Thread: 13 million SA-CD players

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Post by DSCHFan May 26, 2010 (521 of 1518)
Der10Ring said:

I have researched stand alone SACD players and most are out of my budget. The Onkyo CS-5VL was interesting but still not that much cheaper than the OPPO.

I bought the Onkyo C-S5VL and am quite happy with it (paired with an NAD 325 amp and old B&W matrix bookshelf speakers) when listening to old Mercury Living Presence SACDs and the newer Mariinsky Shostakovich cds.

Post by acoustico May 27, 2010 (522 of 1518)
Hi Ben,

I have a recommendation for you.
I purchased a Marantz SA7001 SACD player two years ago and I am very satisfied. At that time I was considering first only a new CD player and thought why not expand my capabilities by choosing the option of a combined CD/SACD machine.
This changed my attitude towards SACD completely and I am really glad that I made this decision. In the meantime I have more than 30 SACDs and appreciate the differences to RBCD.
The Marantz is a pure 2-channel player with analog audio output (no HDMI). It has a smooth, natural sound and cost me only 450 Euros at that time. The successor of the SA7001 is the current SA7003 (and SA8003). It should be within your specified budget, I guess. The US version was tested in Stereophile a while back with good response: http://stereophile.com/hirezplayers/1007mar/

Good luck,
acoustico

Post by canonical May 27, 2010 (523 of 1518)
Der10Ring said:


I am interested in SACD since almost all of my listening is classical music. ...
... given my modest budget of $499, ... I am not interested in multi-channel SACD; I am a stereo man and my receiver is only two channel with NO HDMI output.

I would highly recommend the Marantz SA8003 SACD which would be perfect for you ... albeit a tidbit outside the price range.

http://us.marantz.com/Products/2592.asp

The SA8003 recently won the EISA 2009/2010 Best Audio Source Product Award. I have one, and I think it is wonderful.

Reviews:
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/hi-fi-and-audio/cd-players-and-recorders/marantz-sa8003-456022/review

http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-audio-sources/dvd-audio-sacd-players/marantz-sa8003-stereo-sacd-cd-player.html


I am not sure what country you are in (US?), but you should be able to pick one up for around US$750 if you look around a bit, or try sites like ebay (new) or audiogon. The following place is selling it for US$688 ...

http://www.amsound2.com/marantzsa8003sacdcdplayer.aspx

There is also a less expensive model called the SA7003 with the same chippie inside in it, but I don't think it is sold in the US.

Post by Der10Ring June 4, 2010 (524 of 1518)
Kal Rubinson said:

Mebbe I am talking to myself but I just received an e-mail from Denon stating that the new players will output a full DSD signal from SACDs over HDMI. This is good.

Kal

Kal,

In addition to the Denon 1611UD player, I am considering the OPPO-BDP83. On OPPO's website it says: SACD ouput to analog - DSD/PCM. Does this mean the OPPO 83 internally converts DSD directly to analog without first going through PCM? I am not clear on this concept. As I mentioned in a previous post, my receiver (HK-3490) does not have an HDMI input. So does this OPPO setting have an advantage over other SACD players that decimate from DSD to PCM and then to analog? Is this OPPO 83 setting something I should be concerned about in judging it against other players?

I still have not even heard an SACD believe it or not. I hope that I am not disappointed.

Thanks again

Ben

Post by Cherubino June 4, 2010 (525 of 1518)
Der10Ring said:



I still have not even heard an SACD believe it or not. I hope that I am not disappointed.

A more likely source of disappointment, as many SACD collectors have discovered the hard way, is putting off the purchase of a particular title only to see it disappear from the market. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.

Post by rammiepie June 4, 2010 (526 of 1518)
Der10Ring said:

Kal,

In addition to the Denon 1611UD player, I am considering the OPPO-BDP83. On OPPO's website it says: SACD ouput to analog - DSD/PCM. Does this mean the OPPO 83 internally converts DSD directly to analog without first going through PCM? I am not clear on this concept. As I mentioned in a previous post, my receiver (HK-3490) does not have an HDMI input. So does this OPPO setting have an advantage over other SACD players that decimate from DSD to PCM and then to analog? Is this OPPO 83 setting something I should be concerned about in judging it against other players?

I still have not even heard an SACD believe it or not. I hope that I am not disappointed.

Thanks again

Ben

Honestly, if your receiver does not have an HDMI input, the only other option is the OPPO BDP~83 SE version whose analogue outputs are audiophile grade and would pass the DSD signal analogue out directly to your receiver. The only catch, the SE version is $899 and this would necessitate 6 analogue cables which can run into some serious money (vs. the $10 HDMI cable which carries all signals to an HDMI~capable receiver). It might be cheaper to buy a new HDMI~capable receiver at this junction as almost all new components are HDMI compatible. And if you plan to go the blu~ray route, the HDMI cable will also carry the digital video signal, as well. Something to ponder!

Post by Kal Rubinson June 4, 2010 (527 of 1518)
Der10Ring said:

[1]On OPPO's website it says: SACD ouput to analog - DSD/PCM. Does this mean the OPPO 83 internally converts DSD directly to analog without first going through PCM? I am not clear on this concept.

[2] So does this OPPO setting have an advantage over other SACD players that decimate from DSD to PCM and then to analog?

[3]Is this OPPO 83 setting something I should be concerned about in judging it against other players?

[1]It can do either.

[2]Debatable.

[3]Having the option lets you decide what you prefer. Not having the option takes the decision out of your hands.

Kal

Post by Cherubino June 5, 2010 (528 of 1518)
Cherubino said:

A more likely source of disappointment, as many SACD collectors have discovered the hard way, is putting off the purchase of a particular title only to see it disappear from the market.

Here's a last chance at a SACD fading fast from the marketplace, Mozart: La clemenza di Tito - Jacobs. Arkivmusic.com has it this weekend for only $29.99. I ordered a copy so there's one less.

Post by canonical June 12, 2010 (529 of 1518)
New Marantz KI Pearl SACD *LITE* coming ...
_________________________________________________

It's being marketed as a 'lite' and less expensive version of the KI Pearl ... though, visually at least, it would appear to be based on the SA8003 rather than the Pearl.

Seems to have enhanced connectivity ... enabling you to use the player as a DAC for a range of digital sources.

Price: £999 (compared to about £2500 list for the Pearl, or about £700 list for the SA8003)
Available: August

More detail:

http://community.whathifi.com/blogs/industry_insider/archive/2010/06/10/marantz-2010-from-budget-hi-fi-to-3d-ready-universal-blu-ray-players-the-full-range-with-pictures-and-prices.aspx

Post by canonical June 12, 2010 (530 of 1518)
And for the multi-channel crowd:

New Marantz Universal SACD player UD7005
_________________________________________________________

Blu-ray, DVD, SACD and DVD-Audio playback
3D Ready; HDMI 1.4a
32-bit audio DAC with 7.1 channel analogue out
Anchor Bay ABT2015 10-bit video processing
12-bit Analog Devices video DAC
DNLA 1.5 support
ELNA capacitors in output stage for best sound quality
USB input - BD Live storage or media playback


Price - £799.90
Available - August

Source: http://community.whathifi.com/blogs/industry_insider/archive/2010/06/10/marantz-2010-from-budget-hi-fi-to-3d-ready-universal-blu-ray-players-the-full-range-with-pictures-and-prices.aspx

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