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Playing SACDs

Howdy,

A few months ago I changed my DAC from a Bryston BDP-3 to a CE Hugo TT2. My source of digital music is an Aurender N100H using USB to the Hugo. The change from BDP-3 to the Hugo was significant to my ears so I am as happy as I can be in that respect but... and there is always a but, isn't? I have a collection of ~150 SACDs which I enjoyed playing from my Oppo, through HDMI, to the BDP-3. Since the BDP-3 is gone and the Oppo can not pass SACD/DSD/PCM in its other digital outputs, I now have to use the onboard DAC of the Oppo and use its analog outputs. It does not sound bad... but it is not as good as it used to sound.

I am have been reading multiple posts here and in other forums but from what I can gather, there isn't a SACD transport that will output SACD (DSD/DoP/PCM), am I correct? I don't have that many movies anymore so I could get rid of the Oppo and get me a SACD transport if it would be possible to play SACDs without HDMI.

Any ideas or should I just suck it up and move on?

Thanks!

Ivan
smdb01us
elevick
2,636 posts
 
Ahh, now I get it.  That is a problem with SACD.  The format is proprietary and they are not allowed to pass the digital signal.  So, you are very limited with 2 channel SACDs.

Without a doubt the Hugo sounds better.

My 105 does have toslink and coax digital out.  This will pass the digital on hybrid SACDs or redbook and doesn't seem to affect the quality at all.  I find it easier than using my laptop to Hugo. 

I know there are hdmi to coax converters.  Not sure on the quality.  Just for fun, have you tried running the hdmi to a tv that has digital out?  That might pass through 2 channel.  I'm just not sure how clean and musical it would end up being.
smdb01us OP
14 posts
 
@melm Well, it is going to take me some time to rip through my SACD collection but I am making progress, 10 done, 100 plus to go... :) thank you again for reminding me of the process!
junzhang10
252 posts
 
SACD has two-channel and 5.0 channel. I dont know if any outboard DAC can do 5.0. Also DSD can only pass through HDMI encrypted. Does your DAC have HDMI port or just co-axial, optical., PCM will lose the purpuse of DSD. I would still use Oppo out for SACD.
big_greg
6,567 posts
 
Most SACD's only have 2 channels.  I have a combined 2 channel / home theater system. 

I use an Oppo UDP-203 to play movies and the few multi-channel SACD's I have through a Marantz AV 7704 pre-pro. 

For 2 channel, I have a Marantz KI-Pearl SACD player and use its built in DAC to play 2 channel SACD's through my Modwright LS 100 preamp.  Playing SACD's with the Marantz / Modwright combo sounds much better than the Oppo / Marantz combo.

In general, I prefer the 2 channel mixes of the SACDs I have.  While it's fun to listen to Dark Side of the Moon in 5.1, it's also kind of disconcerting to hear things swirling all around you that you're used to hearing in 2 channels.   
junzhang10
252 posts
 
Historically, recording start from mono to stereo (actually 3 front channels) to multi-channel. Vinyl limited to stereo (2 channel) the sound image is hard to image with just 2 channel (you need to toe in and sit the at the best spot to get good image) with 3 channel, it will become much easier. So you could ignore surroud channel if you are not used to that. But with three full-range front speakers, there is no match with only 2 channel stereo.
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