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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
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.
paulfolbrecht OP
586 posts
 
TVAD, how is the SA-11 on redbook? Have you played with the different filter settings?
arahl
70 posts
 
I haven't seen/heard the 3930 but in general I agree that Denon DVD players are great at their respective price points.
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