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Stereo SACD vs. digital

I use a Sony 9000ES CD/SACD/DVD player that feeds into a Proceed PAV (preamp) and PDSD (surround processor). Amps are 2 and 3 channel Proceeds, driving a pair of KEF 104/2s that are supplemented with a Velodyne HGS-15. Only 2 of the 3 channels are used for stereo; surround processing is turned off to prevent derivation of a center channel through a KEF 200C.

I can select analog pass-through or digital processing from the remote. Although the 9000ES enjoys an excellent reputation as a CD/DVD player, it seems to me that the sound is more open and transparent if I defeat SACD, and thus the Sony DAC process, and let the Proceed DACs do the conversion. Both sound very good, one just sounds better. I'm curious if others have similar observations.

db
donbellphd

Showing 1 response by sgower

sgower
27 posts
 
Don,

Reubent is correct, the digital out is only for the CD layer so you are not hearing the SACD layer using this connection. I have the next gen Sony 999ES and I also have to set it for SACD stereo if you have an SACD with a multichannel layer, not sure if this is necessary with the 9000. On my machine, the sound is dramatically better with an SACD over CD. I would be very surprised if an outboard DAC could bring the sound up to the level of the SACD processed onboard. But if it does, please post your findings. I would be shopping for an outboard DAC tomorrow.

SG
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