Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Finnaly a reason to SACD!

Yep...that's the only issue I've ever had. It's a bit fussy about your discs being in pristine condition.

I found a best buy near me that has it for $100, and I have a couple of gift certificates to use up at Best Buy, so I'm thinking of getting the 578. If I do it though I should move fast, since it looks like it is being cleared out.

So, I went to best buy tonight and bought the 578. I got the last one, open box shelf model. It was listed at $90 since it was open box, but they didn't have the remote or manual (which I should be able to DL from the Internet), so I got it for $75.

Just one question. They told me that the optical cable does not work for SACD, that 3 sets of RCA cables (front, rear, center/sub) were needed instead. Is this correct, and if so, why is this the case? I got the RCA cables, but it seems strange to be that optical would not work in this case.

That is correct. Optical theoretically has too low a data rate for uncompressed SACD audio (and DVD-A). Also, they don't want you making perfect copies, so they give you the 6 analog outs. It's really a copy protection thing.

Yes it is true that you will need 3 sets of RCA cables. It is six channel direct. The signal will only go through analog. That is also one of the reasons you cant burn the 6 channel layer.
Whats interesting (at least with my player) is that 2 sometimes 3 of the channels will go through coax. Sometimes you will only get the voice tracks and sometimes you will only get intrument tracks.
Nothing like Elton John singing acapella.

Thanks guys. I love the response time on here. I've had just enough time to get it on the shelf and try it with optical (didn't work of course) and was about to open up the RCA cables but thought I would check for responses first. Sure enough, there they were. I'll hook up the RCA cables and listen to some Dark Side of the Moon SACD while I get dinner ready. I'll probably have to sit down later in the sweet spot to truly appreciate it though.

So... I was looking around for a SACD player this weekend, can't seem to find that Pioneer (except I see Crutchfeild is selling it for $130 plus ~20 shipping).

I noticed a SACD 5 disc changer by SONY at Best Buy for $130. I know some ppl like their 400 disc changers (something I dont want or need) so I'm wondering what ppl might think of a player like this. I'm a bit confused however on the DVD-A. I've read some ppl say you need a special player for them, but I've also read that any DVD player will play a DVD-A disk.

So which is it? I don't know of any titles on DVD-A that I want, but I'd hate to buy a new player that doesn't work with em only to later come across a disk I want.

In reply to:

---

I've read some ppl say you need a special player for them, but I've also read that any DVD player will play a DVD-A disk.

---

This is because most DVD-A discs contain a Dolby Digital or DTS track. But unless the player is specifically DVD-A compatible, you will not be able to play the hi-rez/multi-channel track.

I think my local best buy still has the 578a. They even dropped it to $95 (although I had to fight with them about it, since it only said $95 online). I've got it all hooked up and it is working well for me. I have DSOTM on SACD and NIN TDS on DVD-A. I was a bit disappointed with the NIN, although I have only listened to the DVD-A version once so far. I guess I set my expectations with DSOTM. Not much will likely compare since this is supposed to be one of the better ones out there for the format.

IN, as Curtis explained, although any DVD player will the play the DD and/or DTS track that's present on all DVD-As, it won't play the DVD-A track unless specifically designed to do so. Since Sony is a developer and promoter of the rival SACD, their players(including the one you looked at) don't have provision for playing the DVD-A track