Sony launch new sacd player

[robbyrtp]

Sony have launched a new Budget SACD player. Its called SCDXE 800. Price about £180.
Its not dead yet then.

[HectorHughMunro]

http://www.sony.co.uk/product/hfc-cd-player/scd-xe800

[wizons]

Is the xa5400es still available? A lot of people complain of difficulty in getting one.

The Wiz

[TheMooN]

Is the xa5400es still available? A lot of people complain of difficulty in getting one.

The Wiz

Retail ~ Unfortunatly not , I was having a mooch around for one a while back to no avail

[cjr]

I still keep my NS92V purely for the SACDs I own, are Sony going to be doing any more SACD releases of new music?

[Barney]

Sorry if this is a stupid question but what effect would a separate DAC have on this machine, would it negate the SACD playback?

[musicbox]

there are classical releases on SACD coming out from Sony, and lots of other labels.

[musicbox]

Sorry if this is a stupid question but what effect would a separate DAC have on this machine, would it negate the SACD playback?

It would only work for standard CDs. There will be no digital output for SACDs which use totally different encoding.

[Barney]

Thanks Alan. I don't know anything about SACD but this machine interests me given the price.
What would I really gain by buying one.

[musicbox]

wouldn't bother unless you are really into classical music.

[wizons]

Retail ~ Unfortunatly not , I was having a mooch around for one a while back to no avail

A shame, and bizarre given the investment that probably went into its production. There seem to be SACD enthusiasts falling over themselves to try and source this machine, so there is a market for it. I get better CD sound from the 5400 than from the Benchmark DAC, and its SACD playback is superb. If the new machine comes anywhere near it's a bargain.

The Wiz

[Barney]

wouldn't bother unless you are really into classical music.

Meaning its better sound with classical or that is all that is available?

[musicbox]

I'd guess that around 95% of what is available on SACD is classical. Some classic Jazz and rock re-issues, but overwhelmingly classical.

[cjr]

Shame really as some of DSDs I have are of the stunning variety, Linn etc. I have a feeling that BD is where classical will head. Already seeing some "reference" quality classical BDs in the hifi press.

[TheMooN]

A shame, and bizarre given the investment that probably went into its production. There seem to be SACD enthusiasts falling over themselves to try and source this machine, so there is a market for it. I get better CD sound from the 5400 than from the Benchmark DAC, and its SACD playback is superb. If the new machine comes anywhere near it's a bargain.

The Wiz

Given the pricing disparity of the decks one must assume lesser parts under the hood , However one never knows , You wouldn't bet against Sony producing a machine that gets pretty close to the 5400es even at that price

[karlinamillion]

So whats a DSD disc?, the spec lists it seperatly from SACD.
It also refers to CD-DA, whats that?

Shame really as some of DSDs I have are of the stunning variety, Linn etc. I have a feeling that BD is where classical will head. Already seeing some "reference" quality classical BDs in the hifi press.

[cjr]

Karl - you get 2 types of SACD replay / decoding filtering:

Pure DSD (this is the best recording and playback level)
LCPM - DSD Conversion (comes from LCPM mastered material then mastered into DSD - not pure DSD)

You'll also see some SACD gear that is LCPM based, ie the DACs/Filters thus compromised from pure DSD.

For example Denons 2900 was a pure DSD device, so fed a pure DSD recording, your hearing best the format. After that they went to DSD that was converted from LCPM. Probably someone can expalin better than I.

[RichardG]

Several Stevie Ray Vaughn SACDs being released this month on Mobile Fidelity. It'll cost you though...

Also I got an email from CD Japan the other day about a "new format" SACD-SHM which milks the buying public even more! Having caught a cold on the "improved SHM-CD" quality of the Led Zepp box set (£250 delivered - thank you very much!), I shalln't be falling for this one as well!

[musicbox]

So whats a DSD disc?, the spec lists it seperatly from SACD.
It also refers to CD-DA, whats that?

No idea what CD-DA is but a DSD disc is interesting. It is the storage of DSD data files on a DVD-R disc. Ie SACD style 1bit 2.82Mhz music recording on a DVD.... the only way to create one I have heard of is to use a Sony Vaio computer to create the DSD files - so you could digitise your vinyl to hi rez DSD format if you had the inclination and a Sony Vaio. Could be an interesting project.

[RichardG]

I have Sony Mastering Studio on my Vaio and it does indeed create DSD files (up to 24bit). Have never done it as the files are massive and in all honesty, a 16bit 44.1kHz CD played in my CD player should sound better than a DSD file played through a Pioneer Universal player shouldn't it?

Life's too short for me to find out I'm afraid...!