XRCD vs. SACD

My system has a Wadia 7/9 combination and a Sony SCD-1 in the digital front end. I've had the SCD-1 for two years now.

In general I find the Wadia on redbook to be a bit better than the SCD-1 on redbook (better soundstage and midrange).

XRCD's on the Wadia sound very good but to me don't match the detail and clarity of the small label direct DSD recordings, or the SACD's mastered by Doug Sax. However they sound as good or better to me than many of the Sony SACD's.

I think that a superbly mastered CD (i.e. XRCD) can sound better that a poorly mastered SACD, but that a well mastered SACD will sound better than a well mastered CD, given equivalent quality front ends.

My problem with SACD so far is there are no players on the level of the EMC-1, the capitole, the CD12, etc.... So even if these great mastered SACD's did exsist there would be no fair way to compare the two formats. Do what you feel is right, to me SACD doesn't seem right at this time- when there are more titles available and price comes down and there are some GOOD choices in players- then I will think about it again. I have a couple of SACD's and just sold my player, I think it was a good move at this time. Try a search this exact thread subject was posted about a month ago.

My system has the dCS Verdi SACD transport which will play both, however the red book is up-sampled to DSD thru the Purcell. I tend to agree with Ghostider45, the best way -or one way- is to compare the three recording of Jacintha. Because "Here's to Ben" is XRCD2, “Autumn Leaves” is Gold CD, and finally "Lush Life" is on SACD (or at least this is how have them). Normally all of her recordings are excellent. Well guess what? I still like the SACD better. So again, if the SACD is properly recorded, it will sound better than any other red book CD, whether it was XRCD, XRCD2, Gold, or Aluminium. This is just what I think.
Hope the above helps

I listened to the Tony Bennett/Bill Evans XRCD on my Richard Kern-modified SCD333ES SACD player, which certainly holds it own on redbook playback. (This is my only XRCD listening I've done.) I was struck by the analog sound, very rich; the warmth and emotion of Bennett's voice and Evans' piano really comes through... took me back to days when I had a VPI turntable. Never heard anything else like it on CD/SACD. However, I prefer the sound of the better SACD's, e.g., the Patricia Barber SACD's from Mobile Fidelity, and several other SACD's, too. The detail, imaging, and dynamics are outstanding. But I sure can understand why you might prefer the sound of some of the XRCD's.