Stupid Question about SACD players and Dedicated DACs

[Naga]

If i am using an SACD player as a transport, and connecting it via optical cable to a DAC ( presonus central station ) , does that DAC need to be specially equipped to handle the SACD digital signal?

 

[swmtnbiker]

You're S.O.L. as they say. SACD data is NOT passed via the digital outputs on any SACD player. You get analog output only for SACD layer audio. So to answer your question, there are no external DACs that can decode SACD.

 

[Naga]

i forget what SOL stands for, but i guess ill be using the DAC on the player instead

 

[swmtnbiker]

S)hit O)ut of L)uck.

By the way, that's not to say that you can't listen to regular Redbook CD with this player via your external DAC. Just no SACD. The D/A conversion for that needs to be done by the SACD player.

 

[Naga]

yeah, thats it

thanks

 

[Naga]

ok im still confused

 

[tennisets]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naga ok im still confused

Many SACDs have two layers: one redbook layer and one SACD layer. If the player is SACD compatible, it will read the SACD layer, if not, it will read the redbook layer.

However, I've never considered what happens if you play a hybrid SACD in an SACD player, then try to use the digital output. The SACD layer could not be output through the digital out, but the player would try to read the SACD layer, would it not? So what happens if you're using an SACD player as transport and put in a hybrid SACD? Now I'm really curious about that one...

 

[Naga]

i understand that much

but isnt sacd 1-bit / 2.82 MHz?

why does it say 24 bit / 96 Khz PCM for the SACD Layer info?

 

[Oliver :)]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tennisets However, I've never considered what happens if you play a hybrid SACD in an SACD player, then try to use the digital output. The SACD layer could not be output through the digital out, but the player would try to read the SACD layer, would it not? So what happens if you're using an SACD player as transport and put in a hybrid SACD? Now I'm really curious about that one...

Yes, of course it reads the SACD layer & digital outs are muted. If you *set* your SACD Player to read the redbook layer of hybrids, it will read the redbook layer & put out a digital signal. I think Denon (or was it Sony?) has a high end SACD unit with a digital out. Said digital employs DRMd FireWire IIRC, so it will only work with the corresponding DAC.
Moral: Buy your SACD unit as high as you can so you'll get a good onboard DAC for SACD content. If you are not happy with redbook performance you can still get an external DAC for that. Just what I do.

 

[Garbz]

Yes SACD format is encoded in DSD. The figures quoted (24/96) are the equivalent LPCM numbers, otherwise they'd have absolutly no meaning. DSD data works quite differently from wav.

I have my multidisc player set to use the redbook layer on CDs. Playing DVD-A it chooses whichever frequency the dvd-A is set to digital out for, and SACDs play the redbook layer. Mind you given the choice of a dedicated SACD player or a highend cdplayer I'd pick the cdplayer hands down. Firstly because I don't think SACD will last, and secondly I don't think the format is really justified considering how good cdplayers are.

That Denon unit used the hdmi interface for DSD data IIRC.

 

[Oliver :)]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garbz Mind you given the choice of a dedicated SACD player or a highend cdplayer I'd pick the cdplayer hands down. Firstly because I don't think SACD will last, and secondly I don't think the format is really justified considering how good cdplayers are.

Yes, sometimes the release situation can be a bit frustrating. I helps to rationalize that what you're really after are great recordings of great performances, therefore with SACD you just widen your options in that regard. SACD is also highly dependant on equipment. It is a high end format, and it will only shine with good equipment. When I recently connected my, admittedly low end, STAX to my SACDP I experienced both on a whole new level.

 

[jhmaeng]

It's a condition of the SACD license from Sony that digital outputs are switched off while the SACD layer is playing on the unit. This is apparently a measure to prevent extremely high quality copying of SACD.

So, when you're playing a normal audio CD then the optical/coax will be switched on and you will be able to use an external DAC. However, while you're playing an SACD, you will have to use the analogue output of the unit.

Where the player is capable of multichannel decoding, it will have the entire set of analogue output for the multichannel so although you can't connect it digitally to an external AV amp, you can connect the 5.1 channels via the normal analogue cables.

 

[soundboy]

Pioneer Elite, Sony and Denon all have SACD players that can output the SACD signal digitally.

 

[Naga]

all of them?

 

[soundboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naga all of them?

No, just their top-of-the-line models. There's nothing wrong with outputting the SACD signal via analog outputs.