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Help me pick my 1st SACD player

3032 Views 23 Replies 10 Participants Last post by grasshoppers, Aug 16, 2009

grasshoppers

Discussion Starter · Jul 27, 2009

I am ready to try the SACD experience. I just ordered 7 sacd's

from amazon! I have been checking out the threads on this forum about

some of the different players and I have come up with 3 choices.

My budget is about $250,but I could go as high as $300.I would like a multi-

disc changer if possibe.My old changer (a sony) is 12 years old.Quality

single disc player is OK though.

My system:

marantz sr 5003

sony bdp350

infinity ps212 sub

paradigm monitor 11's,cc-290 & mini-monitor surrounds.

My choices:

1) marantz vc6001 changer. $250

2)Sony scd595 changer. $157 (available at my local best buy)

3)Oppo 980H $169. I REALLY like the HDMI connection! (simple is good)

Any thoughts or suggestions would appreciated!

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1 - 20 of 24 Posts

King Titus

· #2 · Jul 27, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by grasshoppers /forum/post/16893058

I am ready to try the SACD experience. I just ordered 7 sacd's

from amazon! I have been checking out the threads on this forum about

some of the different players and I have come up with 3 choices.

My budget is about $250,but I could go as high as $300.I would like a multi-

disc changer if possibe.My old changer (a sony) is 12 years old.Quality

single disc player is OK though.

My system:

marantz sr 5003

sony bdp350

infinity ps212 sub

paradigm monitor 11's,cc-290 & mini-monitor surrounds.

My choices:

1) marantz vc6001 changer. $250

2)Sony scd595 changer. $157 (available at my local best buy)

3)Oppo 980H $169. I REALLY like the HDMI connection! (simple is good)

Any thoughts or suggestions would appreciated!

Oppo 980h through HDMI only!= Great sound low $'s

I own a couple of Sony 595, and an Oppo 980H.

cacophony777

· #3 · Jul 27, 2009

Have a look at the Denon 1940ci which you can get for ~$90 brand new online. I recently compared its built-in DAC to the V-DAC (which has the PCM-1792, burr brown's best dac), and found the 1940ci slightly better. You can easily spend lots more $$$ on a CD player, but IMO you're not getting any better sound quality for your $$$.

morphon

· #4 · Jul 27, 2009

I have that Denon as well, and love it. However, it is single disc and cannot do DSD over HDMI. Since he has the budget for it.... I say go for the Oppo!

sivadselim

· #5 · Jul 27, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by cacophony777 /forum/post/16893313

Have a look at the Denon 1940ci which you can get for ~$90 brand new online. I recently compared its built-in DAC to the V-DAC (which has the PCM-1792, burr brown's best dac), and found the 1940ci slightly better.

How did you compare the DACs?

Quote:
Originally Posted by morphon /forum/post/16893917

I have that Denon as well, and love it. However, it is single disc and cannot do DSD over HDMI.

It can't do SACD via HDMI at all whether it's DSD or PCM. Poor choice for an SACD player if you want to use HDMI.

grasshoppers, you might as well get something that can do DVD-A, too. So, scratch the SONY.

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Peter White

· #6 · Jul 27, 2009

I've had the Oppo 980 for six or seven months. Highly recommended. Handles SACD and DVD-A beautifully.

grasshoppers

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 27, 2009

The price on the denon 1940ci looks pretty good. I could use that

in my home office 2-channel set-up and still have money for my main

system in the living room.

Thanks for the replies!

cacophony777

· #8 · Jul 27, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by sivadselim /forum/post/16894631

How did you compare the DACs?

Here's my post on the comparison:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post16845559

Desert Pilot

· #9 · Jul 28, 2009

Hi. I am using an older Denon 2910 with analog 5.1 out to my receiver. Works great for SACD and DVD-A. But, I've read really good reviews for the Pioneer DV 48 and 58 models. I'm not sure if it plays SACD or DVD-A via HDMI.

marcus

grasshoppers

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jul 28, 2009

Thanks for the help guys. Last night after reading on-line owners manuals I decided to get the Oppo. I just feel that with my newer receiver

that HDMI was the way to go.

I did a name your price at 6thave for the denon 1940ci and they

accepted it.($70) Price good til next tuesday. I should get the oppo by

friday and if I am happy with the sound of the SACD's I may

spring for the denon to go in my office 2-channel with an old

analog H/K amp.

Thanks again!!

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sivadselim

· #11 · Jul 28, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by cacophony777 /forum/post/16895387

Here's my post on the comparison:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post16845559

You're not really comparing the DACs. It is impossible to fairly compare just the DACs.

cacophony777

· #12 · Jul 29, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by sivadselim /forum/post/16902628

You're not really comparing the DACs. It is impossible to fairly compare just the DACs.

Why is it even of interest to compare just the DACs? In the end all that matters is how it sounds. The point of my conclusion was just that the analog out for the 1940ci sounded better than the analog out of V-DAC (being fed a digital signal by the 1940ci).

lexiconthx

· #13 · Jul 29, 2009

I have a onkyo 506 and love it... Paid like $112 on amazon Does DSD and PCM over hdmi. Plays dvd audio also and sounds great.

sivadselim

· #14 · Jul 30, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by cacophony777 /forum/post/16904852

Why is it even of interest to compare just the DACs? In the end all that matters is how it sounds. The point of my conclusion was just that the analog out for the 1940ci sounded better than the analog out of V-DAC (being fed a digital signal by the 1940ci).

Exactly.

You said:

Quote:
Originally Posted by cacophony777 /forum/post/16893313

I recently compared its built-in DAC to the V-DAC (which has the PCM-1792, burr brown's best dac), and found the 1940ci slightly better.

grasshoppers

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jul 30, 2009

Got my oppo 980h in today.Installation was a breeze. (HDMI rules)

I also got 6 of the SACD's that I ordered! (how often does that happen?)

My first experience listening to SACD's...What can I say, I am

IMPRESSED.

I was skeptical,but not anymore. This could get

expensive.

Thanks for everyone's input!

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lexiconthx

· #16 · Jul 30, 2009

2

Quote:
Originally Posted by grasshoppers /forum/post/16911837

Got my oppo 980h in today.Installation was a breeze. (HDMI rules)

I also got 6 of the SACD's that I ordered! (how often does that happen?)

My first experience listening to SACD's...What can I say, I am

IMPRESSED.

I was skeptical,but not anymore. This could get

expensive.

Thanks for everyone's input!

Welcome to the bandwagon... Ya be prepared to drop some serious money getting out of print titles... Some amazing recordings on SACD. I'm convinced it is more of the mastering and production of the discs then the player/format that makes them sound great.. Congrats on your purchase

ANd yes HDMI is great one cable and you are ready to fly

What SACD's did you order?

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grasshoppers

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jul 30, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by lexiconthx /forum/post/16913195

Welcome to the bandwagon... Ya be prepared to drop some serious money getting out of print titles... Some amazing recordings on SACD. I'm convinced it is more of the mastering and production of the discs then the player/format that makes them sound great.. Congrats on your purchase

ANd yes HDMI is great one cable and you are ready to fly

What SACD's did you order?

I posted my purchases on the "Surround Music Formats" sub-forum.

King Titus

· #18 · Aug 1, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by grasshoppers /forum/post/16911837

Got my oppo 980h in today.Installation was a breeze. (HDMI rules)

I also got 6 of the SACD's that I ordered! (how often does that happen?)

My first experience listening to SACD's...What can I say, I am

IMPRESSED.

I was skeptical,but not anymore. This could get

expensive.

Thanks for everyone's input!

Congratulations!

Mulit Sacd sound, is a great experience.

2 channel and Multi channel are both satisfying experiences that compare like an apple and an orange. Your source material decides which is best. Having both systems is a nice option, that I enjoy everyday.

mikejedi123

· #19 · Aug 6, 2009

I own the oppo and it is an excellent SACD player.. BUT.. now that i own an Arcam CD73 Redbook player.. well.. my Norah Jones SACD sounds 90% the same (redbook) layer as the SACD layer on the Oppo.. anyways.. just my .02.. SACD is still a great format but IF you have a good enough Redbook Cd player , you can sometimes turn your CD;'s into just about near SACD quality.. my opinion..but yes the oppo is still a kick ass machine for the $$ and it does quite nice on DVD and DVD-A as well!!

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lexiconthx

· #20 · Aug 6, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by mikejedi123 /forum/post/16952345

I own the oppo and it is an excellent SACD player.. BUT.. now that i own an Arcam CD73 Redbook player.. well.. my Norah Jones SACD sounds 90% the same (redbook) layer as the SACD layer on the Oppo.. anyways.. just my .02.. SACD is still a great format but IF you have a good enough Redbook Cd player , you can sometimes turn your CD;'s into just about near SACD quality.. my opinion..but yes the oppo is still a kick ass machine for the $$ and it does quite nice on DVD and DVD-A as well!!

Couldn't agree more, I would bet it would be hard to hear the difference between a great SACD player and a great redbook CD player if the recordings were the same. In my opinion the big benefit of SACD is the recordings themselves, much less compression oh ya and 5.1 sound is quite nice on many discs.

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

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