Why haven't audiophiles enthusiastically endorsed the SACD?

[E-Stat]

If the SACD is, in the opinion of many highly regarded and award-winning recording engineers (and myself, for whatever that's worth) "the best thing out there," then why hasn't it taken top spot in the mind of most audiophiles?

As for me, it is largely a question of timing. I don't replace components that often and the last CD player I bought (aside from a cheap transport for the garage) was over six years ago. Another requirement is any replacement player will also have a high, low impedance output to obviate the need for a line stage. While top octave extension is important, overall top to bottom resolution is equally important to me. My present GamuT player has a 4 volt/75 ohm output vs. the Marantz at 2.4 volts/150 ohms. It drives the amps directly through DACT stepped attenuators.

I have perhaps ten dual layer Telarc SACD discs presently and would love to hear them in their native state. I've also ripped my CD collection to a computer server and enjoy the convenience of immediate access and random playback. I think Sony shot itself in the foot by deliberately crippling the medium to prevent that capability. You speak of the *convenience* of a format that still requires the use of handling discs. That is clearly not the direction of the future, regardless of bit depth and resolution.

rw

[Ajani]

I have perhaps ten dual layer Telarc SACD discs presently and would love to hear them in their native state. I've also ripped my CD collection to a computer server and enjoy the convenience of immediate access and random playback. I think Sony shot itself in the foot by deliberately crippling the medium to prevent that capability. You speak of the *convenience* of a format that still requires the use of handling discs. That is clearly not the direction of the future, regardless of bit depth and resolution.

Yep... another problem is that it is too late for SACD.... Its time to gain popularity with the mass market was back before MP3 became so popular... but it squandered that time in format wars with DVD-A...

Its time to gain acceptance with Audiophiles has now passed as well, since many audiophiles are now seeing the potential for Hi Fidelity downloads.... Crappy low quality MP3s opened the door for high end music servers.... Physical mediums are slowly (or not so slowly) being replaced by Media Servers...

As I've stated a few times before, Vinyl will probably outlive both CD & SACD as a collectors item (and for the few audiophiles who still reject digital)... But CD & SACD can easily be replaced by downloads of the same or even higher quality...

If you are a classical lover, then an SACD player is a good buy now... but give it a few years and you'll likely be able to get the same quality or better from downloads + have access to all other genres of music...

[emaidel]

My present GamuT player has a 4 volt/75 ohm output vs. the Marantz at 2.4 volts/150 ohms. It drives the amps directly through DACT stepped attenuators.

I have to admit, I haven't a clue what you're saying.


I have perhaps ten dual layer Telarc SACD discs presently and would love to hear them in their native state.

I'm not sure what you mean by "their native state." I do know that of those Telarc SACD remasters of older Soundstream originals, the CD's I replaced with the SACD's simply sound thin and flat by comparison to the remasters. There is a good deal more depth to the soundstage; a noticeable "sweetness" to the strings; decidedly more body and "throatiness" to the brass; and a huge improvement in bass response. I hope this was useful information. Also, to me, the pinnacle of such remasters is the Mahler 2nd, conducted by Leonard Slatkin. The CD originally sounded pretty good, but the SACD is just balls-out glorious by comparison.

[E-Stat]

I'm not sure what you mean by "their native state."

The SACD layer.

I do know that of those Telarc SACD remasters of older Soundstream originals, the CD's I replaced with the SACD's simply sound thin and flat by comparison to the remasters.

I would agree that mastering makes the greatest difference in the final product, regardless of the medium chosen.

rw