Sa-cd Vs. Xrcd?

[bchivers]

I realize they are totally different but I am going to buy Jazz At The Pawn Shop FIM version and I would like to know which would have the better sound for my setup since I have Magnepans for the front and regular speakers for the surrounds. I have the digital from the 1920 run with 1694A and canare plugs. I am going to make interconnects from the 1920 to the amp with Beldon 1505F. I have always thought that digital was the better sound but after reading some of the threads hear I see some prefer the analogue better. TIA.

 

[Dan Driscoll]

In theory, the SACD version should sound better. In truth, it will depend on the mixing, mastering, authoring and manufacturing of the disks. When comparing very well mastered and produced redbook CDs to their SACD version, I have found very little difference. A good example are the re-mastered early Elton John CDs (Tumbleweed Connection, Madman Across The Water, etc.) compared to the SACD versions that were released last year. Gus Dudgeon (the producer) did such a great job re-mastering the redbook CD versions that there's very little difference between them and the stereo SACD versions.

Another factor may be the system. My system is decidedly mid-fi, a true high end system may make the differences more audible. And as always, each listener is different.

 

[bchivers]

Thanks for the reply Dan.

When comparing very well mastered and produced redbook CDs to their SACD version, I have found very little difference.

Does this mean that a redbook cd is similar to a XRCD?

 

[j_garcia]

XRCD is a 20 bit standard CD. According to JVC, they start at the mastering stage to make a clean transfer, so theoretically it should sound better, however I dout it will be any better than any well recorded/mastered redbook CD.

I have Jazz at the Pawnshop on redbook (import) and it is already quite amazingly detailed; it is very well recorded - one of the best I've ever heard. To be honest, the redbook already sounds like an SACD, which is saying a lot.

Comparing the CD layer to the SACD of some well recorded discs, I can still hear an improvement with the SACDs, but the better the recording/mastering, the more subtle those differences are, IMO. Patrica Barber's MoFi SACDs are a good example.

 

[Dan Driscoll]

Thanks for the reply Dan.

No Problem.

Does this mean that a redbook cd is similar to a XRCD?

As j-garcia mentioned, all the mastering and processing is done at 20 bits, or 24 bits for the newer XRCD-24 process. The data then goes through a digital to digital conversion to scale it to 16 bits, which is what goes on the CD. Otherwise it would not be redbook compatible. All the 'magic' of the XRCD process happens before the disk is manufactured. Here's a link that describes the process.

Assuming I didn't have a chance to listen to both the XRCD and SACD version before making my decision, and that I had a good SACD player, I would probably buy the SACD version. Not necessarily because I think the SACD will be noticably better than the XRCD, but because it will probably be cheaper. XRCD's are expensive, often more expensive than an SACD. Also, many SACD's have a multi-channel track on the disk, which an XRCD will not have.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I realize they are totally different but I am going to buy Jazz At The Pawn Shop FIM version and I would like to know which would have the better sound for my setup since I have Magnepans for the front and regular speakers for the surrounds. I have the digital from the 1920 run with 1694A and canare plugs. I am going to make interconnects from the 1920 to the amp with Beldon 1505F. I have always thought that digital was the better sound but after reading some of the threads hear I see some prefer the analogue better. TIA.

As the others were saying, it is all about the mastering and processing stages, not the CD or SACD medium. The CD is at the limits of people to detect further. A few here and there will but not much more than the RedBook CD.

 

[westcott]

SACD and DVD Audio are plagued with pitfalls, primarily analog connections for all but the most expensive systems, no\bad bass management, and possible full range signals sent to all of your speakers including your subwoofer!

Here are a couple links that are real eye openers for those unfamiliar with these issues.

http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/specsformats/DVD-AudioSACD12.php

http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/specsformats/DVD-AudioSACD2.php

 

[bchivers]

Thanks for all the info guys. I couldn,t decide so I bought them both. It depends on my mood to which I like better,they are both great.