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State of HDCD and SACD

I am contemplating a new digital front-end and wondering if I should give preference to HDCD or SACD. It seems that you do not see these two technologies combined too often in a CDP, at least not well!

So, what I want to decide is "What has more of a future as a format?" I think both can sound excellent - that's not the question. I have a MiniMax CDP in my 2nd system that does great things with HDCD, and I previously owned a Shanling T200 that was great with SACD (and Redbook).

If I decide to put my eggs in the HDCD basket I'll probably get a Raysonic CD128. If SACD, a Marantz SA-11.

So, I would appreciate hearing takes on the respective futures of these formats. SACD has many titles available but still a drop, of course, compared to Redbook, and it seems views differed greatly on its future the last time I looked into it, about a year ago.

Would also consider other recommendations for players. Is there something there under $3K (preferably new - I don't trust used digital transports) that does HDCD and SACD and does them both well?
paulfolbrecht
tvad
9,467 posts
 
As mentioned above, any of the recent Denon Universal players play HDCD and SACD (as well as DVD-A). Buy a modified version, and you're all set.

As for the question, I don't hear much difference between HDCD and redbook CD. The differences certainly wouldn't sway me to buy a HDCD player over another, better redbook-only player. SACD has a more definite difference in quality over redbook than does HDCD. XRCDs, on the other hand, sound quite good in my opinion, and they will play on any standard redbook CD player.

If I was making this decision, I'd buy a used modified Denon from APL or Modwright. One caveat...if you consider a used Denon 3910, be sure to ask the owner if the laser has been replaced. There have been some reports of the laser assembly failing in a few of these machines. The laser assembly can replaced for a couple hundred dollars.
paulfolbrecht OP
586 posts
 
I do already have a number of SACDs (about 15), mostly hybrids, that I bought when I had the Shanling.

When I switched to the all redbook, NOS DAC front-end I kidded myself into believing it was as good as SACD. Listening to a friend's Denon universal with SACD made me realize I'd been doing just that - kidding myself. SACD definitely sounds better than even the best redbook IMO. The question is, is it worth it with the limited selection of titles? HDCD is probably not on par with SACD (imaging is as good, but does not achieve the same smoothness in my experience).

This is why I'm trying to nail down this question: which has more of a future, SACD and HDCD? SACD is entreched as a _niche_ audiophile format but, damnit, it is still very much entrenched or so it seems to me. But I could be wrong!
david12
1,398 posts
 
I don't have much experience of SACD, but rather agree with the limited supply. HDCD on my Shanling CDT100 is a clear step up on CD and a no cost one, the CDs cost the same. I tend to agree both formats are barely walking wounded, if you go for HDCD, you will probably find a lot of your CD collection uses the format already. You already have an HDCD collection and you did'nt know it.
paulfolbrecht OP
586 posts
 
A couple more comments. SACD library: my big thing is jazz and there is a LOT of good stuff on the format. Enough that I'd probably only got around to buying around 1/3rd of what I wanted. That is a personal plus for me.

As for HDCD, again, I find it tends to give more air and better imaging & soundstaging, but doesn't have that buttery smoothness of SACD. Perhaps ironically, redbook with a good NOS DAC gives close to that level of smoothness (which sounds like vinyl to me), but SACD is still the king.

I think the advent of computer-based sources is yet another hit against the hi-res formats since, as we know, they can't be used with these because there's no digital interface (not to mention the space requirements).
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I'd go with the Marantz SA-11 because it offers a bigger benefit over the Raysonic. You can always run your NON OS DAC with the Marantz. You get the benefit of the warm redbook sound you enjoy, plus SACD. That's what I'd do.
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