I2s DSD

@doni The Sonore is a Digital to Digital converter, so if your USB from your streamer or whatever can carry native DSD you can convert it to I2s using the Sonore Ultra Digital. Some DACs will not process native DSD over USB without converting it to PCM and many streamers don't have an I2s out connection. It's just another option.

Got it.  Thanks.

My understanding (no first hand experience though) is if your SACD transport has I2S using HDMI type of connector, it will only work with the same branded DSD capable DAC that also has I2S using HDMI ...e.g. PS Audio SACD transport to PSAudio DAC UNLESS the pinout of the I2S using HDMI is adjustable (like Denafrips). I haven’t tried it as it seems so troublesome.

There’s a ’Chinese Black-Box’ available from a couple of eBay sellers that takes an HDMI input from a SACD player (like an OPPO) and strips the video signal, passing the DSD audio layer to a variety of output types, including i2s. I bought one but I haven’t used it yet. It took weeks to get here from China even though I paid for expedited shipping and came sans wall-wart and any instructions. (Though a standard wall-wart will work and operation is pretty self-explanatory since it’s just a simple pass-through device.)

PS -  The HDMI output from a SACD player is not i2s compatible in any way. SACD players use the 'true' HDMI format which carries the audio and the video signal. I2S is not HDMI, it just happens to use the same plug type, in some instances. So for example, my Denafrips supports i2s, but it won't recognize or decode a signal coming from the HDMI output on my OPPO SACD player, it needs to be converted (in my case, via the Chinese BB). I know most of you know this, but there are some who possibly do not.

If you want to get I2s from your Oppo you need to get an I2s board from Oppomod.com  https://www.oppomod.com/index.html

The Chinese black box will only separate audio from video afaik, no I2s.

There is no cable standard for I2s at present so either stick with the same manufacturer or get Chinese cables that allow you to swap conductors, but their SQ maybe not so good.