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Cheap SACD player to High end DAC

post #1 of 39
11/23/09 at 1:21am
Thread Starter 
Hi just wanted to ask if its correct to assume that there would be not much quality lossed in using a cheaper SACD player and running digital output to a high end DAC.

I'm going to get an Audio-gd Reference 1 and dont wanna drop another load of cash on a SACD player. I notice there are SACD players that are in the $1xx up to $2xxx and I'm assuming the expensive option is just better built in DAC etc?
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post #2 of 39
11/23/09 at 1:26am
SACD cannot bitstream, so a DAC would be useless for SACD playback.
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post #3 of 39
11/23/09 at 1:29am
SACD can't be output digitally, except on a couple select very high end players, and then you have to have a receiver capable of receiving the DSD stream. For all intents and purposes, SACD can only be output via analog.

I know, it sucks, right? At the launch of SACD, the "improved" DRM was viewed by the industry as an improvement over regular CDs. It sucks for us because it often means we have to buy nice SACD players with DACs that are redundant because we already own a nice DAC we'd rather use.
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post #4 of 39
11/23/09 at 1:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by koruki View Post
Hi just wanted to ask if its correct to assume that there would be not much quality lossed in using a cheaper SACD player and running digital output to a high end DAC.

I'm going to get an Audio-gd Reference 1 and dont wanna drop another load of cash on a SACD player. I notice there are SACD players that are in the $1xx up to $2xxx and I'm assuming the expensive option is just better built in DAC etc?
Few SACD players allow the (DSD) digital signal to be output it is a DRM thing.
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post #5 of 39
11/23/09 at 2:17am
when did Audio-gd become "hi-end"? how about SACD with digital inputs?
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post #6 of 39
11/23/09 at 2:29am
You don't have to drop a bundle on a SACD player. For whatever their recommendation is worth, you can get a Stereophile class A SACD player used inexpensively. The Marantz SA-8260 was highly reviewed and there's one at Audiogon for $350. You could offer $300, even. The SA-8001 goes for $600 or a bit less, and I've seen some terrific deals on the Sony XA900ES and SCD-XA777ES.

And don't get caught up in the DAC hype machine. Newer, hotter models and chips come out constantly. Anything you buy today will likely be discontinued and out of fashion by Summer 2010. A year from now, today's hottest DAC will be "old" and the "weak link" that is "holding your system back."

Step back from the hype. Don't worry about constant upgrades, etc. etc. Just buy something that's well made, reliable, within your budget, and sounds good to you. Preferably used, too.
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post #7 of 39
11/23/09 at 4:19am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the info people, glad I did a post haha.

Quote:
Originally Posted by chesebert View Post
when did Audio-gd become "hi-end"? how about SACD with digital inputs?
Sorry I just assumed it was cause of its $1550 price tag. There are few others who also ranked it as high end here.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f7/dac...5/index11.html
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post #8 of 39
11/23/09 at 4:19am
Ok, just out of curiosity, what would be the answer in regards to redbook audio only?
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post #9 of 39
11/23/09 at 2:15pm
I use the optical digital out of my SCD-CE595 to my m902.
The difference is notable, the DAC from CE595 is a little bit edgy.
While the amp part of m902 is very revealing, it sometimes poses a problem in listening.
Utilize the DAC from m902, the music now is more enjoyable.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Born2bwire View Post
Ok, just out of curiosity, what would be the answer in regards to redbook audio only?
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post #10 of 39
11/23/09 at 4:28pm
My $340 SACD/CDP does digital out to my DAC just fine.

Edit: RCA out to BNC in, btw.

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post #11 of 39
11/23/09 at 5:15pm
Just because don't cost several thousand dollars doesn't mean that te ReF-1 it's not High End. I have a Audio GD DAC9 Mk3 and sound better than many called ($$$) high End Dacs.
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post #12 of 39
11/23/09 at 6:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JulioCat2 View Post
Just because don't cost several thousand dollars doesn't mean that te ReF-1 it's not High End. I have a Audio GD DAC9 Mk3 and sound better than many called ($$$) high End Dacs.
such DACs as?

If you like how your DAC sounds, that's great, it will save you some money. But don't go and call some modder's products hi-end （何庆华 might be a competent power amp designer, he is hardly the last word on digital conversion)

MBL, dCS, EMM, Nagra, Theta (not an exclusive list) are hi-end. Without hearing their top of the line digital source, you don't have a frame of ref as to what hi-end is.
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post #13 of 39
11/23/09 at 6:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post
You don't have to drop a bundle on a SACD player. For whatever their recommendation is worth, you can get a Stereophile class A SACD player used inexpensively.
I read Stereophile for entertainment value; to rely on them to actually evaluate gear and give you an honest opinion is just being naive on your part.
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post #14 of 39
11/23/09 at 11:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chesebert View Post
when did Audio-gd become "hi-end"? how about SACD with digital inputs?
Know what isn't high-end? Your contributions to this thread.
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post #15 of 39
11/24/09 at 12:00am
Reading HPAs review of the latest (inexpensive) DAC from NuForce, I am definitely keen to hear one for myself. I also like what I have read about the V-DAC, and I enjoy the output from my Topaz DAC section, but I dont kid myself that any of these will outperform the following:

Bryston Limited - Music For A Generation

Chord Electronics Ltd - Creating Perfection in both Professional and Consumer Hi-fi fields. With a large range of Stereo, Mono and Multi-channel amplifiers, Pre-amplifiers and digital products, leading the world in high end British audio.

Berkeley Audio Design Product

Sure, I would be paying big dollars for things like exterior design, marketing and the exclusivity of having an 'ooh aah' DAC in my sig - no question - but I find it hard to believe that so many have written so much about these devices (over a period of years, not Head-Fi FOTM months) and its all just hype. Whether the subtleties that they would bring to my music would be immediately apparent to me is another question, but I'd be more than happy to spend a few weeks with one of them to find out.
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