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SACD is VERY confusing

Seems there are thousands of folks out there buying and playing SACDs using coax or optical from a player to a DAC and thinking they are listening to the SACD layer and they are listening to the CD layer. I was assured the Denon DVD-2910,3910,5910 would play SACD through the digital outputs but on the back of the units they clearly state PMC from the digital outputs.....Seems the ONLY way to truly play a SACD is HDMI to HDMI.....Even stripping the audio off the HDMI signal returns it to PMC ..... And everything I've read states the analog outputs, stereo and 5.1 are PMC...

 

Oppo’s User Manual states: “Due to copyright restrictions, SACD audio cannot be sent through the coaxial or optical digital audio output. To listen to SACDs, please use the HDMI or analog audio connections.) IOW, with a DAC that is connected via coax or TOSLINK, you might be limited to playing the CD layer of a hybrid SACD.

I can't believe they would allow DSD files through analog outputs....Wouldn't this violate the whole copyright issue?

.....There are thousands of people out there buying SACDs and listening to them on their OPPO, Marantz or Denon ..."SACD" players, either through digital or analog and they are listening to the CD/44.1 layer.....This is nuts!

rbertalotto

Showing 2 responses by elliottbnewcombjr

elliottbnewcombjr
5,230 posts
 

OP, others

When seeking a ’new to me’ SACD/CD Player, I found out about this DSD to PCM issue.

I started a similar discussion, some people mentioned specific models that output DSD there. It was mentioned somewhere, that using DSD in the production process was beneficial to the content even if converted to PCM output.

 

the quote below matched my experience listening to SACD: Quieter Noise Floor is about it

"

"Comparison with CD

In September 2007, the Audio Engineering Society published the results of a year-long trial, in which a range of subjects including professional recording engineers were asked to discern the difference between high-resolution audio sources (including SACD and DVD-Audio) and a compact disc audio (44.1 kHz/16 bit) conversion of the same source material under double-blind test conditions. Out of 554 trials, there were 276 correct answers, a 49.8% success rate corresponding almost exactly to the 50% that would have been expected by chance guessing alone.[38] When the level of the signal was elevated by 14 dB or more, the test subjects were able to detect the higher noise floor of the CD-quality loop easily."

.....................

articles I found back then

 

 

elliottbnewcombjr
5,230 posts
 

When SACD prices became reasonable, Content I already had in CD, I bought same content in hybrid SACD/CD to hear the difference. Even if DSD is converted to PCM at the last stage, the 'up front' DSD advantages/differences are there.

My conclusion: Lower Noise Floor, Piano, solos, sometimes un-naturally quiet. I learned not to try to hear the difference, just enjoy the content.

Now, I buy 'new to me' used Hybrid SACD discs, IF decently low price. Because it is my 1st listening of the content, not comparing, SACD layer it is . Certain content, usually long solos, I can decide if the SACD layer is un-naturally quiet, then I listen to the CD layer.

btw, lasers get weak with age, and if buying used, make sure the equipment can readily find the SACD layer, many used units find CD layer, but not SACD layer. And, check on eBay: are replacement laser assemblies available for that unit?

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