SACD player

[mcdmdmd]

After a long hiatus, I am getting back into quality sound and hoping to get some advice

The system so far:

Magnepan 1.7i speakers
Van Alstine Vision SET 400 amp
Van Alstine fet valve CFR preamp
Cambridge DACMagic 200M
Hard-drive accessed through Roon

I have a large collection of CDs and would like to have the option to play SACDs
I am looking at the Arcam SCD50

The room is dedicated to music and I have no interest in bring in a television, even to set up a player

Thoughts and recommendations?

 

[John Parks]

That sounds like (pun intended) a good system! SACD players in the Arcam's price range are few and far inbetween. I know Denon has the DCD-1600NE for $1500 and Yamaha, the CD-S100 for $1800 (here at A4L for $900: https://www.accessories4less.com/ma...00-natural-sound-super-audio-cd-player/1.html ).

If I were in the market for a CD/SACD only player, I would lean toward the Arcam as I have had a couple of their players before and really liked them. Currently, I have the Pioneer UPD-LX500 (my system also has video duties) and am extremely happy with it.

https://www.adorama.com/piudplx500.html?adlclid=3f8cfe8f1b45195686f49f2c963c2ac3&msclkid=3f8cfe8f1b45195686f49f2c963c2ac3&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=%5BADL%5D%20%5BShopping%5D%20%5BPLA%5D%20-%20%7BManufacturer%7D&utm_term=4581115204161214&utm_content=%7BManufacturer%7D%20-%20Bing&utm_source=adl-umbase-p

Links are assuming you are in the US...

 

[j_garcia]

You will likely want to check out the remote for whichever model you get. Not all of them have the ability to switch layers without the need to be in an OSD menu. The earlier Oppos, Sonys and Denons had this, but the more recent versions do not. That means to select between Multi or Stereo layers, you'd need a display if the model you choose doesn't have this capability on the remote.

IMO, a used Oppo 105 would be what I'd look at. The 205 tends to be too pricey since it supports 4K, but the 105 is 1080p only, so you can find them for less. I have both and the 105's DACs are very close in sound quality to the 205 for SACD/DVD-A.

 

[snakeeyes]

I have no issues with SACD or DVD-Audio on my Sony x800m2

 

[Replicant 7]

I have no issues with SACD or DVD-Audio on my Sony x800m2

You beat me to it @snakeeyes my Sony X700 stays in SACD mode.

 

[lovinthehd]

Yep Sony bluray players often have SACD capabilities, but may not be very helpful on the display as noted if not using a tv, and some would require hdmi connection, too.

ps If you already have the SACDs that's one thing, but the only value I find in SACDs these days are the ones with multi-channel recordings, the 2ch only versions aren't that interesting, altho sometimes someone does take a bit extra care with the mixing/mastering for SACD release.

 

[TLS Guy]

After a long hiatus, I am getting back into quality sound and hoping to get some advice

The system so far:

Magnepan 1.7i speakers
Van Alstine Vision SET 400 amp
Van Alstine fet valve CFR preamp
Cambridge DACMagic 200M
Hard-drive accessed through Roon

I have a large collection of CDs and would like to have the option to play SACDs
I am looking at the Arcam SCD50

The room is dedicated to music and I have no interest in bring in a television, even to set up a player

Thoughts and recommendations?

Because of economies of scale, you will have to pay a premium for a player that does not have video capability.

These are your options.

It has strangely got to the point where audio only rigs have became a liability. I have had all my systems AV for some time now, because of this issue. Actually it is nice to have video as an option even on a system mainly used for audio only. I suspect this issue will become more acute fairly rapidly with the passage of time.