@Pogre
New Oppo205 owner...I bought this new toy more or less to replace an aging Rotel RDD980/RDP980 CD player.
Of course Hi-Res music was on my radar. After some research on the format, titles, and listening to suggestions from hi res vets such as @ j_garcia I bought a few SACDs last week and I've had a chance to listen to several of them. Purposely I bought a couple in stereo version that I already had in redbook format for a comparison.
Equipment...pre/pro - AV7702mkii, amp - Outlaw 2200 mono block (LCR) & Emo BASX A500 (surround) Source - Oppo UHD205, Main spkrs - B&W 804M, CC - Paradigm CC190, Side Sur - RBH RB5i, Sub - HSU VTF3 mk5 x 2
First Impressions
SACD Stereo
Come Away With Me...(hybrid SACD) Nora Jones, analog connection. I've played the reg. CD dozens of times. Off the top, the sacd plays about 4 db louder on the SPL meter. I thought the sound stage has her vocals are more on top of you, she sounds closer. I could not tell any difference in imaging. The instruments have more air, a cleaner sound. I will add playing it via the HDMI connection was brighter, not bad, but noticeable. The analog connection imo was better.
There's no WOW difference, but there is a difference. I paid $15 for it. I would do it again.
Explorations...hybrid SACD, Bill Evans Trio, analog connection. Also played slightly louder. The SACD recording jumps off the page a lot more, better separation in the instruments. Cleaner, more airy sound as well. For the $15 I paid, well worth it.
SACD Multi-channel
Brothers In Arms...hybrid SACD,Dire Straits. analog connection I have maybe 4 or 5 of these songs on my Itunes. AAC files. I wasn't sure what to expect. This SACD offers the WOW difference. Excellent engineering work here. All 6 channels are used. The LCR get the lionshare of the work. Vocals are mostly via the CC, the side surr spkrs get a reasonable amount of signal, guitar work mostly. Even with my hodge-podge LCR spkrs, I thought this very well done. Paid $12, this is a value at twice this price imo.
Kind Of Blue...hybrid SACD, Miles Davis. If you're into jazz, most likely you have this album or CD. This production has been offered in a variety of formats (LP, mono CD, stereo CD, SACD stereo, SACD multi) and not all are widely accepted as good. I have the regular stereo CD. The multi-channel SACD seems to get the most universal approval.
It's basically a 3.1 recording with Miles' trumpet taking center stage, and Coltrane's sax commanding one side of the stage, Addereley's the other. Drums and Bill Evans' piano are mixed in well across all front. Having the bass on it's own channel really separates this recording from my CD....the HSUs shine without being overbearing. The original SACD is out of print and can go for triple digits. I paid $30 for this hybrid SACD. While it doesn't really have the WOW difference, I like the multi-channel SACD version much better.
I'm not going to go through all of them but I bought a couple Dianne Krall, Eddie Higgins Trio, DSOTM arrived yesterday, so I'll listen to that one this evening.
Conclusion
The short and sweet version. For most recordings, it's in the details. The WOW factor will probably be in the multi-channel recordings for most people. If you've got a good source and speakers, I think you will hear some subtle details. I can see why audiophiles with money to burn were enamored with them when they 1st came out. They do get you you closer to what the sound engineers intended.
I can't imagine this format was ever intended to compete with 16/44 CDs, I can also see why the format failed to gain mass appeal even among people that truly like music. Not everyone has the equipment to really be able to hear much difference. Secondly, at double the price of a $15 redbook CD, it was pretty easy to pass.
I like them, and will continue to add to my collection. One very good thing for new collectors of SACD or Hi res music, the pioneers were eager to share their experience so there is enough review content is out there to help us avoid the bad recording pitfalls.
