07-26-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree el`Ol Posts 225 Joined on 10-13-2007 Post #: 1 Post ID: 7905 Reply to: 7905 The SACD and the Windows Media Player Hello! The moronic idea that bad + bad can become good just drove me to playing a hybrid-SACD with the Windows Media Player. First I thought I was right, but then the non-moronic regions of my brain told me this can´t come from the PCM layer. Maybe I am not demanding enough for this forum, but I am glad the SACD no longer stands against my music selection or my way into the USB-based audio world. Has anyone else tried this and found it practicable? Regards, Oliver

07-27-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree el`Ol Posts 225 Joined on 10-13-2007 Post #: 2 Post ID: 7910 Reply to: 7905 Must be the DSD-Layer Stragely one only gets this effect for hybrid-SACDs that are recognized as that by the Mediaplayer, not all.

07-27-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree el`Ol Posts 225 Joined on 10-13-2007 Post #: 3 Post ID: 7911 Reply to: 7910 Can´t be the DSD Layer I just installed a pure CD-drive. Same effect. I see two possible reasons: The Media Player adjust its Filter/Upsamplayer algorithm when it detects a hybrid SACD. Hard to believe. Second reason: The recognizable SACDs have a slightly different conversion algorithm that forms some synergy with the media player. So bad + bad would really be good. At least for me. It produces this "aggressive softness" I like so much.

07-27-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree Romy the Cat Boston, MA Posts 10,159 Joined on 05-28-2004 Post #: 4 Post ID: 7919 Reply to: 7911 The mastered to death CDs Oliver, I am sorry nut I am not following what are you trying to do: to play CD layer of a SACD of Media Player So, it is nothing challenging here. BTW, be advised that the CD layers of SACD are notoriously dreadful. I presume that the industry‘s dirt it intentionally – mastering the CD layers to death in orders to solicit customers to “feel” the CACD is better. BTW, this practice was one of the reasons (not main reasons) why I always disgusted SACD. The Cat "I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

07-28-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree el`Ol Posts 225 Joined on 10-13-2007 Post #: 5 Post ID: 7921 Reply to: 7919 Bit-identity Hello Romy! I suspect that Sony intentionally astablished a poor conversion algorithm, as well. I don`t think there more than a hand full SACDs that have a separately recorded/mastered PCM layer, maybe some more that use an other (non-Sony) conversion algorithm. In search for a bit-identical Player I realized that the Media Player can´t be. In fact its effect on the CDs is almost as deteriorating as the DSD-mastering-Sony-Conversion thing. Sony-converted hybrid CDs however gain quality quite magically when played by this software. In fact I only had problems with one that is multi-channel, so I hope I have a good a good chance whenever buying one. So when I store my CDs on harddisc, there will be libraries for different players. SACDs that are played this way also have their downsides: Transparency and resolution is a lot worse, so it is good that usual CDs sound as they usually do. But they sound so "nice" that I don´t avoid them because I find them annoying, or buy something from a second/third class interpret instead. Regards, Oliver

08-14-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree el`Ol Posts 225 Joined on 10-13-2007 Post #: 6 Post ID: 8029 Reply to: 7921 Upgrade the Media Player - how could I Well, I could reverse this with some effort, but then I will be asked every time I start it. Any other tricks to boil up these awful PCM layers?