2. digital
  3. 1105732894

Should I buy a DAC?

I am trying to decide whether to buy a new DAC or a universal SACD/DVD-A player for my HT system. I currently have a Toshiba progressive scan DVD player with Optical and coax outputs. I run the optical out into my B/K AVR507. Thus, I currently use the AVR's DAC. I use the player only as a transport. However, I want to move into the world of multi channel SACD/DVD-A and the DAC in my AVR only has unbalanced analog inputs for the uulti-channel DVD-A/SACD format. Will my DVD player, which is not a SACD/DVD-A player, be able to transport the digital information to a stand alone DAC? If so, I could continue to use my current DVD player as a transport and invest my dollars more wisely in a DAC. I am looking to spend about 1-1.5K either way. Please advise me on what my best option is...Thanks.
jkallio

Showing 1 response by reubent

reubent
7,080 posts
 
None of the hi-rez multi-channel formats will work via a digital connection(There may be a few transport/DACs at $10,000+ that do it). To use the transport to play the hi-rez formats, you will need to connect 6 channels of analog interconnect from the player to your receiver(if you receiver even has a multichannel input).

The hi-rez formats currently only work in the analog domain, so all of the D to A take place in the player before it is sent to your receiver.

Your current DVD player will work as a transport using an external DAC if you set the DVD player to PCM output (instead of DD 5.1). And it will only work for 2-channel reproduction.

Enjoy,

TIC
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