Introducing ONIX Zenith XST20 - High-End SACD Transport with true DSD output

[Shanling]

What some (me) are wondering is if it supports gapless playback. Got any gapless CDs to test out?

In our testing we see gapless playback with both SACD and CDs.
Just be sure to enable SACD gapless in settings.

 

[petek]

Interestingly, I am not sure that mode 3 on the Onix, and mode 5 on the Denafrips are the correct modes to select. According to the manuals those modes are the matching pin outs. AND that is indeed where the music sounds best. However, there is a constant light static or popping sound on the right channel only; the music "masks" it. When I change the Denafrips mode to the next mode in its I2S menu, it reverses the DATA and BCK from what the Onnix is, and the right channel noise goes away----however I don't perceive the music sound to be as "full". Will need to experiment more tonight. This with playing SACDs.

 

[pjw241142]

@Shanling i have a Laiv uDDc. What output mode on the Onix, and input mode on the uDDC do you suggest?

Here are the Laiv input configs on the uDDC…Wang Fei suggested input config (PS Audio?) 1 from the ET3

 

[sygnus21]

In our testing we see gapless playback with both SACD and CDs.
Just be sure to enable SACD gapless in settings.

I shouldn't need to enable anything for a player that should natively support gapless playback. Example of a gapless CD would be Pink Floyd's The Wall, where it should play from end to end without interruption between tracks; that is flow from track to track without pausing.

That function has nothing to do with whether the player is SACD or not, so the above reply is.... concerning.

 

[Waxerbob]

Interestingly, I am not sure that mode 3 on the Onix, and mode 5 on the Denafrips are the correct modes to select. According to the manuals those modes are the matching pin outs. AND that is indeed where the music sounds best. However, there is a constant light static or popping sound on the right channel only; the music "masks" it. When I change the Denafrips mode to the next mode in its I2S menu, it reverses the DATA and BCK from what the Onnix is, and the right channel noise goes away----however I don't perceive the music sound to be as "full". Will need to experiment more tonight. This with playing SACDs.

Interestingly, I am not sure that mode 3 on the Onix, and mode 5 on the Denafrips are the correct modes to select. According to the manuals those modes are the matching pin outs. AND that is indeed where the music sounds best. However, there is a constant light static or popping sound on the right channel only; the music "masks" it. When I change the Denafrips mode to the next mode in its I2S menu, it reverses the DATA and BCK from what the Onnix is, and the right channel noise goes away----however I don't perceive the music sound to be as "full". Will need to experiment more tonight. This with playing SACDs.

Have you tried other connections besides I2S, Coax or AES/IBU, interested in how they sound compared to I2S

 

[petek]

Have you tried other connections besides I2S, Coax or AES/IBU, interested in how they sound compared to I2S

EDIT to below: Ok although per the manuals, not the matching pin outs, mode 3 for the onix, and all 3 leds lit (mode 7) when mode cycling on the Denafrips, gets the sound..bass, dynamics, etc..and without the noise. I think my issue was brief in nature and sorted. So the BCK or bitclock "pins" just needed reversed.
****************************************
Not yet. Think DSD is only output through I2S. So the other Denafrips Venus II-12th mode that I tried that fixed the rt channel light static/crckling/popping, definitely killed the dynamics and deep bass. I tried over lunch again, this time using SACD of Styx Paradise Theater. Went back to the matching modes, and the bass and dynamics immediately returned, but so did the right channel "noise". THe music masks it, but just shouldn't be. I guess this weekend I will cycle through all the modes on the Denafrips and if that doesnt work then I will try various combinations. @Shanling SHOULD NOT be this hard when the pin outs are matched up between both devices.

 

[sygnus21]

Not sure; never payed attention to that, and actually I'd rather have a gap.

This ^^^ comment begs a few questions....

• Do you know what "gapless is?
• Do you know what gapless media is?
• Do you have any?

I certainly wouldn't want a CD player that isn't gapless. Period. Anyway, I uploaded this video to show what's meant by gapless playback, which near all CDs players in the market support. Do not confuse gapless with the ability to select specific tracks or play in random order if you player supports such a feature as mine does; that has nothing to do with gapless playback. A perfect example of a gapless playback CD is Pink Floyd's The Wall, where tracks flow to the next track without pausing. Some mixed dance CDs are also gapless. A lot of classical CDs are gapless, some live recordings are also gapless (Santana's Lotus).

In this video I did of Pink Floyd's the Wall playing from tracks 1 to 2 (1:10 mark), and 2 to 3 (3:35 mark) demonstrates an example of gapless playback - where the tracks move from one another without silence (pause). This is what's meant by "gapless playback". No breaks, pauses, or silence. Listen to the music as you watch the track numbers change....



BTW, it also needs to be pointed out that a CD that is NOT gapless, as many are, suddenly does not become gapless when played through a CD player supporting gapless playback. It doesn't work like that. The CD itself has to be recorded as gapless by the recording studio. Again, Pink Floyd's The Wall.

A CD player that doesn't support gapless is one I don't want as it just seems out touch. Even some older, example my 2003 Rotel RCD-1072 played gapless, so.....

 

[petek]

Yes, I just never really paid any attention. To me if an artist intends that, just make it all one very long track. Perhaps like a lot of things I see in Tidal via Roon--- is the long track divided further into parts---and if it is intended for there to be no pause, fine. I guess what I am saying is I dont think it should be on a player manufacturer for the feature to work. And maybe it is not and there is some sort of flag to tell a player to play with no pause. Just a simple issue that is more complex that needs to be and I haven't really considered it much as I dont care either way. But I see where it is important to some/many. Now that (the dont care either way statement) might seem in conflict where I said I'd prefer a gap--well it is similar to a 3 hour movie with one scene flowing to the next---I'd rather have an intermission to run for another beverage or whatever...but just a tiny preference and don't value one way or the other very much. ..just not of great importance...for me....

 

[sygnus21]

Yes, I just never really paid any attention. To me if an artist intends that, just make it all one very long track. Perhaps like a lot of things I see in Tidal via Roon--- is the long track divided further into parts---and if it is intended for there to be no pause, fine. I guess what I am saying is I dont think it should be on a player manufacturer for the feature to work.

You clearly do not understand the point here.

It's NOT about how or why a particular studio recorded a CD, it's about PROPER playback of gapless CDs, which have been around for as long as CDs. There are also gapless albums, and they have been around forever as well. Gapless is not new, it's only new to those who never knew that's what it was called - the seemlesss transition from one track to another. Something that pre-dates online streaming services. It was around before the advent of the Internet

The fact is near all CD players play gapless, but for some weird unknown odd reason a manufacture somehow manages to put out a player that isn't gapless, making it an anomaly many wish the avoid. In short, we wouldn't be having this conversation if some vendors (Apos Audio PL100 CD player) didn't cheap out with a non-gapless player and then try to play word games. Gapless is gapless. Period.

 

[petek]

Ok. I do, but just personally don't care. I hope for you that 100% of future players behave exactly per the industry spec or norm or expectation.

 

[Waxerbob]

Ok. I do, but just personally don't care. I hope for you that 100% of future players behave exactly per the industry spec or norm or expectation.

So you arte happy with the

Ok. I do, but just personally don't care. I hope for you that 100% of future players behave exactly per the industry spec or norm or expectation.

So you are happy with this transport once you got pin out correct?

 

[sygnus21]

Ok. I do, but just personally don't care. I hope for you that 100% of future players behave exactly per the industry spec or norm or expectation.

Yeah, but my post wasn't specific to you, but for those (me) who "actually do care". when contemplating dropping 2+K on a player that in 2025 should be play gapless CDs.

I simply do not know if this player does or doesn't, thus my question. I could sit here and argue I don't care about pinouts, but that would be bashing, wouldn't it?

Anyway, I quoted your post for the curious comment made.

Peace

 

[petek]

So you arte happy with the

So you are happy with this transport once you got pin out correct?

Yes. It is a nice addition to the racks and I subjectively judge the SACD quality I heard over I2S as better than using the Yamaha player I have.

 

[Waxerbob]

Yes. It is a nice addition to the racks and I subjectively judge the SACD quality I heard over I2S as better than using the Yamaha player I have.

Ok I am ordering one, If I have questions can I let you know?

 

[petek]

Ok I am ordering one, If I have questions can I let you know?

Sure!