What is the best sounding SACD/CD player?

Lefisc

Lefisc

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An SACD/CD A conundrum

Simply what is the best sounding SACD/CD player out there?

Not so simple: Price. Certainly on this site players that are $8-20,000 are discussed. I know there are $80,000 players and transports etc and I am not talking about those. To many $20,000 players are not the “real world.” But in our little world, where ten grand is not terribly unusual what is the best sounding one piece player?
 
Said it before... gonna say it again...

AVOID DISC SPINNERS. Spend your energy/$ on a DAC!
 
EAR Acute 4. The EAR Acute 3 was the best I've ever heard - period. The new 4 I'm sure will be even better.

EAR Yoshino Acute 4 and DAC 4 - High End 2013 Munich -* The Audio Beat - www.TheAudioBeat.com

ear.jpg
 
-E- said:
Said it before... gonna say it again...

AVOID DISC SPINNERS. Spend your energy/$ on a DAC!
Click to expand...

It's kind of funny E, we both don't want a spinner. But we have opposite views on how to get it done. I love my Linn streamer and you love your computer and DAC combo !!
 
Barry - unless your SACD collection is massive, I agree with E. Bite the bullet, rip your CD's to a NAS and you will never look back. I haven't spun a CD in almost 2 years. No desire to either. But if my SACD's weren't ripped to DSD (an arduous task not for the faint of heart), I would admittedly still have a spinner. I have the Oppo has my backup, but its duty is mostly Blu-Ray movies. The DAC in the Oppo is good, but not great.
 
I agree with the others who say focus on getting a DAC rather than a disc spinner. I bought my Cary 306 SACD/DAC when I was still playing CDs and other discs more than playing from my computer files, but with the mindset of using the DAC functions more eventually. I'm very glad I did, as I spin discs only about 2% of the time, and mostly SACDs and HDCDs.
 
Am I the only one still like to have a proud ownership of getting the Jewel case , the Liner note, Cover Art and that some thing you can hold on your hand ? I will always buy the CD regardless of getting a HD track or not. LONG LIVE CD!!!
 
BlueMcIntosh said:
Am I the only one still like to have a proud ownership of getting the Jewel case , the Liner note, Cover Art and that some thing you can hold on your hand ?
Click to expand...

You are far from the only one. Premier audio companies continue to introduce new and improved CD/SACD machines. That is what many of their customers still want.
 
I still buy CDs, but only to rip to the music server. The only time my SACD player gets used anymore is to audition a CD to see if it is good enough to be ripped. Other than looking at the CD booklets once, they are never looked at again.

To the OP, when you do buy your new SACD player, be sure it has a digital input so that you can use its DAC with another source. Now you have the best of both worlds.
 
The best sounding player is either the one that you have, or the one that you really want next! ;)

In my case, it's the one that I have, and I have no desire for anything else. Plus in my hybrid 2-channel/HT system, it truly is the swiss army knife of players, includes the digital inputs for the DAC, and it sounds awesome!
 
Perhaps, but it has been superseded by the Vivaldi stack. Check out the January 2014 issue of stereophile. It is on the cover and reviewed on page 70.
 
Not much. Only $108,496. Of course you will need to upgrade the power cords to Shunyata Zitron Alpha Digital cables at $1K each.
 
If the new EAR Acute transport and DAC4 are an improvement over the Acute3 then that will get my vote. The reviewer of the Acute3 said if you just bought an 80k plus DCS stack do not listen to the EAR Acute3. I bought one based off of that review and it is easily the best CD player I have ever had. The new version will add SACD and a separate DAC that should be amazing. I have ordered a couple but don't know when they will be shipping.
 
JJinID said:
The best sounding player is either the one that you have, or the one that you really want next! ;)

In my case, it's the one that I have, and I have no desire for anything else. Plus in my hybrid 2-channel/HT system, it truly is the swiss army knife of players, includes the digital inputs for the DAC, and it sounds awesome!
Click to expand...

I agree with Jeff. It is the one I want next. I haven't found it yet but it is out there.
 
I think the Esoteric K-01, both at new and S/H prices, is a very interesting option. Great sounding, VERY well made, well equipped AND very reliable.
 
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