2. digital
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SACD Player/Transport Choices

I am planning to acquire a McIntosh MCT500 to go with my C53 (proprietary MCT connection).  But I am wondering if there are other good SACD transport choices that will send a true DSD stream to an external DAC on a non-proprietary basis, either through USB or I2S.  I’m trying to research this, but it’s difficult to find definitive answers regarding the actual digital stream from SACD - often I discover that the stream is converted to PCM.  I do know PSAudio has a scheme similar to McIntosh.

I realize simply purchasing DSD and streaming from an SSD is probably more practical these days.  But I am sort of fixated on a physical disc player.  Budget-wise, most interested in transports around or below that of the MCT500 (~$5K). Thanks for your thoughts and advice.

mattsca

Showing 1 response by henryeng

henryeng
3 posts
 

I just got an Onix XSR20 SACD transport.  It (mostly) works well.  I'm using the DoP output (AES/XLR) into a Bricasti M3 DAC.  But I notice two issues...

1. Remote control of the unit is unreliable.

2. Gapless playback does not always transition seamlessly from the end of one track to the beginning of the next track.  Very noticeable with classical music SACDs.

Has anyone else experienced these issues?

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