Quote Originally Posted by emaidel
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