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A brand new 5.1/Stereo Hybrid SACD or a 180g stereo LP (well mastered)?
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Magnepan 1.6 QR Loudspeakers, Amherst A-2000 MOSFET 150 WPC Amp, Conrad Johnson PV-10A Modded Tube Line & Phono Stage, Electrocompaniet MC II Class A Head Amp, Audio Technica AT-OC9XML Cart (Stereo) , Graham Engineering 2.2 Tonearm (Stereo) , VPI Aries-1 Turntable (Stereo) , VPI Clamp, Denon DL-102 Cart, (Mono) , Luxman Tonearm (Mono) , Kenwood KD-500 Turntable (Mono) , Michell Clamp, Marantz 20B Analog FM Tuner, Pioneer SACD, Onkyo DX-6800 CD Transport, DIY 24B/192K DAC, Sennheiser HD-650 Headphones, Headroom Max Balanced Headphone Amp, DIY Silver Interconnects -
LP -
LPComment
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LP-even at twice the price.Micro Seiki SX-8000 table with flywheel, SME 3012R arm, SME 312S arm, Lyra Etna SL and Dynavector XV-1S cartridges, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 tape deck, Ampex 350 repros, Roon Nucleus Plus server, PS Audio DSJ DAC, ARC Ref 6 pre, ARC Ref 75 amp, Parasound JC5 amp, JBL 4345 speakers, and Def Tech Ref subs.Comment
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An LP of course. I've heard enough 5.1 systems to know that remixing older recordings not originally intended for surround sound just don't sound natural. Some of the stuff recorded with Quad in mind it's a bit different, but still not too natural.
If I go to a live performance, be it an orchestra, ensemble or band, the performers are not zooming around the venue. Granted a very very few multi-channel recordings capture hall ambience but not a sufficient number to justify the additional expenditure in equipment nor to capture my interest.
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just to clarify, I didn't mean to imply the sacd layer was 5.1 only, it also has a stereo layer for this survey.
Magnepan 1.6 QR Loudspeakers, Amherst A-2000 MOSFET 150 WPC Amp, Conrad Johnson PV-10A Modded Tube Line & Phono Stage, Electrocompaniet MC II Class A Head Amp, Audio Technica AT-OC9XML Cart (Stereo) , Graham Engineering 2.2 Tonearm (Stereo) , VPI Aries-1 Turntable (Stereo) , VPI Clamp, Denon DL-102 Cart, (Mono) , Luxman Tonearm (Mono) , Kenwood KD-500 Turntable (Mono) , Michell Clamp, Marantz 20B Analog FM Tuner, Pioneer SACD, Onkyo DX-6800 CD Transport, DIY 24B/192K DAC, Sennheiser HD-650 Headphones, Headroom Max Balanced Headphone Amp, DIY Silver InterconnectsComment
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OK, I'd probably still go with the LP.Comment
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I forgot to state my choice, the LP. To me, a good 180g LP is worth $25-30. a SACD of same about half that at most.Magnepan 1.6 QR Loudspeakers, Amherst A-2000 MOSFET 150 WPC Amp, Conrad Johnson PV-10A Modded Tube Line & Phono Stage, Electrocompaniet MC II Class A Head Amp, Audio Technica AT-OC9XML Cart (Stereo) , Graham Engineering 2.2 Tonearm (Stereo) , VPI Aries-1 Turntable (Stereo) , VPI Clamp, Denon DL-102 Cart, (Mono) , Luxman Tonearm (Mono) , Kenwood KD-500 Turntable (Mono) , Michell Clamp, Marantz 20B Analog FM Tuner, Pioneer SACD, Onkyo DX-6800 CD Transport, DIY 24B/192K DAC, Sennheiser HD-650 Headphones, Headroom Max Balanced Headphone Amp, DIY Silver InterconnectsComment
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I have some superb SACDs. The recording quality is truly excellent, although only typically when it has been deliberately recorded in that way, and not subsequently 'converted', obviously.
I've also got one or two absolutely rubbish vinyl pressings, and have had 180g and 200g, vinyl which was frankly well below par and definitely trading on the 'look at me, I'm 180g' ticket.
As for purchasing - it's very, very rare to find good 180g vinyl pressings or SACDs for less than NZ$40 or so.
Everything else being equal.. OK. I'd go for the vinyl too.
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Vacuum State JLTi phono stage, SAS B11a pre-amp, DIY 2A3 monoblocks
DIY HD XMOS-based USB->S/PDIF converter, Danish Audio Designs 3-box DAC10
DIY 3-way folded line speakers, DIY Open BafflesComment
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Graham-are the SACDs you like originally analog or digital recordings?
I have some superb SACDs. The recording quality is truly excellent, although only typically when it has been deliberately recorded in that way, and not subsequently 'converted', obviously.
I've also got one or two absolutely rubbish vinyl pressings, and have had 180g and 200g, vinyl which was frankly well below par and definitely trading on the 'look at me, I'm 180g' ticket.
As for purchasing - it's very, very rare to find good 180g vinyl pressings or SACDs for less than NZ$40 or so.
Everything else being equal.. OK. I'd go for the vinyl too.
Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
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Depends on whose offering the LP. Lots of bad pressings coming out now.Comment
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