super audio cd

Super Audio CD and DVD-Audio never real took off in a major way, but both systems have their merits. SACD found favour in the classical music world, so if you enjoy listening to classical it's well worth considering, as there's a decent selection of recordings available on the format. The sound quality is certainly superior to CD, and many recordings are available in multichannel surround sound, if that appeals.
 
You can pick up a handful of reasonably priced players - I landed a Samsung DVD950H a year or so back for the Genesis 1976-1982 boxset purely for SACD purposes. If you want to try out a low cost option, try the Oppo 980 player which has SACD, DVD-A and HDCD compatibility. This is extremely rare in a £150 player and you need to go up to around £800 to get all three formats on the one unit.

If you just want SACD, Pioneer, Marantz and Cambridge Audio - to name but three - all offer SACD compatibility. The Cambridge is a DVD player (the DVD-89 I think). All three range from around £200 - £350.
 
I`ve got the Pioneer which retails for £350 and I have to say have been very pleased with it. Like The Record Spot I bought the Genesis 1976-82 box set and was keen to hear how good they sound on a SACD player. Suffice to say I have bought another ten or so SACD`s so far and I`m hoping to add to this collection soon. There does still seem to be new SACD titles released from time to time, it`s as if the format is just about hanging on in there. Wether it will still be around in the future I wouldn`t like to say. I hope so. As yet I don`t have a 5.1 sound system but when I eventually do get one it will be interesting to see just how good titles such as `The War Of The Worlds` and Pink Floyds `Dark Side Of The Moon` sound on it as both of these are in my SACD collection. Sorry if I haven`t been much help but as I have a player I just thought I`d let you know of my experience with the format so far. All the best.
 
Is it possible to get a DVD recorder that plays SACD or DVD Audio?
 
I have a denon 1920 and SACD sounds terrific through my Onkyo 875/Monitor Audio RS 6 etc multi channel setup, although there is a shortage of non classical material. Dark Side of the Moon sounds great but the Brothers in Arms SACD is the best recording I have ever heard in any format.

To continue the theme, I am really looking forward to the Genesis 70-75 box set. The reason I bought an SACD compatible player ion the first place was the much anticipated multi channel of the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.

BTW I am interested in a blu-ray player but none of these seem to have SACD support. Anybody know why?
 
The Pioneer I have cost £140 and plays all DVD formats. I really like the sound of SACD on both classical and rock (Dark Side of the Moon is extraordinary!).
But as Andy said, both DVD-A and SACD are pretty much dead formats (like HD-DVD!!!!), but that does mean that there are bargains to be had.
What's interesting is the potential for Blu-Ray to enter into this market with fully uncompressed multi-channel music. But if it's going to work, then the Industry has to get behind it, not just leave it like they did SACD/DVD-A.
 
Casca:
What's interesting is the potential for Blu-Ray to enter into this market with fully uncompressed multi-channel music. But if it's going to work, then the Industry has to get behind it, not just leave it like they did SACD/DVD-A.

Since when did the mainstream music industry give a monkey's about sound quality?
 
Casca

How do you have your DV600 connected to your Amp?

I also have the DV600 and have it connected to my Onkyo 875 via HDMI. When I playSACD's it only outputs 2 channel (I have the audio output selected as Auto (DSD)). Do I need to connect the Analog outputs to the amp to access the surround mixes from SACD's or should the setting be LPCM 5.1? DVD-Audio's (& Video's) output surround sound audio with no problem.

Thanks

Mark
 
Mark Ellis:

Casca

How do you have your DV600 connected to your Amp?

I also have the DV600 and have it connected to my Onkyo 875 via HDMI. When I playSACD's it only outputs 2 channel (I have the audio output selected as Auto (DSD)). Do I need to connect the Analog outputs to the amp to access the surround mixes from SACD's or should the setting be LPCM 5.1? DVD-Audio's (& Video's) output surround sound audio with no problem.

Thanks

Mark

Mark, yes you will need to use the analogue outputs. SACD (apart from some high range Denon SACD players that use a proprietary link to Denon amps I think) is decoded in the player. You will need to assign an input selector on the 875. See page 32 of the 875 manual.
 
Thanks - had a feeling that might be the case. The Pioneer manual is not particularly clear on this point. It says that SACD 5.1 is not output via digital connections and so a separate analog connection is also required but the table for HDMI connections suggests that 5.1 is carried for SACD's...

More cables...
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Interesting - I have it from Denon support that the DVD 1940 outputs DVD-Audio via the HDMI output, but not SACD - for this you do need the 5.1 analog outputs. This is certainly going to influence my choice of new AV amp.
 
I used to connect the Pioneer through the 5.1, although it's a bit of a pain at the minute because the BD player's going through that input. When I get the new amp (phew......) that'll be fine and dandy.
Here's a question. The guy in the store tells me that some SACD players can output through HDMI. Is that true?
 
Simonrob:Is it possible to get a DVD recorder that plays SACD or DVD Audio?

Not at present; that truly would be an all-in-one machine. I had hopes the Sony 870 (can't recall the letters in the model number) which retailed around the £400 mark would have compatibility, but alas not.
 

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