[wavoman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soundboy /img/forum/go_quote.gif You're still slightly wrong ... The Oppo 980 will allow the native DSD datastream to be output thru its HDMI output, which can then get decoded by a HT receiver with DSD DAC

Here is what I wrote:

Originally Posted by wavoman:

... Some A/V receivers have HDMI in, so you could use the Oppo to feed one of them with the downconverted SACD signal if that helps.

I was trying to make the exact same point as you -- use a fancy new receiver with HDMI inputs to capture the SACD output from the Oppo -- but I see my error: it is in fact the native DSD bitstream that Oppo puts on the HDMI output, not the PCM 24/88.2

Thanks, got it! Good point!

That's actually worse for PC Audio folks who want to put a track from some nice SACD into their PC playlist ... for that we need the PCM 24/88.2 !

 

[wavoman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soundboy /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Oppo 980 ... will downconvert the DSD datastream ...thru its analog output. However, the word is that the conversion is rather transparent and sound quality doesn't suffer.

I love my Oppo but I don't agree with that. At the recent NJ meet we carefully listened to the digital outs of the Oppo thru high-quality DACs (then into various amps and high-end phones) and were very impressed -- the Oppo is one helluva transport for very little money. But then we fed the analog output of the Oppo thru a decent amp and the same phones, and were not happy with the SQ.

I think the Oppo falls down in D-to-A.

 

[wavoman]

Quote:

By the way--is "SPDI/F" another way of saying 'digital outputs'? ... Until recently, there're two types of digital outputs: Toslink and coax.

It's usually written S/PDIF and stands for "Sony/Phillips Digital Interface Format". I do believe both Toslink and 75-ohm coax use this bitstream protocol -- the only difference is the physical medium, so strictly speaking both are S/PDIF.

Of course in the real world most gear labels the RCA or BNC coax connector as "S/PDIF", and the Toslink as "Optical" or "Toslink", hence the confusion.

There are many other types of digital output:

AES/EBU -- this is the pro version of S/PDIF. Well not exactly S/PDIF, but very similar, with advanced features. Runs over 110-ohm coax with XLR connectors.

I2S -- runs over Ethernet, used in PC Audio applications.

USB Audio -- runs over USB (obviously), and again used mainly in PC Audio.

and the pros use Firewire even without PCs. And so on. Sony I think has or had another proprietary digital audio protocol.

In consumer electronics, I would say "S/PDIF" is short-hand for "digital audio over coax cables, usually with RCA connectors".

The PC audio stuff is pretty new, which is why soundboy said "until recently" in his answer.

 

[moredes]

Thanks to all ya'll!!

I'm still readin' up on this... there's a lot that's brand new to me, so re-reading is a requirement before I make a decision.

Soundboy, have you heard both the Marantz VC-6001 and the Sony CE-595?

Thank you.

 

[SiriuslyCold]

I believe Yamaha also has a unit; if its built on similar technology as the S1700 universal, it could be a winner

Yamaha DVD-C961 (product page / Audioholics report)