My Infinity Kappa 7 Reference speakers are flat to within 3dB to 45kHz, my tubed preamp to 80kHz and my power amp to 100kHz, so I am reproducing SACDs ultrasonics up to 45kHz which makes me wonder how SACDs sound on frequency response limited systems which cannot reproduce SACDs ultrasonics?
Any high-end manufacturer making SACD players, and there are now a lot of them, the SACD playback is always superior to the CD playback. To suggest CD playback can even come close to SACD playback is ludicrous.
My journey to high resolution digital is chronicled here: High resolution comes first, build quality second.
My journey to high resolution digital is chronicled here: High resolution comes first, build quality second.
I believed at the time that SACD would wholesale replace CD as I was sure everyone could hear the difference and want SACDs only going forward. I never believed there would be a strong backlash of CD supporters who grabbed a stronghold on Sony/Philips outdated and low resolution CD format based on the propaganda of a few high end companies who refused to pay the licensing fee to manufacture state-of-the-art SACD players.
As I have said before if there is a CD player that a listener thinks sounds good, just get the manufacturer to add SACD compatibility to it and be totally blown away! As on every single player ever manufactured SACD always, without a single exception, sounds better than low resolution CD.
My stereo system has a high frequency limit of 45kHz, the limiting factor being my EMIT tweeters that are down 3 dB at 45kHz. However 45kHz is high enough to reproduce the ultrasonics on LPs, 24 bit 96kHz DVDs and 24 bit 96kHz DVD-Audio. The frequency response of SACDs can go out to 100kHz although only a few microphones go out the far. Also DVD-Audio at 24/192 can go out to 88kHz. Someday perhaps I shall try one of those new super tweeters that goes to 100kHz. Then my limiting factor would be my tubed preamp that goes out to 80kHz.
To really appreciate any high resolution music on any format: SACD, DVD-Audio, or LP look for acoustic music recorded in a real live acoustic space such as a concert hall, jazz club, or church. Look for pure DSD or analog masters preferably tubed analog 2-track 15/30 IPS masters especially from "audiophile" companies. In my opinion the best SACDs are the Classical recordings from Telarc.
And not only are CDs low resolution but so are SACDs from low resolution PCM masters. No new recording should be made with anything less than 88.2kHz PCM, DSD or 2 Track 15 IPS analog. Anything less is a crime to the music.
The original Redbook CD was a high crime against music lovers and Sony should have waited at least a year for 50kHz PCM or five years for 100kHz PCM card as recommended by Soundstream in 1980 when the specs for the upcoming laser read analog format were being worked out. CD didn't have to be low resolution and I blame Sony for rushing it to market too soon. After decades I have finally gotten 44.1kHz CD playback that is not painful and to think this could have all been avoided if Sony had only waited a year for consumer lever 50kHz sampling.
In my experience with 24 bit 48kHz on both SACD and DVD-Audio the resulting sound quality is not much better than Redbook CD and nowhere near the level of the Soundstream 16 bit 50kHz on both SACD and LP. This is why I consider 50kHz PCM the absolute minimum resolution for realistic sound quality; of course 192kHz PCM, DSD, and analog are even better.
And not only are CDs low resolution but so are SACDs from low resolution PCM masters. No new recording should be made with anything less than 88.2kHz PCM, DSD or 2 Track 15 IPS analog. Anything less is a crime to the music.
The original Redbook CD was a high crime against music lovers and Sony should have waited at least a year for 50kHz PCM or five years for 100kHz PCM card as recommended by Soundstream in 1980 when the specs for the upcoming laser read analog format were being worked out. CD didn't have to be low resolution and I blame Sony for rushing it to market too soon. After decades I have finally gotten 44.1kHz CD playback that is not painful and to think this could have all been avoided if Sony had only waited a year for consumer lever 50kHz sampling.
In my experience with 24 bit 48kHz on both SACD and DVD-Audio the resulting sound quality is not much better than Redbook CD and nowhere near the level of the Soundstream 16 bit 50kHz on both SACD and LP. This is why I consider 50kHz PCM the absolute minimum resolution for realistic sound quality; of course 192kHz PCM, DSD, and analog are even better.
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