Do I have to get a CD player to sample DSD on my digital rig?

@m2team00 

I get that, but as I understand reading their material, the CD layer is derived from the DSD, not PCM

Hybrid SACDs have 2 layers. The DSD layer and a regular cd layer. Your Audiolab is reading and playing the cd layer, not the DSD layer.

@cleeds 

Hmmmm  My Audiolab 6000CDT is not an SACD transport, so why does it play hybrid MoFi SACDs?

tweak1

... it does play the DSD layer, not the SACD ...

The SACD layer is the DSD layer.

@jwpstayman 

Easy to misunderstand my comment, it does play the DSD layer, not the SACD

Just a note - you can use the Oppo BDP-105 (as well as other Blu-ray disc players) to rip SACDs if you want to archive them. I’ve done this myself with all my discs.

There are details here - https://hifihaven.org/index.php?threads/rip-sacd-with-a-blu-ray-player.3652/

Was there any mention in the previous threads about copying tracks?  The OP expressed a curiosity to hear DSD but nowhere stated he intended to rip anyone off.

  Which segues to another point about DSD, which is that the software (SACD) or the downloads are premium priced.  The downloads also are big files so make sure that you have a lot of storage.

  I have some DSD downloads but most of my DSD is on SACD, which I output from my Oppo 105 into the HDMI input of my Bryston DAC.  Some of the recordings are truly outstanding, close-eyes-and-musicians-in-the- room experience.  However a poorly recorded file won’t be rescued by DSD.  

No.

And furthermore it is illegal to copy music from "a friend." Unless you get creative at breakin’ the law (no tips coming from here) you’ll have to buy some tracks for yourself.

Tweak1 - you are mistaken.  The Audiolab  will play the cd res track on an SACD, but not the sacd format itself.  That requires a different laser mechanism.  It also is not copy protected, so SACD digital output to a free-standing DAC is not possible.

Hysteve - unfortunately you would need a server rather than a streamer and a friend that has dsd on a drive that you could copy/use to try it.  I have the DAC 200 and a server with some dsd music files myself and it does sound great but then again, so does the Qobuz streaming in pcm.

Great!! Bring it on over and we’ll hook it up! 😆😆

My Audiolab 6000CDT plays most of my MoFi sacd/dsd discs