Unless you have an extraordinary sound system and excellent room acoustics, I doubt there will be any significant difference. Even then, the differences will be less than those dependent on production/mastering.
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SACD/CD Best sound question??
Who out there has two players, one CD and one UNIVERSAL?
My question is this.
Would a high quality CD player, spinning a redbook CD sound better or worse than an above average DVD Universal player spinning Stereo SACD tracks or even redbook CDs?
Considering the purchase of either a Marantz DV6500 that plays CD, SACD and DVD audio or a Cambridge Audio 540c v2 with high quality Wolfson DAC for CD playback only.
Any suggestions or comments??
My question is this.
Would a high quality CD player, spinning a redbook CD sound better or worse than an above average DVD Universal player spinning Stereo SACD tracks or even redbook CDs?
Considering the purchase of either a Marantz DV6500 that plays CD, SACD and DVD audio or a Cambridge Audio 540c v2 with high quality Wolfson DAC for CD playback only.
Any suggestions or comments??
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
My thinking is quite opposite of Kal's, I think the higher end your whole system is, the less prevalent the differences of SACD and high end CD is. The reason being is medium and low end speakers playing a surround SACD mix have less sound to reproduce per speaker than a stereo CD does generally and therefore can reproduce those sounds with better definition. High end systems IMO can handle the stereo CD as well as multi channel better and the differences will be smaller.
This is all conjecture on my part since I've never seriously listened to a really high end system and particularly a really high end system with both Redbook CD and SACD.
So after all that, I guess it depends on how good your system is, mine is a medium fi system, above average but far from hi-end and I think I wouldn't hear the difference between the Maranz playing Redbook CD's or the Cambridge Audio playing Redbook CD's.
I could be totally wrong though.
This is all conjecture on my part since I've never seriously listened to a really high end system and particularly a really high end system with both Redbook CD and SACD.
So after all that, I guess it depends on how good your system is, mine is a medium fi system, above average but far from hi-end and I think I wouldn't hear the difference between the Maranz playing Redbook CD's or the Cambridge Audio playing Redbook CD's.
I could be totally wrong though.
I think you misunderstand what I was saying. I meant to say that, if you compare the two equivalently-priced players with both playing the same CD, it requires an extraordinary system to discern the difference. I was not comparing SACD with CD.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tom_c /forum/post/0
My thinking is quite opposite of Kal's, I think the higher end your whole system is, the less prevalent the differences of SACD and high end CD is.
I think you misunderstand what I was saying. I meant to say that, if you compare the two equivalently-priced players with both playing the same CD, it requires an extraordinary system to discern the difference. I was not comparing SACD with CD.
I must be crazy then (in more ways than one). I have recently compared a Rotel 1072 CD only deck against a previous generation top of the line Sony 999ES universal SACD player on CDs and the difference was noticable. Bass was tighter with better definition and the high end was more refined. I agree that differences in mastering are usualy greater (even when comparing SCAD to CD directly) but in my experience when you got a good recording then differences in CD playback or SACD should be noticable if the rest of the system is up to snuff. I might compare the Rotel deck to the newer generation 9100ES as the later also bested the 999ES on CD playback. I also am expecting a Marantz universal 5 disk changer that I plan to use for DVD-Audio and SACD if it compare favorably in SACD to the 999ES since there is some good stuff to be had on DVD-A like AIX records etc.
I don't think you are crazy. I've experienced something similar.
I still use a Pioneer DV45A for SACD/DVD-A. However, I also have a Rotel RCD1072 for just stereo music listening. The Pioneer is a great unit. The Rotel, however, has a deeper, wider soundfield.
I'll add the typical tag, "to me", since all observations of SQ tend to be subjective.
Quote:
Originally Posted by apodaca /forum/post/0
I must be crazy then (in more ways than one). I have recently compared a Rotel 1072 CD only deck against a previous generation top of the line Sony 999ES universal SACD player on CDs and the difference was noticable. Bass was tighter with better definition and the high end was more refined. I agree that differences in mastering are usualy greater (even when comparing SCAD to CD directly) but in my experience when you got a good recording then differences in CD playback or SACD should be noticable if the rest of the system is up to snuff. I might compare the Rotel deck to the newer generation 9100ES as the later also bested the 999ES on CD playback. I also am expecting a Marantz universal 5 disk changer that I plan to use for DVD-Audio and SACD if it compare favorably in SACD to the 999ES since there is some good stuff to be had on DVD-A like AIX records etc.
I don't think you are crazy. I've experienced something similar.
I still use a Pioneer DV45A for SACD/DVD-A. However, I also have a Rotel RCD1072 for just stereo music listening. The Pioneer is a great unit. The Rotel, however, has a deeper, wider soundfield.
I'll add the typical tag, "to me", since all observations of SQ tend to be subjective.
I have a Marantz DV6400 and a Cambridge Audio 540D--each purchased 3 years ago (on the same day from the same store). I compared the 540D to the 540C in a level-matched comparison (had the owner do the same, and it was a blind test for him--moreover he did NOT know which I preferred and the units cost exactly the same, so he had no financial incentive to push one or the other) and, much to our collective surprise, the 540D sounded better to us for CD playback (I was intending to buy a CD only player and use the Marantz for hi-res and movies--SQ was a concern but I also wanted to split the workload and make each player last longer). In my house, I have compared the Marantz with the 540D for redbook with a friend of mine (a fellow audio nut). He preferred the Marantz and I preferred the 540D, though we each acknowledged that the sound was good from each one--just a bit different. The Marantz (again, level matched and blind test for each listener) provided a bit more oomph to the bass while the 540D threw a wider soundstage. (He prefers the former and I prefer the latter as characteristics). The differences were subtle and, without a side by side comparison, I would be perfectly content with either one for redbook playback.
In the end, I'm quite happy to have both, as each one provides functional advantages I had not considered at the time of purchase but have come to rely on frequently. However, those functional items probably don't apply to your situation and so I won't go on at length about them.
Bottom line, I use the DV6400 almost exclusively for hi-res audio, at which it does a fine job and I use the 540D for movies and CDs (it's region-free, and I have a number of European films AND it is a great CD player--if I had to do it again and I was only going to use it for CDs, I'd buy it again without hesitation).
Edit: I just noticed you are also asking about stereo SACD vs redbook--I haven't made the comparison as I ALWAYS listen to the MCH layer if it's available and I have very few 2 channel SACDs (most of which are not hybrids).
Quote:
Originally Posted by psyopwak /forum/post/0
Who out there has two players, one CD and one UNIVERSAL?
My question is this.
Would a high quality CD player, spinning a redbook CD sound better or worse than an above average DVD Universal player spinning Stereo SACD tracks or even redbook CDs?
Considering the purchase of either a Marantz DV6500 that plays CD, SACD and DVD audio or a Cambridge Audio 540c v2 with high quality Wolfson DAC for CD playback only.
Any suggestions or comments??
I have a Marantz DV6400 and a Cambridge Audio 540D--each purchased 3 years ago (on the same day from the same store). I compared the 540D to the 540C in a level-matched comparison (had the owner do the same, and it was a blind test for him--moreover he did NOT know which I preferred and the units cost exactly the same, so he had no financial incentive to push one or the other) and, much to our collective surprise, the 540D sounded better to us for CD playback (I was intending to buy a CD only player and use the Marantz for hi-res and movies--SQ was a concern but I also wanted to split the workload and make each player last longer). In my house, I have compared the Marantz with the 540D for redbook with a friend of mine (a fellow audio nut). He preferred the Marantz and I preferred the 540D, though we each acknowledged that the sound was good from each one--just a bit different. The Marantz (again, level matched and blind test for each listener) provided a bit more oomph to the bass while the 540D threw a wider soundstage. (He prefers the former and I prefer the latter as characteristics). The differences were subtle and, without a side by side comparison, I would be perfectly content with either one for redbook playback.
In the end, I'm quite happy to have both, as each one provides functional advantages I had not considered at the time of purchase but have come to rely on frequently. However, those functional items probably don't apply to your situation and so I won't go on at length about them.
Bottom line, I use the DV6400 almost exclusively for hi-res audio, at which it does a fine job and I use the 540D for movies and CDs (it's region-free, and I have a number of European films AND it is a great CD player--if I had to do it again and I was only going to use it for CDs, I'd buy it again without hesitation).
Edit: I just noticed you are also asking about stereo SACD vs redbook--I haven't made the comparison as I ALWAYS listen to the MCH layer if it's available and I have very few 2 channel SACDs (most of which are not hybrids).
Let me point out that Sony does not make any universal players since none of theirs will play DVD-A. Also, their top-of-the-line SACD players do not play regular DVDs either.
Quote:
Originally Posted by apodaca /forum/post/0
I must be crazy then (in more ways than one). I have recently compared a Rotel 1072 CD only deck against a previous generation top of the line Sony 999ES universal SACD player on CDs and the difference was noticable. Bass was tighter with better definition and the high end was more refined. I agree that differences in mastering are usualy greater (even when comparing SCAD to CD directly) but in my experience when you got a good recording then differences in CD playback or SACD should be noticable if the rest of the system is up to snuff. I might compare the Rotel deck to the newer generation 9100ES as the later also bested the 999ES on CD playback. I also am expecting a Marantz universal 5 disk changer that I plan to use for DVD-Audio and SACD if it compare favorably in SACD to the 999ES since there is some good stuff to be had on DVD-A like AIX records etc.
Let me point out that Sony does not make any universal players since none of theirs will play DVD-A. Also, their top-of-the-line SACD players do not play regular DVDs either.
The 9100ES IS their top of the line DVD player period and IT IS universal as far as Sony is concerned as it plays CDs DVDs and SACDs.
Bottom line a comparison in ones own system is always a good idea.
Bottom line a comparison in ones own system is always a good idea.
The differences can be from two distinct sources:
1. D/A converters and other digital domain electronics: jitter, etc. can cause audible differences. In many modern players, these differences are most likely subtle or unaudible though.
2. Analog output sections: This is where I believe more of the "problem" lies. Price points and manufacturer philosophy often place varying emphasis on the quality of the analog amplification stages. The quality of the components used can affect the sound considerably. The number of "features" (number of additional components in the audio path) can affect the purity of sound as well.
My two cents' worth.
Lee
1. D/A converters and other digital domain electronics: jitter, etc. can cause audible differences. In many modern players, these differences are most likely subtle or unaudible though.
2. Analog output sections: This is where I believe more of the "problem" lies. Price points and manufacturer philosophy often place varying emphasis on the quality of the analog amplification stages. The quality of the components used can affect the sound considerably. The number of "features" (number of additional components in the audio path) can affect the purity of sound as well.
My two cents' worth.
Lee
True but that's not what I said.
That's funny. You mean that if they tell you something, even though it is apparently not true, you accept it? They are using their own definition of "universal."
No arguing with that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by apodaca /forum/post/0
The 9100ES IS their top of the line DVD player period
True but that's not what I said.
Quote:
and IT IS universal as far as Sony is concerned as it plays CDs DVDs and SACDs.
That's funny. You mean that if they tell you something, even though it is apparently not true, you accept it? They are using their own definition of "universal."
Quote:
Bottom line a comparison in ones own system is always a good idea.
No arguing with that.
Sony and universal should not be in the same sentence.
Their BlurRay player can't even do CD's.
Their BlurRay player can't even do CD's.
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
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