDP, as Gary suggested, and I think you'll get a much better picture of the reality of SACD.

 

Why not? I'm not even sure I'd call the CE775 "middle high-end", but yet everyone seems to love it.

 

This is probably a stupid question, but since I excel at those, what the hell, might as well go all the way...Is there an amp or receiver out there somewhere that has 2 6-channel analog inputs? This would solve the problem of buying a combo unit that might have a few too many compromises..like not playing SACDs up to the standard of DVD-A's, which makes no sense at all if you're a manufacturer....do they really think somebody who puts down the scratch for a combo unit isn't going to notice sonic differences? Who but the crazed audiophiles which we all are would even consider buying one?

ED

BTW, Luke, sorry if I sounded a little snappy this morning on another thread. The sandman and all that java finally got to me. If you do ever get the TTT CD pressing(or have the vinyl equiv)just hit Dolby Pro I and turn up the volume a bit. As I keep saying, I try to be Good but was born Bad. This is an excellent night to chill, methinks.

 

Ed, take a look at this thread for your query on mulitple 6ch inputs:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7881


oxenholme, I tried a similar comparision with my sony C555ES SACD player vs. the Meridian 508.24 CD player. For CDs, there was no comparision, the Meridian kicked the Sony out the door. I tried a Stones SACD in the Sony and used the redbook layer of the same SACD on the Meridian. Things got closer, but the SACD in the C555ES beat the Meridian doing redbook. I think you make a valid point, but the potential of SACD can always beat redbook IMO.

 

Sam, thanks for the thread. Had forgotten all about it. Much appreciated!

ED

 

FWIW, I *believe* oxen was saying he had a player that did DVD video and SACD, not DVD-A and SACD.

Have the Apex players that are supposed to do both SACD and DVD-A come out yet?

No biggie, I didn't even notice.

 

Right again, Luke. I got the gist, anyway, which is more than I sometimes do...now that I reread it, makes you wonder why a company would bother with a combo like that if the sound isn't there. Guess they hope it's your first SACD player and you won't notice. Not logical, since some high-end mag is sure to review it and call them on it. Or somebody here...

ED

 

Ed,the Denon 5800 has 2 6-channel inputs.A mighty fine receiver.

 

Also, the newest Sony ES receivers (1ES, 2ES, 4ES, 7ES) have 2 sets of 5/6.1 inputs.

 

Luke,
I know a lot of people like the 775, but then why are some having them modded? Why did SamS buy a 555ES instead of a 775?

 

Thanks for the tip! Will have to check it out.

ED

 

I used to half think / half hope that DSD software was going to make me a happy hifi camper - but that was BEFORE I actually heard it, back when I was believing the hype.


FFF

 

a) Um, why would anyone spend $$$ to modify anything that they don't already like the sound of?

b) A stock 555ES probably sounds better than a stock 775. At least, that's the theory!


FFF

 

Re: Re: SACD vs DAC 7

Please tell us what you heard and disliked.

 

I have heard the 775, and it's a great machine for the $$.

The real question should be: "Why did Sam buy the C555ES when the retail price was $1700?"

Seriously, though. You have to remember when this player was announced there were only 3 Sony SACD players to date: SCD-1 (too expensive), 777ES (still too expensive for me at the time, only 2ch), and 333ES (only 2ch but everyone loved it).

When the C555ES came out, I thought it would make a huge splash. Very good build quality and it was the most advanced SACD player ever. Multi-channel, and the first one with bass mgmt.

I knew the 775 was coming (and people urged me to wait) but I wanted the C555ES because I figured it would have better sound and build quality, which it does. I was thinking that this would be the player to last me forever. Alas, I always get bit by that damn upgrade bug and now considering an XA777ES. Anybody wanna slightly used C555ES?

 

Re: Re: Re: SACD vs DAC 7

Ah, such a loaded question! So, let me punt it back to you - please tell us that you don't think anything is wrong with DSD.


FFF

-----
"I swear by God we are more keen on dying than you are keen on living." - Chechyan terrorist in Moscow theatre

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: SACD vs DAC 7

My question is an honest question. I wasn't trying to get into a burden-of-proof debate.

I think something's wrong with every piece of audio gear I've ever heard, in that none of them sounds exactly like the real thing. Some nevertheless are closer than others.

To my ears and on my system, listening to hybrid SACDs, the SACD layer sounds better than the redbook layer. The improvement ranges from mild to fairly dramatic.

Please pardon me for saying this, but something about your tone makes me think you're not interested in a serious discussion of the merits of SACD/DSD.

Over to you.

 

I'm not sure who is replying to whom, but my original post re SACD vs DAC7 was for the right reasons. Perhaps what HAS thrown me is the unbelievably good performance of my Philips CDR Audio standalone recorder that produces superb results when copying from analogue (analog?) and quite remarkable results when used as a first generation recording device from the mixer. Maybe I expected too much from the Philips DVD 763SA, which is after all only about £200 when compared with the £3500 of the Meridian 602-603 combination. It is infact an excellent DVD player, and it manages quite good results playing back MP3's as well.

When a British company produces an audiophile machine that plays SACD, DVD-A and HDCD I'll try again !!!!

 

Sorry, oxenholme. I meant no harm to you or to anyone. It's just that I've read a lot of posts from FabFourFan saying that DSD does horrible things to audio, and I'd like to know more specifics. In my last post I speculated that FFF wasn't interested in that kind of discussion. Probably I should keep such speculations to myself!

Stop me, Gorts, before I speculate again!

 

I suspect that Musical Fidelty are most likely to be amongst the first or possibly Arcam

How are the lakes

All the best - Andrew

 

Oh how I wish you could be right. I never know whether I can trust any Hi Fi dealer, but the gentleman in Practical Hi Fi in Lancaster said that Musical Fidelity reckon they can get SACD sound quality by extrapolating from 16 bit to 24. I think Arcam already produce a top end DVD player with DVD-Audio capability, but not at the moment SACD.

Meridian were opting for DVD Audio when I last got in touch, but time will tell.

They are selling The Stones' Singles triple SACD for £17.99 in MVC. Maybe I should get it ....

The Lakes? It's been throwing it down and blowing a gale, with plenty of thunder and lightning today, but I still got a decent ride in on the bike early afternoon.

 

It would seem that "the gentleman in Practical Hi Fi in Lancaster" hasn't been keeping up with recent developments at Musical Fidelity. They have already shown their upcoming Tri-Vista SACD player at international Hi-Fi shows and it is mentioned in their latest product catalogue.