SACD Failure - Pilot Error, Equipment Problem or Unkind Fate?

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by hkval

Funny: I already had a sticky note on the back of my Norah Jones SACD that the CD sounded better.

Howard.......Good to know we have similar hearing. I found the Norah Jones SACD particularly disappointing because I like the CD Come Away With Me so much. I was expecting the SACD to be superior, and in fact it turned out to be not even equal to the redbook version, but lower quality. It irritated me that I was lured into spending the money only to be let down.

[chessman]

Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson

OK. Did these sound any different to you? That is the only valid comparison that your equipment will permit if you are determined to distinguish the sound of the two media.

In the situation described above, what does it say on the Oppo display? It will tell you what you are playing.

Of course, many times. Usually, the difference is subtle over carefully matched and identical signal paths. That said, I generally only listen to the MCH SACD tracks and, with them, the difference is marked.

Kal,

Sorry for the delayed answer. The display said SACD. The SACD layer sounds better than the CD layer, but the degree of difference is apparently highly dependent of the particular recording. Unfortunately, my maiden flight involved a less than great recording. Others proved to be easier to hear. The main difference in my rig is not between CD/SACD, but between my external DAC and the Oppo's internal DAC. Your comments about matched signal paths were spot on. Thanks!