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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
soniqmike
132 posts
 
I owned both SACD in the past and HDCD (my current player is HDCD)

Not all HDCD-encoded cd's are labelled or carry a logo as such. My HDCD light comes on with certain cd's, and they sure sound nice, sort of halfway between redbook and SACD sound (more air and detail).

Listen to Neil Young's ''Prairie Wind'' cd encoded with HDCD. The guitars are right there in front of you...

Great technology, worth it to get a player that does the HDCD thing if you can.

Cheers,

Mike
paulfolbrecht OP
586 posts
 
Yes, again, I'm quite familiar with the sonics of both formats. I have a MiniMax CDP that does HDCD very well (2nd system). What I'm looking for is insight into the future of both formats. I think that, as in a year ago, nobody really knows! No surprise.

I noticed that American was also selling the SA-11 new at an extremely good price. I got one of the last two today at that price (they went up $200 today). So - decision made! I've never heard one, but I doubt I'll be disappointed. Kinda had to make a quick decision there. It sounds like this is a superb player, especially at its price point, on both redbook and SACD.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Having owned a SA-14 that was built like a tank (complete with copper chassis!), I suspect you have made an excellent choice.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
You'll be happy, the Marantz SA-11 is a great machine....now send it to Underwood Wally for the Ultimate tube mod and..........

John
paulfolbrecht OP
586 posts
 
I don't understand the motivation for tubed output stages on CDPs. It's an "additive" mod - the tubes are used as buffers after the SS output - so what's the point, other than impedance matching, which shouldn't be any issue with an active linestage at least?

I'm not saying this particular mod package doesn't improve the unit - I'm sure it does.

When I had my Shanling, I preferred the SS output to the tubed, and believe me I'm a tube guy (SET).
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