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SACD... can you hear the difference?

I'm fairly new to SACD as it's only been a month since I purchased my first player that takes advantage of the format. Some say even on a good system which is set up properly that they can not notice a difference between SACD and standard CD.

For example my Wife is a huge James Taylor fan. A couple weeks ago I found 2 original master recording SACD disks from a company called Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs. Both James Taylor just as she has on CD. I dialed them in perfect and OH MAN! To me the difference was like night and day, but she couldn't tell the difference in sound quality.

So either I'm imagining things or I'm able to pick up on musical pitch and clarity much better than her. I'm sure of what I'm hearing with no doubt, but she thinks I'm crazy.

Can anyone here notice how much better SACD sounds on their system verses a standard CD.
pigchild
mceljo
983 posts
 
At times I have thought that I heard a difference, but more recently I am less convinced of there being a difference. What I have noticed is that SACDs almost always have great recordings on both layers. If they make the effort to uses SACD they are going for a quality recording.
arh
366 posts
 
I prefer redbook to SACD. To me SACD lacks the impact and presence of redbook assuming identical masters. I also find that there is something wrong with high frequencies with SACD. Can't quite put my finger on it..I use a Sony 5400 for sacd or a Mytek dac for DSD files and an Audio Note dac for redbook. To me SACD is highly over rated
Alan
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
5,112 posts
 
Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't.....many of my Redbook CD's are better than SACD's
dweller's avatar
dweller
2,152 posts
 
Don't forget the old standby argument:
"If you can't hear the difference, your system isn't good enough".
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"Can't quite put my finger on it..I use a Sony 5400 for sacd or a Mytek dac for DSD files and an Audio Note dac for redbook. To me SACD is highly over rated"

Why not try SACD and CD on one player like your Sony? That way you hear the differences you need to hear instead of the differences between players.

"09-06-14: Dweller
Don't forget the old standby argument:
"If you can't hear the difference, your system isn't good enough"."

That maybe true, but you also need to consider the fact that your system may be good enough, but the fault may lie with you. Not having good listening skills, bias, not using the equipment properly..., that type of thing.
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