2. digital
  3. 193965-199203

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 6 responses by mahler123

mahler123
3,501 posts
 

I have an Oppo 105 output DSD over HDMI into a Bryston DAC3.

The Shanling transport sounds interesting but no HDMI?  

mahler123
3,501 posts
 

@faustuss 

Have you ever seen the control panel of an Oppo, or one of their derivatives?

mahler123
3,501 posts
 

My Oppo outputs DSD over HDMI to my Bryston DAC 3 which does the decoding.  For the record I have a Sony ES SACD player that also outputs DSD over HDMI into the same DAC.  Not sure what you are reading there.  Readon and Magnetar do the same thing, In my understanding.

mahler123
3,501 posts
 

https://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-udp-205/

 

scroll to specifications-output

mahler123
3,501 posts
 

Look in the mirror 

mahler123
3,501 posts
 

I posted our exchange in an Oppo Facebook group.  Without bruising your feelings, I’ll just summarize by saying that people were in disbelief at your comments.

 Let me just say that the best experiences I have had in audio appreciation have been with SACDs outputted over HDMI to my Bryston DAC 3.  I have some string quartet albums on the BIS label where I felt as though I could reach out and touch the players.  If you are at all interested in hearing the best SACD has to offer-at least for under $5K in transport-decoder- I would try it

  

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