Cheap SACD Player or wait for DVD Audio?

Get a cheap sacd. I like the SCD-1 - balanced outputs, and can be used as great transport later on. Sony/Philips/Marantz probably won't come out with a DVD-A. Check out the new multi-purpose players before you buy.

All the junk I have read from audiophiles in this forum and in AudioAsylum (ugh) about SACD make me wonder about this hobby. It is unbelievably clear that most SACD players suck because their analog stages are complete junk, as a poster above highlited. Regular well recorded CDs on a good redbook CD player from Muse (also plays DAD/DVD), Metronome, Ayre, Wadia, etc sound 100x better than SACDs on the pithy Sony SCD1 with its fake balanced outputs. Not to mention that there are genuine question marks about SACD technology. I for one do not intend to take even a passing look at SACDs until some decent players are produced.

Joe, I too would welcome a "high end " manufacturers SACD product, but have you sat down and listed to a SACD player on a decent system for an hour or so yet? When I did, the SACD quality made me wish all my favorite recordings were available in the SACD format. I appreciate the sound of vinyl, and found SACD to be a worthy challenger. It is also early in its development. We will probably see many improvements over time, if the format survives.

Bmpnyc, BRAVO!!! - you are THE ONE (expression is not mine, from movie Matrix) who has the EARS! (and I betcha lots of acoustic music listening. Perhaps, you agree with the statement that SACD dynamic range is much superior to the best vinil and few available DVD-Audio or 24/96 CDs. irs breathtaking, and emotional experience of Sony 9000ES/SACD mode as is, 777ES w/Jerry Ozment upgrade or Maranz SC-1 as is, is second to live concert only. Regarding the future winner it will be MP3 format (improved with wider acceptance of high bandwidth Internet connection, eg DSL)

Look, don't get me wrong, dynamic range is a great thing... but I wonder which one of you has a speaker with a dynamic range over 110 dB ? Or a room that can handle the difference between ppp and fff ? Probably none. On the other hand the analog stages in these players make them sound like muck. Yes, you can catch a glimpse of greatness lying around the corner, but you can never reach it. wITH NEW PLAYERS...PERHAPS. fOR NOW, THE BEST DIGITAL SOUND i CAN ACHIEVE IN MY SYSTEM IS WITH A 24/96 RECORDED dvd-a FROM cHESKY. bY THE WAY, i AM PRETY DISSAPOINTED THAT cHESKY IS JUMPING INTO THE HYPE BANDWAGON AND BOTH (I) ENDORSING AUDIOASYLUM AND (II) PRODUCING SACDS.. (Sorry about the caps, but I'm too tired to fix it now).