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CD/SACD player output options

I had an NAD M5 CD/SACD player I purchased approx. 6 yrs ago - - lost my entire system in a house fire couple months ago (GRRRR !!!!).  While looking to replace what I lost, question is:  why is there such a dearth of CD/SACD player/transports (other than McIntosh MCT-450) with an XLR/balanced digital output option?  Has the technology advanced to a better option (for stereo listening) option than having a balanced in/out system (which I had before the fire) from start to finish??  
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Showing 2 responses by avlee

avlee
84 posts
 
Forgive me, but then the digital output is only for your redbook CD, right?  You can’t transmit the DSD data on an SACD via AES/EBU.  The Mcintosh units, for instance, specifically state that you need to use the MCT DIN for the DSD data. 

If you are looking for redbook CD with digital balanced output, you can always go back to NAD. The M50.2 player/streamer (which I own) has digital output and is a good CD player. Can’t do SACD, can’t even do DSD but you can download high res FLACs/WAVs/etc and transmit them to a DAC via AES. 
avlee
84 posts
 
It looks like there are many CD players with XLR output, but I just want to make sure that I'm correct when I say that SACD output (DSD) does not work over the AES/EBU link.  If you're listening to an SACD over XLR, you must be listening to the redbook CD (16/44) data, not the DSD data.
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