SACD Player suggestions

[Shakey]

What units would be a good first player? I saw one at Music Direct, a Sony, for about 225 but it is only multi-channel. I would like to find one that does both 2 channel stereo and multi-channel and is capable of playing CD's without sounding poor on CD's.
I don't want to spend too much now as I figure this is a moving target at this time and just don' t know where to start.
Thanks!

[Henry Love]

Shakey,the April Stereophile just came out with the recommended components.It gave the Sony SCD-C555ES a Class A rating.Not bad for $800 list.I've found in my experience Tweeter will match internet prices and you can get 0% financing to boot.Good luck.

[Mick Jones]

Originally posted by Shakey
I saw one at Music Direct, a Sony, for about 225 but it is only multi-channel. Thanks!

I think that you are a bit confused here. There are no SACD players that are only multi-channel. Multi-channel players can be made to play either the stereo SACD mix or the multi-channel SACD mix (where there is a multi-channel mix, not all disks feature this). There are also no multi-channel only SACD disks, as all multi-channel SACDs carry a mandatory stereo mix.

[Shakey]

Originally posted by Mick Jones


I think that you are a bit confused here. There are no SACD players that are only multi-channel. Multi-channel players can be made to play either the stereo SACD mix or the multi-channel SACD mix (where there is a multi-channel mix, not all disks feature this). There are also no multi-channel only SACD disks, as all multi-channel SACDs carry a mandatory stereo mix.

Rather than call them up, I visited the Sony site and that's how it's listed. Wouldn't surprise me if they're wrong or made a mistake, which kinda confused me and prompted my question.

And maybe they don't list that in the features/specs because they assume everyone knows this, hence not being familiar, my question.

Thanks!

[tone ded freb]

From what I've heard the SONY SCD-C555ES has been discontinued. I tried to get one for a few months. It remained backordered, so I purchased an SCD-C222ES instead. I've enjoyed it very much so far. The only negative is the loudness of the changer mechanism, and if you're listening at low volumes, SACDs, more than CDs, can be heard spinning if you're close to the unit. The music is good, though. It has to be the best or one of the best players in its price range. New, it's a little less than $400. You could probably find a used one for $300 or so.

[Burningfool]

After much research I just ordered a Sony SCD-C222ES from Oade Brothers (they had the best price - $325.00 + $25 shipping.) I really wanted to buy the SCD-C555ES but it has indeed been discontinued and is nowhere to be found. The 222 seems to be a reasonable choice given the price and somewhat limited selection from Sony.

Sony is such a frustrating outfit. They have discontinued nearly all of their ES series SACD players, thus severely limiting choice for the more discerning listener who wants more than just a carousel player or another DVD video player. The highly rated C555ES is only about two years old, and there is no comparable player available from Sony to replace it. In fact, even the top-of-the-line SCD-1 was recently discontinued. And all this from the company that brought us SACD? Do they really want the format to succeed?

Is Sony a hardware company that makes software? Is it a software company that makes hardware?

Grrrrrr...

Chris

P.S. If anyone is really interested I would be happy to post a review of my 222 in a couple weeks after I have time to break it in a bit and do some critical listening.

[Dave]

Originally posted by Burningfool
P.S. If anyone is really interested I would be happy to post a review of my 222 in a couple weeks after I have time to break it in a bit and do some critical listening.
Please do as I'd be interested in knowing the results.

[Shakey]

If you would, tell me how to get in contact with them. I was going to go this route and would like to get one for less than Tweeter's price.

Also, I thought I saw on the TV, read in an article or saw posted somewhere that some modifier has won the approval of Sony.
Unless I am dreaming, I remember seeing, hearing or reading that this guy (modifier) was contracted as a consultant or was hired by Sony to enlighten them.
And his mods did not void the warranty. I believe he was in Europe somewhere, could be wrong.

[GoldenBoy]

The Oade Brothers web site:

http://www.oade.com

They are very good. I purchased my receiver (Sony DA4ES) and SACD/CD player (Sony C555ES) from them. Their price are reasonable and they ship everything double-boxed with plenty of 'padding'.

[Gary]

How about the Pioneer Elite series? Has anyone compared the 45A, 45ai, etc. to the Sony models? Are the 222 models good on redbook?

And what about redbook playback? Are the Sony ES models better or worse than the Pioneer Elite series?

This is soooo frustrating.....

[Ed Bishop]

If I were buying now and didn't already have an SACD player, I'd go with one of the combi units, simply because there is no evidence one format is going to supplant the other, which means there are going to be titles in one format you'll want, and some in the other, too. Rather than choose, go with both. And rather than get fixated on players that are stereo-based, get one with multi-channel capability, even if you did find a used stereo-only deck. In the future, you may want to upgrade to a full-blown 5.1 stystem, and if you do, you've already got the machine--no need to go out and get another. And since you can hook it up for stereo-only anyway, it would just seem like the perfect solution to me. But, most of all, I would not, at this time, purchase a player that plays only one format, when for not much more bucks you can enjoy the advantages of both.

ED:cool:

[-=Rudy=-]

I really want a combination player, but as of yet I still haven't decisively heard which players offer true SACD decoding, vs. downsampling or resampling to output the DSD sound as PCM. I really want to stick with Pioneer, since I buy for longevity and build quality first, and sound quality second. (Same reason I will never own another Sony...six month lifespan around here.) I'm also not spending a fortune...$400-ish, tops.

[Shakey]

Originally posted by Rudy@A&MCorner
I really want a combination player, but as of yet I still haven't decisively heard which players offer true SACD decoding, vs. downsampling or resampling to output the DSD sound as PCM. I really want to stick with Pioneer, since I buy for longevity and build quality first, and sound quality second. (Same reason I will never own another Sony...six month lifespan around here.)

I already own a Pioneer DVD444 which I bought to replace the 414 I had that broke twice. Both times out of warranty. The 444 currently still works. The Sonys have 5 year warranty, probably just parts after 90 days if they haven't changed their policy. But only owning a few Sony products, I have never had one fail on me.

The combo players, DVD and SCAD, seem to make compromises when it comes to Cee Dee at the lower end price wise and I still would like to have the player treat the Redbook format without compromising.

It is frustrating but I am leaning towards a SACD player from Sony since they seem to respect the Cee Dee format and I do still have the Pioneer.

Further up to this point I never owned a Cee Dee player from the Giants. I've owned a Nakamichi OMS 7 and 7II, both problematic, a Cal Delta Sigma combo, again problematic and now a Sonic Frontiers SFCD-1, so far so good.

And while enduring all that digital hell, my Linn has served me well and still is. Can't fault it other than the bloated pricing scheme from the Scotts.

[Ed Bishop]

Shakey,

The solution is simple: if you have the capacity, look for a good used redbook-only player. Like most of us, that's what I started out with, and bought several leading up to the inevitable multi-channel decks. Quite a few used players out there that won't cost you a lot should deliver the exceptional redbook sound you're after. Having said that, I play CD-R's through the Pioneer DV45-A, and they sound great. I tend to play redbooks on my DVD-A deck(as well as DD 5.1 and DTS anything)and everything's fine. I know you're trying to put your sonic eggs in the proverbial one basket. Since that's so, find a dealer that will let you audition players and return them if you're not pleased with everything. That's what I did, and it really paid off.

ED:cool:

[Shakey]

I like the Sonic Frontiers SFCD-1 and it's still supported by both Anthem or PCX with repairs and upgrades. Plus it sounds great.

I am not trying to put all me eggs in one basket as I do not want video integrated with SACD. Seems to be redundant and money better spent on an audio only unit. I still have the Pioneer DVD and understand I can listen to DVD-A in the multi-channel mode.

I do feel a little let down by DVD as it seems the 24/96 audio format appears to be abandoned and I am not confident DVD-A will prevail or exist in the future.

I appreciate your recommendation to audition at home but the dealers in the Chicago area that handle Pioneer, Sony, Phillips, Marantz are generally mid-fi dealers and generally do not handle competing manufacturers nor are they inclined to allow auditions without playing hardball when you return.

The Sony 222 seems like a small investment relative to the rest of my system. Heck, it is not much more than a phono cartridge. And if we examine my original question, I was only trying to get a handle on what SACD players were out there. It is a shame that there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of economical choices and I certainly am not open to the esoteric brands which depend too much on OEMs to supply them with drives, dacs, etc. If it is anything like Cee Dee you find yourself with a unit that can't be supported down the road.

Again I appreciate everyones suggestions and indeed they did help me sift through this dilemma, but I can't seem to feel the manufacturers are repeating history. I remember vaguely the FM Stereo format war, the video tape war, the HDTV debate and now here we go again.

I think we all can agree the best does not always prevail. But on the other hand they finds ways to address the shortcomings of the winning format eventually and we forget our gripes.

Time to watch the ND vs Illinois game.

[-=Rudy=-]

Originally posted by Shakey

Further up to this point I never owned a Cee Dee player from the Giants. I've owned a Nakamichi OMS 7 and 7II, both problematic, a Cal Delta Sigma combo, again problematic and now a Sonic Frontiers SFCD-1, so far so good.

I had an OMS7...sounded great, but a mechanical pile of junk IMHO. Definitely not worth the money if it won't play for more than a year or two.

I've just owned too many Sony players that haven't lasted. I've owned eleven different laser players (home, Discman, car, boombox), and only three work to this day. Pathetic IMHO. Some were even barely used. No problem with anything of theirs that is strictly electronics, including items like phones (which to me feel sturdier than a lot of those cheapo brands). My ES receiver is nice, but I bought it as a demo and have the wrong remote for it...

My original Pioneer laserdisc player from the early 80's still works, and no problems with my other two Pioneer LD players or CD changer. My 1990 Magnavox changer also still works. I tend to stick with what works.

I may wait it out for a good combination player that will play SACD as DSD properly. Preferably as a changer. I feel that if I have a 12cm disc, the player should be able to play all formats. I have no room (or enough inputs) to have a stack of separate players for all of these different formats. And there are very few titles in either format I'd care to own at this point. No rush here. :)

[GoldenBoy]

I've owned many Sony products over the years and have never had any major problems problems with any of them. This includes cordless phones (3), televisions(6), DiscMans(2), MiniDisc players(2), CD (2) and SACD/CD player (1), and a receiver. My first Sony ES players (C701ES and C801ES) had a static 'pop' sound during playback. I exchanged them twice before contacting Sony where I was informed that they were aware of the problem, all the units had been recalled and they never should have been sold to me in the first place. They proceeded to take the name and address of both places that sold them to me, then arranged an exchange direct form the factory in NJ. I never had another problem with them. Then my DA4ES receiver came with a non-working remote. I called Sony, they exchanged it within a month and a half and everything has been fine.
So, really, I can't share any anti-Sony sentiments, but that is just my personal experience.

[-=Rudy=-]

I haven't had any problems, for the most part, with Sony's electronics. My projection set sucks (three failures, same thing each time...very poor design), but our 27" TV still works fine, and various other small electronics still work. But three out of eleven CD players I've owned being functional? Totally unacceptable. (Oops...forgot my original CDX-R7, which also failed...make that 3 out of 12.) You think I would have learned.

Both of my Minidisc players are acting up now too, come to think of it. Loading door on the home deck has a problem, and the portable doesn't want to play all the time, and is fussy about which discs are put into it. Oh well...

[lsupro]

You can still find SCD-CE775's out there for about $180. Great for the money... redbook,2 channel, and 5.1!

Great box!

[Shakey]

Originally posted by Rudy@A&MCorner


I had an OMS7...sounded great, but a mechanical pile of junk IMHO. Definitely not worth the money if it won't play for more than a year or two.

I've just owned too many Sony players that haven't lasted. I've owned eleven different laser players (home, Discman, car, boombox), and only three work to this day. Pathetic IMHO. Some were even barely used. No problem with anything of theirs that is strictly electronics, including items like phones (which to me feel sturdier than a lot of those cheapo brands). My ES receiver is nice, but I bought it as a demo and have the wrong remote for it...

My original Pioneer laserdisc player from the early 80's still works, and no problems with my other two Pioneer LD players or CD changer. My 1990 Magnavox changer also still works. I tend to stick with what works.

I may wait it out for a good combination player that will play SACD as DSD properly. Preferably as a changer. I feel that if I have a 12cm disc, the player should be able to play all formats. I have no room (or enough inputs) to have a stack of separate players for all of these different formats. And there are very few titles in either format I'd care to own at this point. No rush here. :)

Sorry to hear how many problems you have had but that has been my experience too. I got so frustrated with the players I have owned over the past 15+ years it drove me to buying a cheap Radio Shack CD-3400 portable for me digital front end and sink my $$$ into my analog front end. I just figured digital playback devices were going to break sooner or later.

The CD-3400 never gave me a problem and I eventually bought/built an Assemblage DAC-1 and Sonic Frontiers UJB. Kinda silly set up but it really never gave me a problem and it sounded fine. I just figured when the CD-3400 broke I'd throw it out and get another or something like it.

My friends who don't take Audio as seriously as me always have bought cheap stuff and they seem to keep working. I don't get it, the pricey stuff seems to be junk and the cheap stuff just won't break.

Maybe I'll just wait for some off brand manufacturer to come out with a combo player that is inexpensive and buy it, and when it breaks toss it out, but with my luck and Murphy's law that will never happen.

[John Carsell]

Originally posted by lsupro
You can still find SCD-CE775's out there for about $180. Great for the money... redbook,2 channel, and 5.1!

Great box!

Yes indeed Bill!