Multi-channel SACD on 201?

[dunlap1]

Will the MCD 201 play and mix a multi-channel SACD down into 2 channels? I have been having trouble finding ANY sacd's in the stores, so It looks like I will have to order them online.

 

[JFR0317]

Will the MCD 201 play and mix a multi-channel SACD down into 2 channels? I have been having trouble finding ANY sacd's in the stores, so It looks like I will have to order them online.

Good question. As I recall, my Sony 9000ES DVD/SACD 2 channel player would downmix multichannel SACD's to 2 channel, so I would assume the 201 will also as part of the SACD standard. My MVP871 automatically downmixes multichannel SACD's to two channel for the balanced two channel out as well as for the unbalanced two channel out.

 

[bobschneider]

Most (all?) of the SACDs I own have both 2 channel and multichannel mixes on the disc. Most of them actually have 3 separate copies of the same recording - redbook CD, stereo SACD, and 5.1 channel SACD. They all play fine on my MCD-201:yes:

 

[jim777]

I think that a 2-channel layer is mandatory. But sometimes it's only a DSD version of the crappy PCM layer (think of Norah Jones SACD.. and I'm not talking about the music)

 

[dj_AmTraX]

I agree that both layers are on the disc. However, there may not be a Redbook layer unless it is a hybrid.

 

[howiebrou]

I think that a 2-channel layer is mandatory. But sometimes it's only a DSD version of the crappy PCM layer (think of Norah Jones SACD.. and I'm not talking about the music)

Can you tell from the cover (i.e. before buying the cd) whether the SACD layer is DSD direct or PCM derived?

howie

 

[dunlap1]

Some of them do say DSD direct, what does that mean?

 

[jim777]

Often it will be specified when it is "DSD direct". That means that the analog waveform was directly converted to DSD (the SACD format). Otherwise, most SACD's are very-high-res PCM converted to DSD. Both sound great so why bother!