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New Sony NS999ES is in.

It's a day old so it should improve but---

The CD player is competent, on par or perhaps a bit supperior to the Adcom/MSB combo. The SACD is better but not by a whole lot. But it is better. A touch more detail, and depth, etc.

What it does do is make listening to digital not Sux.

Vinyl still hold a serious edge but the gap has closed.

Oddly with the Sony the bass seems better with the CD.
Cymbals and all the air are only slightly better than the CD, and the Sony is slightly better than the antique Adcom, and newly improved MSB link.

So if your wondering about making the plunge, I say save your money for something else.

Will I buy SACD's in the future, you bet, will I replace existing recordings I already own, no way.

BTW I haven't yet done the 5.1 with it. That will come after Christmas.

cheers and Merry Christmas to all

loon
loontoon
kray's avatar
kray
63 posts
 
what would you recommend over the 999ES for around the same price?
trelja
3,215 posts
 
Give it some time, Loontoon...

I have often been very much disappointed in new digital players, only to have myself really take to them after a few days(assuming you are playing it all the time). The first 100 hours often shows tremendous change.

SACD is clearly better than CD. I say that in terms of the foundation and the flow of the music. This won't be apparent on a boom box, but it doesn't take an ultra high end system to distinguish the improvements. When I say "foundation", I am directly going against the statement that CD bass is superior. Allow things to run - in, and you will experience the slam and solidity of the lower frequencies that CD is incapable of in all but the best players. I'm not necessarily talking about ultimate extension, but the entire spectrum up to the midrange.

But, in the final analysis, you are quite correct, vinyl done right is still superior.
ben_campbell
1,164 posts
 
Trelja the problem with your post is you state your opinions like they are absolutes.
One of the key pro-SACD members on Audiogon truly believes it to be better than vinyl if done with the right kit.
Lots of people,lots of opinions but really SACD is clearly better than CD?
Not even those who agree with that statement agree with your final statement.
SACD is noticably inferior to CD in terms of the years best new music-how much is available on SACD?
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