JSW, I have to drive over to Nashville to see Marantz stuff, 180 miles. I do that from time to time. I bought my Marantz AV9000 pre over thar... So, I haven't seen the 8300 yet. I really can't buy a new player of any sort right now. So, it would be torture to go over there and look! I hope the Marantz 8300 is a big improvement over the Pioneer combi-players, the 45A just hit the street here. It's a striped down version of the 747/47A that sells for $450. The chatter over on HTF forum is that the 8300 is close to as good as the 555ES, which means it ain't half bad. The Pioneer 747 can't touch the 555ES. I was going to buy a 47A till I auditioned it!
More combi-players are in the pipeline. Pioneer is suppose to come out with a new reference player. To quote the local rep, "it will have the build of the DV-09..." Yahamaha, Onkyo, Parasound, and a few others are working up universal players. I think the Yamaha will be the next to hit the street...?
Here's some intresting stats about marketshare of formats in the U.S. that came from the mag, Sound & Vision:
CD - 95 %
Cassette - 4 %
vinyl, SACD & DVD-A - 1 %
"...with vinyl of all things, easily outselling DVD-Audio and SACD combined during the first six months of 2002: 661,000 to 92,000 units."
This doesn't sound like a format war! Not between DVD-A and SACD anyway... It sounds like a fight for survival for the two upstart hi-rez formats. SACD has been on the upswing here in the second half of 2002 with the Stones Remasters being a major impateus. DVD-A is stille lagging far behind with only a scant few releases in the past few months.
Myself, I bought more Records than DVD-A discs this year so far, I like those 180g & 200g platters. I bought a bunch of SACD's, maybe 50, so far this year. I like hybrid SACD best but I'll buy any format to get a title I want.
I stille don't think many folks in the U.K. have heard SACD at it's best. Even if you have a good player, you'd have to bring in discs from the U.S., Canada, Japan, or Hong Kong, me thinks. I look at what Play sells and most of the best Sony titles aren't there. Furthermore, most of the best titles are from other labels. Titles like:
Alison Krauss + Union Station - NEW FAVORITE from Rounder < magnifico (!) any way you play it stereo SACD, stereo CD, or 5.1 SACD.
Sonny Rollins - SAXAPHONE COLOSSUS < Analogue Productions < stunning for a 1950's recording.
Cowboy Junkies - OPEN , Rounder < Margo wails in hi-rez...
Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown & Milt Jackson - THE VERY TALL BAND , Telarc Jazz < DSD recorded and mastered. Not their greatest performances but certainly reference quality audio!
The Coryells - S/T Chesky < The family that plays together....
Remember Jorma Kaukonen from the Jefferson Flying Object and Hot Tuna? His new album BLUE COUNTRY HEART is on Sony single layer stereo/M-C SACD. It's DSD recorded and mastered. Not only is it a great album but it is reference quality recording IMO. Why isn't it in the U.K.?
You have to have great software for players to show their stuff. Where's the beef? I don't think it's in the U.K. yet. That's my point. If you've got an SACD player, I suggest you import a few discs to see what it can do. Germany might be a place to look too. Most of the hybrid SACD's are being manufactured there. Maybe they're sold there too?
There is no format war! I hope universal players proliferate and that both hi-rez formats keep their heads above water. I must admit I like hybrid SACD better, but I never say never...agan...I think....
Best wishes kats!