Rob Babcock
Active Member
Well, I personally think SACD & DVD-A both sound better than LP or CD, but I don't have a lot of HiRes discs, and only a couple of them are SACDs.
I have to agree that the Redbook standard still has a lot of life left in it. I've come to the opinion that a lot of the edge attributable to SACD is due to the DSD mastering process; I've been floored by some of the CD remasters made with DSD.
I don't have a high end outboard DAC or anything, though I would like to go that route eventually. But even with my present gear, the best CDs come pretty close to the sound of SACD. The new XTC remasters, particularly, are stunning. I was flattened by Nonesuch , which is among my favorite albums of all time.
I've been reading the rumors lately of SACDs demise, and rumors that Sony is about to pull the plug. While I doubt the validity of these rumors, it's no secret that the format isn't doing very well. I'd like to see it survive, but I just don't see Sony and Phillips doing much to try to ensure it's survival. The "masses" don't care about high res audio and the audiophile guys don't want to be stuck with a DAC setup they can't tweak or change. I know encryption is the real goal of SACD, but I don't think it will take off til they incorporate some type of standardized digital output.
I have to agree that the Redbook standard still has a lot of life left in it. I've come to the opinion that a lot of the edge attributable to SACD is due to the DSD mastering process; I've been floored by some of the CD remasters made with DSD.
I don't have a high end outboard DAC or anything, though I would like to go that route eventually. But even with my present gear, the best CDs come pretty close to the sound of SACD. The new XTC remasters, particularly, are stunning. I was flattened by Nonesuch , which is among my favorite albums of all time.
I've been reading the rumors lately of SACDs demise, and rumors that Sony is about to pull the plug. While I doubt the validity of these rumors, it's no secret that the format isn't doing very well. I'd like to see it survive, but I just don't see Sony and Phillips doing much to try to ensure it's survival. The "masses" don't care about high res audio and the audiophile guys don't want to be stuck with a DAC setup they can't tweak or change. I know encryption is the real goal of SACD, but I don't think it will take off til they incorporate some type of standardized digital output.
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