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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
randymaqp
21 posts
 

I researched this a little and came to the same conclusion:  PS Audio or McIntosh. Since I’m already in the McIntosh camp with a C55 (which also has the MCT connection), that’s the way I’m leaning.  I’m very curious to see what others have to say. 

milpai's avatar
milpai
2,491 posts
 

Shingling has recently released Onix Zenith XST20 SACD transport for $2299. I believe, it does the following:

 

  • TOSLINK CD PCM 44.1kHz // SACD: DSD64 DoP or D2P
  • Coaxial CD PCM 44.1kHz // SACD: DSD64 DoP or D2P
  • BNC CD PCM 44.1kHz // SACD: DSD64 DoP or D2P
  • AES/EBU CD PCM 44.1kHz // SACD: DSD64 DoP or D2P
  • I2S CD: PCM 44.1kHz // SACD: DSD64 Native
  • USB CD: PCM 44.1kHz // SACD not supported

 

upstateaudiophile
44 posts
 

I went from DSD, streaming etc back to CD/SACD MCT500/MA8950 because I find the sound quality better on the MCT500. AB blind testing on the MCT500 between optical and MCT cable clearly showes the MCT cable is best to me. 

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