View Full Version : Best SACD player for redbook performance.
antonkk
12-25-2003, 09:57 AM
While I sit and wait for Sony 9000 to hit Moscow shops after New Year it's time to ask a question: is it possible to get a great SACD player AND a GREAT redbook performer as well? In theory of course it's better to get a separate CD player... What's the best redbook player among SACDs under $3000? SCD-1? 777? Other?
Originally posted by antonkk
While I sit and wait for Sony 9000 to hit Moscow shops after New Year it's time to ask a question: is it possible to get a great SACD player AND a GREAT redbook performer as well? In theory of course it's better to get a separate CD player... What's the best redbook player among SACDs under $3000? SCD-1? 777? Other?
I think that you have it covered with the top-end Sony's you're mentioning.
tomcat
12-25-2003, 01:13 PM
The Krell SACD Standard is said to be the first to be VERY good on redbook (according to my dealer) and OUTSTANDING on SACD (according to some German HiFi magazines)...
peterC
12-25-2003, 03:25 PM
.....as is the Marantz SA8260!
I like the Krell but I am also quite happy with the redbook performance of my un-modded SCD-777ES.
I may upgrade to a Benchmark DAC and use the Sony as a transport.
I am also happy with the redbook performance of my unmodded 777ES.
It may not be the best in the world for redbook but it seems very "flat" to me (uncoloured).
antonkk
12-26-2003, 04:20 PM
Oh, my God! I just took Sony SCD-1 home for audition and I still have a headache! I'm completely shocked as I was sure that I'm going to love this legendary beauty but... my good old $300 Kenwood Dp-5090 blew it away on a redbook! Sony was much more detailed for sure, but WAY too bright! It was SO bright that I had to turn the high frequency control on my Vandersteens from my usual -0,75 DB to - 1,5 DB to be able to listen to it for a few minutes! What's the reason for all these details if the damned thing makes your ears bleed? I mean all the voices and instruments have the same sharp metallic colour to them if you know what I mean! As for SACDs- well I own only 1 SACD at the moment (Dark Side of you know what) and while it surely impressed me with the 3 dimensional soundstage it still sounded bright and metallic... Am I going insane or what? How can a cheap CD player sound better then $5000 monster? Maybe I need more musical, less reveaing machine for my ears?
What were your redbook sources? Maybe they were bright? Or perhaps your interconnects are bright.... speaker cables? Very strange!
I've heard the SCD-1 and I did not notice any brightness....
Well I am glad that you had a (hopefully) free audition!
Originally posted by Gary
I am also happy with the redbook performance of my unmodded 777ES.
It may not be the best in the world for redbook but it seems very "flat" to me (uncoloured).
Gary,
You got a 777ES, or XA777ES? Two very different beasts....
XA777ES. I never remember the XA part....
Why? Is one better than the other?
Just corrected my profile - thanks!
Originally posted by Gary
Why? Is one better than the other?
Well that depends on who you ask.
The original 777ES is basically the same as the SCD-1, but black. It only has 4 "feet" instead of 5, only unbalanced outputs, and a few less potted transformers, but basically the SCD-1 at 2/3rds the price. Oh, and it's stereo only. ;)
I have heard some characterize the original 777ES as truthful, but sterile, and the XA as "warm, fat and happy".
I don't really find my XA to be lacking in any area, and the MCH performance is really fun sometimes and would be hard to give up in favor of the original 777ES.
Warm, fat and happy? You sure they did not mean me? :eek:
Well, I certainly need 5.1 capability! I'm happy with my XA, too! I don't find it too warm, fat or happy - I think it's a great redbook player too! :)
visprashyana
12-27-2003, 11:35 AM
The Marantz SA14 v2 is the most musical SACD/cd player that I have heard under $3000. Very nice pace and soundstaging. The unit weighs in at around 40 lbs. and is made for the Asian market. The point being, units that are produced for the Asian market actually have to be good if they charge a high price for the unit. This is direct contrast to the North American market where units have high prices and nothing else.
One thing that has a lot of discussion that I'm not seeing in this thread is that these top-end Sony's require a 50 hour break-in period before opening up in the warmth dept. To quote Gary's questions that still haven't been answered..."What were your redbook sources? Maybe they were bright? Or perhaps your interconnects are bright.... speaker cables? Very strange!" How about it?
antonkk
12-27-2003, 03:16 PM
Originally posted by Dave
One thing that has a lot of discussion that I'm not seeing in this thread is that these top-end Sony's require a 50 hour break-in period before opening up in the warmth dept. To quote Gary's questions that still haven't been answered..."What were your redbook sources? Maybe they were bright? Or perhaps your interconnects are bright.... speaker cables? Very strange!" How about it?
I don't think either the sources or interconnects were bright as I tried lots of them and anyway both my Clearaudio turntable and my humble $300 Kenwood CD player sound very comfortable! As for CDs, well I played TONS of them and they all had the same COLOUR to the sound. More then that it's not only the redbook! Today I went and bought 4 SACDs: Kind of blue, Let it bleed, Tapestry and Heavy Weather. I'm yet to hear the Weather Report SACD but the Stones, Miles and Carol King also sound VERY bright and metallic. Very unnatural if you ask me. Like Jon Astley ABBA remasters! And there is minimum difference between the redbook and a SACD layer. Maybe it's the voltage factor? This SCD-1 is brought from Japan so it has 100 V while we in Russia have 220, so I plugged it thru the voltage transformer or whatever it's called. I remember listening to vintage 100 V Sansui amp a while ago and it has the same metallic brightnes to my ears. Actualy I have no other logical explanations!
P.S. Or maybe I just need a softer, more musical player for my ears? If you know one, please recomend!
As not many people have complained about the SCD1, have you considered swapping speaker cables or wires?
Or maybe the thing is broken somehow.
Wish I could help you more. At the very least, if possible, play it at your dealers..... to see how it sounds.
NOSValves
12-27-2003, 07:30 PM
Originally posted by antonkk
Oh, my God! I just took Sony SCD-1 home for audition and I still have a headache! I'm completely shocked as I was sure that I'm going to love this legendary beauty but... my good old $300 Kenwood Dp-5090 blew it away on a redbook! Sony was much more detailed for sure, but WAY too bright! It was SO bright that I had to turn the high frequency control on my Vandersteens from my usual -0,75 DB to - 1,5 DB to be able to listen to it for a few minutes! What's the reason for all these details if the damned thing makes your ears bleed? I mean all the voices and instruments have the same sharp metallic colour to them if you know what I mean! As for SACDs- well I own only 1 SACD at the moment (Dark Side of you know what) and while it surely impressed me with the 3 dimensional soundstage it still sounded bright and metallic... Am I going insane or what? How can a cheap CD player sound better then $5000 monster? Maybe I need more musical, less reveaing machine for my ears?
The Sony players are renowned for needing a ridicules amount of break-in time. I find that it is never wise to judge any piece of audio gear until you have given it at least a few weeks for it and you to settle in.
Your findings just do not make sense with what else has been known far and wide. I would start looking at other parts of your system if it was me.
Craig
That's a good point, NOS Valves!
Antonkk is this CDP broken in?
Paul C.
12-27-2003, 08:04 PM
On a more modest level, I'm very happy with my Sony DVP-NS905V. The redbook performance beats the pants of my older Sony CD-only players. At last I get real bass performance from CDs - every CD player I had previously owned always seemed to lack bass. Overall, i find the NS905V to deliver very nice sound from CDs.
StyxCollector
12-27-2003, 08:17 PM
Originally posted by peterC
.....as is the Marantz SA8260!
I concur ... I do a lot of listening to both redbook AND SACD on my 8260, and both sound fantastic. A bargain these days (I think in Europe or Asia it's been replaced by the SA8400, and I don't mean the combo DVD-A/SACD 8400 either), and check Audiogon.
Claus
12-28-2003, 02:02 AM
Originally posted by tomcat
The Krell SACD Standard is said to be the first to be VERY good on redbook (according to my dealer) and OUTSTANDING on SACD (according to some German HiFi magazines)...
I heard the player at my dealer... very good performance! But I do prefer the Linn Unidisk over the Krell. But I have heard Krell will show a Professional model at the CES.
NOSValves
12-28-2003, 06:05 AM
Originally posted by Claus
I heard the player at my dealer... very good performance! But I do prefer the Linn Unidisk over the Krell. But I have heard Krell will show a Professional model at the CES.
The latest Sony 9000ES is compared to these players in Stereophile with very positive comments with SACD and Redbook.
Craig
KeithH
12-28-2003, 11:35 AM
antonkk, I have to believe that the SCD-1 is a better player than your Kenwood, so my guess is that you are hearing greater resolution off the CDs on the Sony. Maybe they aren't such great-sounding CDs.
I've had the SCD-777ES for a little over three years, and it is a wonderful CD player. I use it in stock form, as I have had no reason to get it modified.
"I've had the SCD-777ES for a little over three years, and it is a wonderful CD player. I use it in stock form, as I have had no reason to get it modified.
"
Ditto for me Keith. An absolutely wonderful piece of engineering.
I will probably send it to Richard Kern at some point, but I am very happy with the redbook performance. Long break-in period, that's for sure. :)
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