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Footprint is an issue in my combined stereo and A/V system. I'm waiting for a player that can at least do SACD and DVD in stereo with digital output and 5.1 with bass management.
Reader Arnel Enero wonders if the advent of DVD-Audio and SACD has dampened your desire for a new CD-only player.
Already did that last year with a Nakamichi MB10 fed into my trusty Adcom GDA600 using Kimber KCAG interconnect. Won't play anymore upgrade games until they sort out having an all in one DVD, DVD-A, CD, & SACD. It also needs to be able to go thru my DAC and play the movie audio as a seperate output. They better get their act together on pricing of these formats and that includes the price of DVD videos. I can buy used CDs for $6 and when I play my LPs and see that I paid $8 for ECM or Windam Hill (and it kicks the heck out of most of my CDs), I say I won't play their game anymore. They don't respect or trust the consumer so why support them with my dollars? Go get the Saturday paper and start going to garage sales to buy LPs. Michael Fremer is right.
I find it highly offensive that Mr. Enero has jumped to the conclusion that everyone listens to some kind of digital "music" source. I, for one, have never owned a compact disc player, much less any of the other do-dads listed. Therefore, it was impossible for me to vote in this poll, given the choices. Why must you discriminate against digiphobes? I'm suing.
DVD-Audio and SACD playing capability is being integrated into new model. CD-only player will fade away soon. At now most American high-end manufacturer do not have DVD-Audio and SACD manufacturing license, but will employ this technology.
Audio Research CD2 - sounds great, and will last five or six years until the CD/SACD/DVD-V/HDTV-compatible STEREO player along with the CD/SACD portable "Discman" and the CD/SACD car stereo all come out so I can do a full upgrade. (Does DVD-A have any portable or automobile hardware, or do I have to buy two or three of each new title in various formats if I want to listen in the car or at the office as well as at home?)
My CD player is eleven years old and still performs flawlessly. I would love to jump on the multi-channel SACD bandwagon, but will not as long as there is the possibility of that format not becoming the de facto standard, or until they introduce models that will also handle DVD-A.
I just purchased a SACD player at around the $2,500 price point and did extensive auditioning at home to a CD player that was rated class B in Stereophile. If the SACD player could play Redbook as well as the CD player I would go the the SACD giving me the added bonus of the new hi rez format if and when it takes off. I did not want to spend this kind of money and have regrets later that I had no options to play the new hi rez format. I must say I am a satisfied owner of SACD.
Various friends have bought SACD players. I can hear the difference between those and mainstream CD players. However, I found the Levinson No. 39 more or less matches the sound quality of the SACD players, and so I bought one. I'm not sure that many people have really heard what standard CD can do given the very best players.
Yes, but not necessarily for the obvious reasons. Because of my age (36) an despite being a LP-head, this CD->SACD/DVD is my first real format war. What each format has taught me is that a combined player cannot do as well as players made specifically for a given format. Two years ago, after having been bitten by the hifi bug, I bought my CAL15 because I planned on getting a multi-format player for the impending formats. Well, the formats aren't really here yet but I am looking to get a Linn Ikemi for my CD front and worry about the new formats later. Hell, I listen to mostly LP's anyway.
With an investment in a few thousand cd's, I'm am very interested in the latest cd technology, particularly upsampling. I'm sure that few of you vinyl-bigots out there disconneted your 'tables and bought cd players just because of the advent of digital technology!
I needed a plain old CD changer, so I bought the entry-level six-disc Onkyo. If I feel compelled to upgrade, will probably wait for an entry-level player (from a reliable company)that plays & (if necessary) decodes DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD, HDCD, CDR, & CDRW. This will not, I expect, happen overnight, & I expect to get plenty of enjoyable use out of what I just bought. I have 5.1 inputs, & am willing to wait.