SACD 2 channel vs Redbook 2 Channel

I have the Emm Labs Dac6, which is a top of the line redbook CD player -- best I've ever heard -- simply amazing -- yet -- its SACD play-back is still superior. SACD is a superior medium. Music sounds more natural -- you have to hear it to understand.

Socrates I admire your review of the improvements SACD offer and find them to be acurate. However, I wish your jab at Ben had been left out. I've found over the past five years Ben to be consistant in his taste and his opinions. I believe there is room for both of you to be right here, which I believe you both are. For the entry level SACD may not have enough upside. This opinion is formed from reading others comments with lower end systems. My experience is only with high end systems, and I fully agree with Socrates. For my taste SACD is a vast improvement, and very addictive. Just my opinion, and that is what this poster asked for.

I, like Ben, decided after owning a Shanling T200 SACD/CD and a modified Sony 999ES that I didn't discern enough difference between the two formats to justify any new investment in SACD disks or equipment. Since my collection is 99% redbook, I chose to allocate my dollars to maximizing redbook playback. This is not to say I have dismissed SACD, quite the contrary, but at this moment with technology changing quickly it doesn't make sense to me to invest in high end hardware before the format wars have run their courses.

matchstikman, I am a strong proponant of vinyl, and I really think the labor issue is overblown. It takes time to get the original setup right, but after that there really isn't a lot to worry about, unlike some will indicate!

Get a little help from your friends, ultimately I think you will be happier with LPs. I could be wrong though.

While I'm also a strong proponent of vinyl (I've listened to almost nothing but since I returned 6 mos. ago), I don't think it renders the debate as moot since there is almost no decent vinyl available for recent recorded music. Even where vinyl is available, to my ear it is so digitally processed that it soulds no better than the CD in most cases or worse. I restrict my vinyl collection to pre 1980's stuff at the latest.