Fairly new to this forum, just a bit confused about cds and where things are going. SACD seems to be the latest thing but is it worth it on older recordings which only had 2 tracks anyway? Say 50s jazz. Also I don't want to fork out loads of money for SACDs when a few years down the line there will be something better, what do people think?
SACD
- Thread starter BigH
- Start date
Al ears
Well-known member
There will always be something new around the corner!
SACD, whilst making a slight resurgance, are still old hat. Certainly not worth the money unless you actually own something to play them on already. I still buy them now and again.
Vinyl is making a comeback but again decent heavyweight LPs are not cheap.
At the moment if you want to future-proof then hi-res downloads appears to be the way to go.
SACD, whilst making a slight resurgance, are still old hat. Certainly not worth the money unless you actually own something to play them on already. I still buy them now and again.
Vinyl is making a comeback but again decent heavyweight LPs are not cheap.
At the moment if you want to future-proof then hi-res downloads appears to be the way to go.
Neither SACD, nor the rival DVD-Audio format, have really taken off, although SACD did enjoy some limited success for a while in the classical music market. But with the move to hi-res downloads, disc-based media seem to be in decline.
OK thanks for that advise, re downloads where is the best place to do it and onto what. Do you download onto a cd then play it?
You can't legitimately download any mainstream DSD files from SACD rips unfortunatley, only PCM conversions at 88.2 or 176.4khz. HDTracks in the US is probably the best, but you need to use a VPN showing your IP address in the USA and pay by PayPal.
In the UK, have a look at Linn Studio Masters for hires downloads. You can make a hires DVD-Audio disc with these files if you have the right software, I prefer to playback FLAC files via my PC and DAC.
If you're quick, this is available for free download until tomorrow. 'Red River Maples' sounds great, these are 24bit 96KHz studio masters.
In the UK, have a look at Linn Studio Masters for hires downloads. You can make a hires DVD-Audio disc with these files if you have the right software, I prefer to playback FLAC files via my PC and DAC.
If you're quick, this is available for free download until tomorrow. 'Red River Maples' sounds great, these are 24bit 96KHz studio masters.
OK thanks pete321 for the link, most not my cup of tea but Peter Alderton was pretty good, typical Linn sound, I have a Blue Nile cd.
What is difference between FLAC and ALAC?
Yes seems DSD is the way forward but not much available now and my pc sound is not that great,job to tell difference between mp3 and the studio master.
What is difference between FLAC and ALAC?
Yes seems DSD is the way forward but not much available now and my pc sound is not that great,job to tell difference between mp3 and the studio master.
Ripping SACD's with older firmware PS3's has meant DSD (dsf or dff format) playable files via J River on a PC available for some, although I'm not sure whether this will be made legal with the governments new plans, probably not. Legitimate hi-res download sites like HDTracks are I assume ripping SACD's or using DSD files and then convert to PCM for those albums they offer in 88.2khz and 176.4khz FLAC formats. I'm hopeful they'll make the original DSD files available to download as we have J River and Foobar2000 capable of handling them, plus the £1000 Mytek Stereo 192 DSD DAC which can decode via USB!
There's no doubt in my mind having heard DVD-Audio and Blu-Ray PCM hires discs that SACD sounds the best. Unfortuantely it made it's entrance to the world in the late 90's at a time when everyone (not me!) was clammering to degrade their music by compressing it to mp3! It's different times now, large storage is cheaper, the SACD disc may not make a come back, but lets have some DSD downloads.
There's no doubt in my mind having heard DVD-Audio and Blu-Ray PCM hires discs that SACD sounds the best. Unfortuantely it made it's entrance to the world in the late 90's at a time when everyone (not me!) was clammering to degrade their music by compressing it to mp3! It's different times now, large storage is cheaper, the SACD disc may not make a come back, but lets have some DSD downloads.
BigH said:
They're both lossless formats for encoding music. You won't hear the difference on your PC unless it's playing the music bit perfect. Windows sends everything out at 16bit 48khz regardless. I use a Musical Fidelity V-Link 192 connected to my PC via USB, the V-Link then connects to my Rega DAC via SPDIF playing everything up to 24bit 192khz. I use J River software on my PC which is playing back bit perfect via it's WASAPI setting.
If you have DSD files, J River can either stream them to a suitable DSD capable DAC (such as the Mytek) or convert them on-the-fly to PCM at 352.8khz!
Thanks again for info and link, seems quite a few available on SACD but prices are a bit steep. Surprised that ECM only have one album on SACD.
At the moment I have an old Marantz 63SE cd player, was considering getting the MArantz 6004 but not sure it will be much better.
At the moment I have an old Marantz 63SE cd player, was considering getting the MArantz 6004 but not sure it will be much better.
daytona600
Well-known member
dsd downloads
http://dsd-guide.com/free-downloadshttp://bluecoastrecords.com/free-downloadshttp://www.channelclassics.com/aboutdsdhttp://www.2l.no/hires/index.htmlhttp://dsd-guide.com/http://dsd-guide.com/free-downloadshttp://bluecoastrecords.com/free-downloadshttp://www.channelclassics.com/aboutdsdhttp://www.2l.no/hires/index.htmlhttp://dsd-guide.com/
http://dsd-guide.com/free-downloadshttp://bluecoastrecords.com/free-downloadshttp://www.channelclassics.com/aboutdsdhttp://www.2l.no/hires/index.htmlhttp://dsd-guide.com/http://dsd-guide.com/free-downloadshttp://bluecoastrecords.com/free-downloadshttp://www.channelclassics.com/aboutdsdhttp://www.2l.no/hires/index.htmlhttp://dsd-guide.com/
BigH said:
The Marantz CD6004 will not play SACD, maybe invest the money in a decent DAC? Then use your 63SE as a transport for CDS and you have the option of playing hi res files through the DAC!
Also in effect upgrade the ability of your CDP with a DAC all depends on your budget!
Thanks yes realise the 6004 does not play SACD, so I think SACD is out of the question due to cost of player and SACD prices, I don't mind paying say £18 for a Linn studio DSM but £30 for some old recordings is too much.
I don't know anything about DACs can you recommend any and are prices likely to fall in the next year or so.
Only problem with 63SE is remote does not work (no big deal) but cd tray does not open on first or second push of button.
I don't know anything about DACs can you recommend any and are prices likely to fall in the next year or so.
Only problem with 63SE is remote does not work (no big deal) but cd tray does not open on first or second push of button.
Say £500. I have not thought about this really at all as don't really know enough about it and even now am pretty confused how DSD etc all works.
The_Lhc
Well-known member
Forget dsd, sacd is basically dead, just go for a dac that will handle hi-res music if it's that important to you.
Yes I agree about sacd but is dsd not the same as high res downloads? Correct me if Im wrong but is DSD not direct uncompressed digital from the original tapes straight to your computer?
The_Lhc
Well-known member
BigH said:
No it isn't, not in terms of format anyway.
I've no idea but it's irrelevant anyway, DSD isn't available to download and it isn't likely it ever will be, so it isn't worth worrying about.
DSD = Direct Stream Digital, 1bit and usually 2.8mhz, but can be higher. DSD is the recording method that is used for SACD's as PCM is the method used for DVD-Audio and CD's. Not many recordings have been made in DSD. Most SACD's would have had the original recordings remastered to DSD, but to my ears a DSD recording sounds better than the PCM equivalent, e.g. I used to think my DVD-Audio remaster of Rumours by Fleetwood Mac was excellent (24bit 96kz), then I bought the Japanese SACD version, massive improvement in every respect.
Most studio recordings would be in PCM 24bit and varying khz, but not usually more than 192khz..
With regard to a DAC, it will depend on the sound character you're looking for. I auditioned the Rega DAC and Audiolab M-DAC at home. For me the Rega was the right choice having a more analogue sound with good bass. That matched my other kit well, i.e. the Monitor Audio speakers are quite revealing. In a less revealing set-up amp and speaker wise, the M-DAC may be your preference.
Most studio recordings would be in PCM 24bit and varying khz, but not usually more than 192khz..
With regard to a DAC, it will depend on the sound character you're looking for. I auditioned the Rega DAC and Audiolab M-DAC at home. For me the Rega was the right choice having a more analogue sound with good bass. That matched my other kit well, i.e. the Monitor Audio speakers are quite revealing. In a less revealing set-up amp and speaker wise, the M-DAC may be your preference.
Thanks pete321 that what I thought. Problem with DSD is not much available, all very well saying Lynn has some but that is prob. less than 0.01% of all music. I guess many record companies do not want to go down that route because of piracy etc. Think I will wait a bit longer.
BigH said:
Linn don't have any DSD downloads, but any FLAC or ALAC files for download at Linn or any other download site at 88.2khz or 176.4khz would have been more than likely converted to those formats from a DSD master file (sacd), in which case in theory the DSD file could be made available for download.
The_Lhc
Well-known member
pete321 said:
I've never seen it available and as every flavour of PCM up to 24/192 is available it really isn't worth worrying about DSD downloads or a player that supports it natively, imo.
Al ears
Well-known member
I can't see if anyone replied to you post about downloading but you are going to have to download to a computer, which you obviously have, as you are on this forum.
Playback files also from computer but you are obviously going to need to spend more on a DAC with USB input in order to do that (unless you buy yet another box!)
I do not believe, unlike the lhc, that SACD is dead. DVD-A certainly is.
There are many blu ray / SACD devices still being made and for a reason.
Playback files also from computer but you are obviously going to need to spend more on a DAC with USB input in order to do that (unless you buy yet another box!)
I do not believe, unlike the lhc, that SACD is dead. DVD-A certainly is.
There are many blu ray / SACD devices still being made and for a reason.
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