Brian Rost wrote:

The risk is that another format comes along that trumps SACD and DVD-A,
or worse yet the formats fade and the "combo" players disappear (look at
what DivX users have to deal with).

Yeah, technology keeps improving. What a bummer. When I went to SVHS
for video, people asked, "What will you do when a better technology
comes around?" Well, it's been 15+ years that I've been enjoying SVHS.
Now comes PVRs and recordable DVDs. Did I make a mistake? I don't think
so. I've been enjoying SVHS quality for over 15 years.

Any technology that "trumps" SACD will also "trump" standard CD. We
will all be forced to make those decisions at a later date. In the
meantime, I'm enjoying the far superior sound of SACD at roughly the
same cost as regular CD.

Then there is the hassle of deciding
which format to buy recordings in (if I buy the CD today will an SACD
version come out in two months?), whether to replace existing recordings
(you know, the ones I bought first on LP, then later bought on CD,
them....), etc.

I have not purchased a SACD when I already have a CD copy of the same
recording. More and more new releases are offered in CD and SACD at
the same time, and some hybrid SACDs are not being released as CDs
at all (since they play fine on regular CD players.) I buy CDs (and
SACDs if available) to replace worn LPs, or to add to my collection
of music.

One other hassle of hybrid players is more and more of them require a
video screen to operate. I don't (and don't want to) own a home theater
setup. My DVD player isn't suitable to be used to replace a CD player
because all of the navigating menus are on-screen. These players are
also SLOW as they have to waste time figuring out what kind of disc they
are trying to read (even my CD recorder is a dog as a player because of
this). Then there is the issue of compatibility with all the OTHER
players I own...can I play them in a boombox, the car, a Walkman, my
computer, etc. If not, can I easily copy them to a compatible fomrat
(CD-R, MiniDisc)?

SACD players that are also DVD players require a video screen for initial
setup only, IIRC. My player requires no video screen for normal operation.
It loads and starts playing CDs and SACDs in about the same time as my
regular CD player. (A few seconds here or there makes little difference
to me when playing a 60 minute recording.) And yes, hybrid SACDs will
play in your boombox, car, Walkman, computer, etc. (GT's "experience"
notwithstanding.)

SACDs offer superior sound to CDs at about the same price. Why some
people treat them as the AntiChrist is beyond me.

--
Better than hearing "Lady Day", or checking in at Monterey...