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Coping in an Age of Uncertainty

there have been numerous threads here, i know, about sacd v. dvd-a, upsampling, oversampling, etc. a number of these threads have included discussions of which, if any, new digital format will replace what we now call “redbook” cd’s. i don’t wish to rehash these discussions. rather, i’d like to hear from others how they are coping with the “age of uncertainty” in the realm of digital audio. is it better to “roll the dice” and invest in sacd or dvd a? ignore the contenders for the new and get the best possible out of redbook cd’s? buy with upgradeability firmly in mind? follow another path? i don’t post this query out of mere curiosity. i really haven’t figured out what course i should follow. i’d appreciate your giving me a hand. -kelly
cornfedboy
jdaniel18ee
88 posts
 
If you can't live without your CD collection, buy the best CD player you can. I'm just about to purchase the Musical Fidelity A308 CD player with upsampling. Works for me regarding warmth and transparency. Then buy a dedicated SACD player down the road. I don't like the idea of hybrid players; isn't the quality split?
lihifiguy
126 posts
 
Redbook has the most selections of music nothing comes close and any other format has slim picking in comparison. & there is reasonable priced gear that can extract the very best sound that will please & satisfy.
jzzmn88
58 posts
 
I have struggled to resist the impulse to buy an SACD player "just because" and am glad I didn't. Instead I upgraded my redbook player and never looked back. Why? because CD's are not going anywhere for a long, long time and whenever I hear something new on my favorite public jazz station, I pop on over to Barnes and Noble or Amazon and buy the cd. I think I would have a very difficult time trying to find the same title in SACD or DVD-audio.
jdaniel18ee
88 posts
 
Don't forget that you can buy a hybrid that plays both until SACD replaces the CD completely. The Marantz SA-14 version 1 or 2 gives very good 16-bit playback and the SACD section is astonishing. Clearly better. If you are worried about the availablity of titles, check out www.sa-cd.net and you'll see there are 2000+ to choose from, three new pressing factories opening and an average of 3 titles a day being released this year. The jump is worth it. Surround is a blast as well.
stefan2a53
5 posts
 
Players are here to play THE MUSIC YOU LIKE. Most of the issues (I like Jazz) are in CD only. You will hardly find your favorite new music in SACD or DVD_A. So why bother with these players.
Get the best CD player you can and it will deliver about the best sound you can imagine. I got an Audiomeca Mephisto IIX, and beeing able to get any player I could possibly wish at dealer cost, I found this one to be the very best. And very elegant and beautifull at that.
I think that the SACD and DVD_A fight will end in both formats disappearing, because remember, players with Hard Disks are coming, and THAT is the future.
What I do not understand is why the SCAD and DVD camp did not license to everybody and just issued all new music as SACD hibrids (at the same price of CD). That would have been a way to bring the new format into the homes and make it popular. Because lets face it, whichever new format which does not become popular will sooner or later die. Remember the way of quadrafonic sound, Kodaks Disk Film, Betamax,etc.
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