Small SACD Player?

[HiWire]

I've read good things about the Cyrus CD players and also the Musical Fidelity X-Ray players... they're small, but mighty... also not cheap.

 

[labmat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiWire /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've read good things about the Cyrus CD players and also the Musical Fidelity X-Ray players... they're small, but mighty... also not cheap.

Thanks HiWire.

Those are both beautiful players and are exactly what I'm looking for size wise but it doesn't look like either support SACDs. Did I miss something on their sites; do these players support SACDs?

also

Does anybody have suggestions for a full sized single disk player thats under $200?

Thanks,

 

[HiWire]

There are no small-format SACD players that I know of. I've been pushing for a portable SACD player for a while, but it's probably illogical for many reasons. SACD/DVD-A/Universal players tend to be massive, overbuilt monoliths... the kind of things that would impress an audiophile, much like the SACD technology itself

For a cheap SACD player, try the Sony SCD-CE595 that has a huge thread in this forum. It's down to about $150 new, and $60 refurbished in the USA.

I'm holding out for my Arcam FMJ CD36 unless I hear something better for the money. SACD can come out of my future modded PS3... someday.

 

[Meyvn]

http://www.oppodigital.com/dv970hd/dv970hd.html This one is quite small and gets great reviews.

http://www.hotbuyselectronics.com/it...item_id=110075 This one is also quite slick.

I LOVE my CE595, but it's pretty darned big.

 

[labmat]

Well I think I'll be getting an Oppo DV970HD it's price is right and it's a pretty attractive player. I also like that it has an audio only mode that turns off the video processing unit for better sound.

I'll let you guys know what I think once I get it.

Thanks Guys!

 

[rodentmacbeastie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by labmat /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well I think I'll be getting an Oppo DV970HD it's price is right and it's a pretty attractive player. I also like that it has an audio only mode that turns off the video processing unit for better sound. I'll let you guys know what I think once I get it. Thanks Guys!

That would be my suggestion as well. I am so very tempted to spend $3500 on a Modwright player but the sound that comes out of the Oppo 970 is damn good at any price! I have heard $2000 players that don't sound as good to my ear. The Modwright is supposed to be fantastic value as well, but $3300 more is a lot of money. If I don't listen to $3000 and up players I will likely stay satisfied for a while with the Oppo. It is a great bargain universal player with great video, plays all 5" discs, has the video off function for cleaner sound and costs $150! I am tempted to install a Zapfilter in mine. The thought of discrete balanced SACD output for under $400 is very exiting!

 

[El Condor]

Sorry if I'm stepping on the thread a little bit, but does anybody here know about the Marantz SA17S1 SACD player? Anybody tried it? Price range is 1.8K-2K. It's a little bit out there for me right now, but It might become a contender if I can find a darn review for it.

 

[rodentmacbeastie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Condor /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sorry if I'm stepping on the thread a little bit, but does anybody here know about the Marantz SA17S1 SACD player? Anybody tried it? Price range is 1.8K-2K. It's a little bit out there for me right now, but It might become a contender if I can find a darn review for it.

I find that the SA8001 sounds 95% the same as the SA17S1 and would suggest saving your cash. For that matter, I thought the Oppo 970 compared well on redbook against $1000 players and even a little higher. I only compared it to a SA8001 and a Sony player for SACD and prefered it to the Sony and swapped back and forth with the Marantz depending on music.

The one thing my cheap little Oppo has really done for me was that I am happy enough with it that I will take my time finding that $4000 player of my dreams. This way I won't rush into a decision that I will regret later. And if I do a Zapfilter mod...

 

[pbarach]

Soon after SACD's hit the market, Sony began to produce a few models of relatively inexpensive DVD players that can play multichannel SACD's. I bought the DVP-NS755V for about $150, and this model frequently sells used on eBay for $50-100. It does a very good job playing back SACD's and DVD's (not so hot on redbook CD's). On SACD's, I can definitely hear the difference between this unit and my Denon 3910, but the latter unit costs a lot more and it's large.
As someone else pointed out in this thread, SACD players do not have digital outputs such as TOSLINK or coaxial, although there are a few models that let you output the digital signal into specific receivers or components (e.g., the DenonLink output on higher-end Denon players). The reason for this is to prevent copying of SACD's in the digital domain.

Let me also mention that you will need to connect this Sony model, as well as other inexpensive/smaller SACD players, to a TV during initial setup, in order to configure the audio output the way you want using the on screen menus.

 

[hempcamp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbarach /img/forum/go_quote.gif As someone else pointed out in this thread, SACD players do not have digital outputs such as TOSLINK or coaxial, although there are a few models that let you output the digital signal into specific receivers or components (e.g., the DenonLink output on higher-end Denon players). The reason for this is to prevent copying of SACD's in the digital domain.

Hope I'm not thread crapping... but this makes me wonder: the Oppo can output encrypted audio by converting to PCM and sending through the HDMI output. So, if one were to make a little "break out" cable for the HDMI, would this have any benefit or would all the former SACD or DVD-A audio no longer be up to snuff?

I might get one of these anyway just to see what all the SACD fuss is about.

--Chris

 

[rodentmacbeastie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hempcamp /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hope I'm not thread crapping... but this makes me wonder: the Oppo can output encrypted audio by converting to PCM and sending through the HDMI output. So, if one were to make a little "break out" cable for the HDMI, would this have any benefit or would all the former SACD or DVD-A audio no longer be up to snuff? I might get one of these anyway just to see what all the SACD fuss is about. --Chris

Yes, I have a thread started.

http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=207606

There is no reason I can think of why you cannot make a HDMI to s/pdif cable or mount a s/pdif output on the Oppo and wire it internally. Many, if not most SACD players convert the SACD DSD signal internally to PCM and then out it's analog stage. Only a few players other than Sony run DSD direct to the analog outputs. Even the Linn univ. player does this conversion internally. So yes, you should even be able to copy a SACD that is sent out the Oppo's HDMI output in PCM format. I am tossing up the idea of which mod first, Zapfilter or the HDMI cable to an external DAC. The only downside that I can think of with the HDMI PCM signal is that it is sent to the DAC at a max. of 24/96KHz.

 

[SayNoToPistons]

+1 for Sony SCD-CE595

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazin...nyscdce595.htm

 

[slwiser]

Note to readers:

The OP ask for a small footprint SCAD player. Many respondents on the last two pages have apparently forgotten this completely. No matter how "small" a 17"x15"x1"player may be it is does not have a small footprint.

I to would like to see a what small footprint SCAD/DVD-A units are available but I have not seen any suggestions so far.

I know there are lots of options from the full size units.

 

[hempcamp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slwiser /img/forum/go_quote.gif The OP ask for a small footprint SCAD player. Many respondents on the last two pages have apparently forgotten this completely.... I to would like to see a what small footprint SCAD/DVD-A units are available but I have not seen any suggestions so far.

Yes, but we soon came to the conclusion that no such animals exist in an affordable price range. The OP himself seems to have gone for a full-size:

Quote:

Originally Posted by labmat /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well I think I'll be getting an Oppo DV970HD it's price is right and it's a pretty attractive player. I also like that it has an audio only mode that turns off the video processing unit for better sound.

Sorry, slwiser.

--Chris

 

[slwiser]

Chris

I think I failed to see that conclusion, but now I do.

Thanks for pointing that out for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hempcamp /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yes, but we soon came to the conclusion that no such animals exist in an affordable price range. The OP himself seems to have gone for a full-size: Sorry, slwiser. --Chris