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Should I upgrade the CDP or just get a DAC for my Oppo? - Page 2

post #16 of 17
8/19/08 at 11:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wavoman View Post
The issue with SACD is interesting. Don't give up on the DAC idea yet.
The Oppo 981 can output the SACD through HDMI.
Did any one try to listen to it connected with HDMI to a surround processor/amplifier downsampled to headphones ?
This can be a good solution.
Are there any future DAC planned to work with HDMI?
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post #17 of 17
8/19/08 at 1:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by wavoman View Post
The issue with SACD is interesting. Don't give up on the DAC idea yet.

DACs will take in (L)PCM over S/PDIF (coax or optical) at high sampling rates (some will top out at 24/96, but most will do 24/192 - a few older ones stop at 16/48 or redbook 16/44.1) or AES/BEU (the pro standard, much the same thing), but they do not read DSD, the format of SACD.

And very few transports will convert DSD to an LPCM stream. Wadia is the only one I know, but I am sure there are others. Oppo will not. Many Pioneer, Denon, and Marantz units can be modded using the Vanity board from Audiopraise Vanity :: High Resolution Digital Output for CD/SACD/DVD-Audio -- see the site for a list. Perhaps this is a good way forward for you.

So maybe this: get a great DAC for now, stay with the Oppo -- it will sound as good as many higher-end CD players on redbook CD's. Later get a better CDP and mod it (or have it modded if you are all thumbs, like me ... folks on the DIY forum can help) to handle SACD ... and you keep your nice new DAC!

Be sure your DAC handles 24/96, or better 24/192. I have not listened to any in this price range so I can't pick brands. Get it on the web so it can be returned after you listen with the Oppo.

People like the Spitfire, fits right in your budget (and you can upgrade OpAmps):

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f7/fir...5/#post1817498


Spitfire 24 Bit DAC - Digital to Analog Converter - Audio DAC - digital analog converter - Firestone Audio

Miniature Audio - Spitfire 24 Bit DAC

Good luck ... the Oppo transport and decoder is better than you think -- it's the DAC and the rest of the electronics that wreck the SQ.
Thanks. Any other DAC suggestions?
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