Pretty average as a CD player but actually not bad with SACD’s where it is smooth, fluid and involving. Its treble is fluid and airy, the pacing is pretty good and it has nice bass that’s not dry nor fat. But is not the most “live” sounding player and it has a slightly synthetic timbre. Multichannel audio is a nice feature but I found that while it can sound impressive it doesn’t improve the sound quality at all. Its video quality, by the way, is class-leading. But we only care about sound, don’t we:-)
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A newby here. Prefer vinyl but accidentally bought a couple “hybrid SACDs” online….thinking they were remastered new vinyl.
I just bought a used Denon 2910 player…that is a SACD player, (lucky me).
I’m hoping these CDs are a noticeable improvement over regular issue CDs.??
Maybe I should return these SACD discs. And do more careful purchases BEFORE I drink any wine.
Wine does have the advantage of making everything sound better;-)
All things being equal, the SACD later of a hybrid disc should technically outperform the CD layer, at least in terms of resolution, which usually is heard as a higher level of refinement in the treble and often a more fluid sound. But DSD also tends to have a structurally different presentation from PCM. Typically, I find that PCM is more rooted and solid in the bass. And there are other ifs and buts such as the CD and DSD layer potentially stemming from different masters.
So, it’s relative. In my experience, a CD on a high-end CD player outperforms an SACD on a mid-level player such as the DVD2910. That said, there is really no downside to hybrid SACDs as you can also use them as CDs. Even though the laser needs to focus through the DSD layer, I find that the discs play well.
I wouldn’t discard of the discs, who knows, their value may increase as they become rarer over time.