SACD connections options

CinderLyon

I just got a SACD disk, (dark side of the moon) in to play on my cd/sacd player. Turns out, as many of you know, and I just learned, SACD does not play out of digital ports. It only plays out of my 5.1 analog rca jacks on my SACD player. Unless I am mistaken or there is something I am missing, or some sort of kludge, my Brand new receiver (see signature) does not have dedicated 5.1 multi-channel analog inputs.


Any tricks or suggestions short of spending big dollars on a universal player?

BlueFox

While not ideal for Dark Side of the Moon, use the SACD two channel option, and connect two cables to the AVR. Actually, for many SACDs, this is perfect.

CinderLyon

BlueFox wrote: »

While not ideal for Dark Side of the Moon, use the SACD two channel option, and connect two cables to the AVR. Actually, for many SACDs, this is perfect.

As in use the 2 channel layer? or use the 5.1 channel layer and output through left, right, and video rca outs? or use the 5.1 rca outs for left right and sub outs?

I was really hoping to hear this in all its surround sound mixed glory.

drummer86

I made the same mistake when I bought my first SACD player. You could always get a new SACD player that outputs DSD over HDMI so that you could get the multi channel mix. There is a list of these over at AVS. A lot of the discontinued ones can be found at very reasonable prices.

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1155206/dsd-over-hdmi-players

TNHNDYMAN

^ nice link drummer ... thanks for the info for the op and others who may have similar issues

CinderLyon

does it matter if a player transmits dsd over hdmi vs. pcm over hdmi?

drummer86

CinderLyon wrote: »

does it matter if a player transmits dsd over hdmi vs. pcm over hdmi?

There is certainly a difference, but I've never given the effort to learn what it is. I'm sure someone can correct me, but DSD over HDMI is the raw SACD signal whereas PCM involves some kind of conversion inside the player. Hopefully I'm not too far off there.

All I know is my Oppo 980H does DSD over HDMI and was well below $100 used. I'm also a little surprised that brand new Onkyo doesn't have multi channel inputs.

CinderLyon

i just found some assignable rca ports on the back of my avr. going to see if those can be used. wish me luck

CinderLyon

drummer86 wrote: »

There is certainly a difference, but I've never given the effort to learn what it is. I'm sure someone can correct me, but DSD over HDMI is the raw SACD signal whereas PCM involves some kind of conversion inside the player. Hopefully I'm not too far off there.

All I know is my Oppo 980H does DSD over HDMI and was well below $100 used. I'm also a little surprised that brand new Onkyo doesn't have multi channel inputs.

I think all new receivers are expecting HDMI inputs. (my assignable did not work as i hoped)


I did price out SACD players and there are some with blue ray for the $100 range, new and used.

F1nut

CinderLyon wrote: »

does it matter if a player transmits dsd over hdmi vs. pcm over hdmi?

Yes, DSD is hi-rez while PCM is not.

PolkieMan

So if I use tos-link (optical) from my player to receiver would it be better than HDMI?

drummer86

CinderLyon wrote: »

I did price out SACD players and there are some with blue ray for the $100 range, new and used.

Lots of people seem to recommend the Pioneer BDP-150 and the Sony BDP-S590, both of which are pretty inexpensive and should meet basic needs.

CinderLyon

I am leaning towards Sony BDP-S5100 3D Blu-ray Disc Player with Wi-Fi. Amazon even says this is the updated version of the S590, but it is not. It is the s590 younger brother. Less features.

Owning a Roku, GoogleCast on the way (mostly for remote access of google play music service), and using google voice, having a network ready AVR, an avr that up scales to 4k, and 2 blueray players already on computers; I do not need half the features of either really, but this is the way it is going. I need a SACD player that goes through HDMI at 192/24 5.1, or equivalent. If it happens to play BD fine.

PolkieMan

Yes my Sony's all do SACD and they were cheap.
I like it, Sony BDP-S5100, I also have a S590 (with optical out, the reason for the question I asked above) and I also have a BX-58. The 5100 did away with the optical out but it probably is not needed by most people. The reason for my question #12

CinderLyon wrote: »

I am leaning towards Sony BDP-S5100 3D Blu-ray Disc Player with Wi-Fi. Amazon even says this is the updated version of the S590, but it is not. It is the s590 younger brother. Less features.

Owning a Roku, GoogleCast on the way (mostly for remote access of google play music service), and using google voice, having a network ready AVR, an avr that up scales to 4k, and 2 blueray players already on computers; I do not need half the features of either really, but this is the way it is going. I need a SACD player that goes through HDMI at 192/24 5.1, or equivalent. If it happens to play BD fine.

CinderLyon

Polkie you should be able to display through your AVR what streams your are getting to confirm your answer.

I am pretty sure that HDMI will be the way to get the highest level bit stream, and i do not think that SACD plays out of any, non-hacked digital ports due to copy protection issues, but there are probably some exceptions out there.

For all other sources on my AVR, if i have optical, hdmi and analog connected from the same source, the AVR will select hdmi, then optical, then analog automatically.

drummer86

CinderLyon wrote: »

I am pretty sure that HDMI will be the way to get the highest level bit stream

Partially true, and it all depends on the player itself. Not all players output the DSD. Some convert to PCM first. Whether or not you'd be able to notice a difference in the sound I can't say. I like my Oppo because it also plays HDCD and DVD-Audio, which the Sony players do not. Don't know if that matters to you but it's worth considering. I personally don't own any DVD-audio but I like knowing that I can play them if I want to.

CinderLyon

so I went by my local big box store and picked up a Sony BDP s590 for a really decent price. Way below most online retailers. It had the most important features i needed. I do not know what is missing relative to the Sony BDP-S5100. the s590 has more optional ports out though.

CinderLyon

double post

PolkieMan

Yea on the 590 you have hdmi and toslink I have tried them both and for 2 channel I cannot tell any difference in sound so I am thinking the toslink was just left for those folk will an old AVR. And of course this year dropped, on 5100. I will try DSD VS PCM next.

the upgrade? seems the 5100 is better or does HD steams than the 590
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-BDP-S5100-Blu-ray-Player-Wi-Fi/product-reviews/B00AWKC0JM

CinderLyon wrote: »

so I went by my local big box store and picked up a Sony BDP s590 for a really decent price. Way below most online retailers. It had the most important features i needed. I do not know what is missing relative to the Sony BDP-S5100. the s590 has more optional ports out though.