My first SACD player

[mattsk8]

Picked up a used Marantz DV8400 that is in like new condition on ebay for $150 after shipping . My wife got me Dire Straits, Brothers In Arms and Pink Floyd, Dark Side Of The Moon for christmas. WOW do SACDs ever sound amazing !

I'm not a huge jazz fan, but I think having 1 or 2 good jazz compilations on SACD would be nice for listening to; any recommendations there?

Aside from that, I think I definitely want Dire Straits Communique but I can't seem to find it; and Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. Any other suggestions? I'm into lots of different music.

[Adam]

Congrats!

I think that the Depeche Mode - Violator SACD is excellent.

You can find the Dire Straits - Communique SACD at Acoustic Sounds for $60. I ordered several discs from them back in 2009 when I got my player, and everything went smoothly and showed up in great condition.

[Adam]

You can also grab Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here from Acoustic Sounds for $35.

EDIT: Oops, you didn't actually say that you couldn't find that one. It's also on Amazon.

[j_garcia]

Well, Jazz at the Pawnshop is an excellent SACD, but it isn't inexpensive. At least for the price, it is 2 discs and they are pretty much the best recording I've heard.

For Violator, most people said the DTS version was better than the SACD. I have the DTS and it is quite good.

Godsmack - The Other Side (acoustic).

I just got the Pretenders II SACD for Xmas and haven't listened to it yet. Will let you know how that one is.

Another useful thread

great place to find dvda audio discs

[afterlife2]

Congrats on the player and enjoy. I have a Oppo 980 I bought back in Oct and can't wait to set it up, which will be soon. As you can see from the thread j_garcia linked I bought a bunch of DTS and SACD. Be sure to post what you got there.

[mattsk8]

Well, Jazz at the Pawnshop is an excellent SACD, but it isn't inexpensive. At least for the price, it is 2 discs and they are pretty much the best recording I've heard.

For Violator, most people said the DTS version was better than the SACD. I have the DTS and it is quite good.

Godsmack - The Other Side (acoustic).

I just got the Pretenders II SACD for Xmas and haven't listened to it yet. Will let you know how that one is.

Another useful thread

great place to find dvda audio discs

Thanks for the link and the Pretenders suggestion! Would you say its a toss up between DVD-A and SACD? What's the diff and which sounds better; or does the "which sounds better" question depend on the recording?

Not sure if it makes a diff or not, but I listen in 2 channel on my music only system; not in 5.1 or greater.

[fuzz092888]

One of her earlier albums. I really like this one.
Amazon.com: Come Away With Me: Norah Jones: Music

I thought this was a pretty interesting sampler.
Amazon.com: The Absolute Sound: SACD Sampler [Hybrid SACD]: Music

I love movies so this one was a no brainer for me.
Amazon.com: Great Film Fantasies (Hybrid SACD]: John [Film Composer] Williams, Howard Shore, Erich Kunzel, Enya, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Heather MacPhail: Music

Love this movie and Mozart music.
Amazon.com: Amadeus [Original Soundtrack Recording] [Hybrid SACD]: Music

Got this as a freebie when I bought my Oppo and I ended up really liking it.
Amazon.com: Plays Ennio Morricone (Hybr) (Snys): Yo-Yo Ma: Music

This is only a CD, but I think the sound is amazing and that your CD player will really sing with this lowly CD in there
Amazon.com: Goat Rodeo Sessions (CD/DVD Deluxe Edition): Music

[j_garcia]

Thanks for the link and the Pretenders suggestion! Would you say its a toss up between DVD-A and SACD? What's the diff and which sounds better; or does the "which sounds better" question depend on the recording?

In most cases it does come down to the recording/mastering. I've owned the SACD and DVD-A versions of some discs and usually if one is good, the other usually will be too, though I could hear differences on a few of them because there are different processes/software they use to create each. Three Doors Down Away From the Sun was actually better on DVD-A. In terms of the formats these days, if cost is a factor to you, just get the one that goes for less. In many cases, some are only on DVD-A (like Porcupine Tree) or SACD, and others may be in both formats but you may only be able to find one or the other now.

Not sure if it makes a diff or not, but I listen in 2 channel on my music only system; not in 5.1 or greater.

I'd check the info for the discs on something like www.SA-CD.net to determine the audio tracks available because not all of them have 2ch material (I would say discs without 2ch tracks are rare though), while some are 2ch only.

Some more of my favorite discs are Patricia Barber Cafe Blue and Companion Both 2ch only. Note the price of Cafe Blue now too...YIKES (as of this post it is listed as $377 new, $249 used).

I listened to the Pretenders II disc last night and the sound is quite excellent. I didn't realize it was a Mobile Fidelity disc.

[macddmac]

Cafe Blue is available in hdcd gold for about 30.00 and has stunningly good sq for a lot less $$ than the sacd version.
Cheers, Mac

[j_garcia]

Cafe Blue is available in hdcd gold for about 30.00 and has stunningly good sq for a lot less $$ than the sacd version.
Cheers, Mac

Even the CD is excellent. It is a Mo-Fi master, so regardless of version, this one should be picked up I bought the SACDs when they were $30... The SACDs are only getting more expensive because they are out of print, plus that is Amazon pricing which has nothing to do with anything, so YMMV. You could probably find them for a more reasonable price somewhere else.