Thank you ever so much for your extra fulsomeness. That really helps inform my path forward. My gut check is pointing in the direction of the Onix (in focusing on getting a music transport sans DAC) based on your keystrokes. As it stands I think my UDP will soldier on for some time yet as I rip my CD collection / continue using streaming services and consequently draw down on spinning discs with the exception of SACDs & movies. So with that projected use case I don’t think I need a Swiss army knife, I need a scalpel. And if I ever need the toothpick attachment down the road (a replacement Blu-ray player) that will most likely still be easily found.
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.
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@hifipassion I too received the ONIX transport several days ago, buying from Forte at the 10% off. Do not have extensive time with it yet. But you mentioned it is quiet. At spin up, and lasting for a few seconds, do you not hear a mechanical noise (not just whirring)? Mine does, but it only lasts several seconds. I am running it into a Venus II-12th and found the optimal I2S pinout code to be mode 3 on the ONIX and mode 7 on the Denafrips (although modes 3 and 5 were, by the manuals, the matching ones--I got right channel background popping or static using those). The "manual" by the way is on the French website "Audiophonics". I like that this is a top loader and looks attractive. I am not sure the sound is LEAPS above a higher end TEAC SACD player I have in a different system, or even the Yamaha in this system.
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@armyslowrdr I do hear a few seconds of mechanical noise at spin up which is typical sound heard from most transports as the disc loads. I think this is normal. As far as I2S pinout code settings my Onix was plug-n-play into my Terminator. I am using the default settings and it works fine. I just looked at the Audiophonics web page and the manual they link to is the Quick Start Guide that came with the Onix. What I was looking for is a comprehensive owners manual with more information. Regarding sound quality I noticed improvements after several days of break-in. There may be better sounding transports available but at this price point I think the Onix offers a good cost/performance ratio. |
@hifipassion definitely agree on it being a great value. It is heartening to know the mechanical noise at start up is normal. Yeah, even what they term as the owner's manual in the shipped product is just nothing more than the printed quick start guide. |
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