Sony - SACD - which player range? SCD, BDP, DVP or others

[Bill Ferris]

Your HDMI to S/PDIF converter likely cannot handle a DSD stream. If anything, you'll get the PCM layer output in stereo to the S/PDIF output. Worst case, no audio at all passes through.

FWIW,the convertor/extractor`s specs indicate: Digital output, as follows LPCM2.0/ DTS/Dolby-AC3, which mirrors it`s HDMI input specs. and also indicates 192kHz sampling rate.

When I used it in the past I used it to extract my OPPO, while watching BR/DVD`s HDMI audio to feed my 20 yr.old Sony stereo receiver, after running it`s S/PDIF coax output to a DAC at the receiver for decoding to L/R analog to feed the receiver so to provide better quality audio in my car garage versus the TV`s internal speakers ..
The HDMI feed to the Garage`s Flat screen was/is a 5.6 Gig HDMI wireless receiver.
That setup/configuration provided much better SQ in that situation, as would be imagined over the thin sounding Flat screen`s internal speakers.
I decided to just use the Flat screens RCA analog outputs to feed the Sony receiver later on, so that HDMI to S/PDIF/TOSLINK convertor became available, hence my thinking to experiment with possible SACD extraction from it`s coax
output.
But if you say it can`t/won`t work, then I won`t waste my time trying.
Thanks for the reply/information, benricci

 

[robert_kc]

To play all types of digital recordings – old and new (e.g., CD, DVD, DVD-Audio, SACD, Blu-ray, Pure Audio Blu-ray, Ultra HD Blu-ray, and hi-res downloads) without any compromise in audio quality, a universal player is required that has built-in DACs, or an HDMI interface (not TOSLINK or coax) to an external DAC that supports all formats, or an HDMI interface to an amp with an HDMI input (e.g., AVR) that supports all formats.

I use Oppo UDP-205, BDP-105, and BDP-95 in surround sound systems that use analog audio connections to vintage tube amps in multi-channel configurations, e.g., 3.1, 4.1, and 4.2. (5.1 and 7.1 configurations are also possible.) The UDP-205 plays all digital formats. The BDP-105 and BDP-95 play everything except Ultra HD Blu-ray.

Because different people listen to different music, different people have different needs for a player. For classical music, SACD, Blu-ray, Pure Audio Blu-ray, and hi-res downloads are indispensable. (A few Ultra HD Blu-ray recordings are starting to become available.)

Bottom line: Your needs for a player are 100% dependent on the genres of music you listen to, and your level of interest in realizing the best-available audio quality.

 

[FauxHall]

My little Sony Blu-Ray 700 something transmits SACD stereo when playing an SACD disk to my Sony TV over HDMI. I then get an analog stereo signal out my headphone jack which I feed to my amp's line-in RCAs. Sounds pretty good and competitive with the Redbook layer over a Modius DAC into the same amp.

Not multichannel that the OP hoped for but a big surprise to me!

 

[the skipper]

My Sony BDP 800, when plugged directly into my Marantz SR5011 AVR, plays multi-channel CD's. dunno if it would work that way going through a TV

 

[MTVaughan]

So I've been beating my head over these various formats. I have two SACD players - my first, a Pioneer DV-563A has no HDMI, but 6 analog outputs and a coxial and an optical ouput. My second, a Sony BDP X800 has no DAC, but does have an HDMI and a coaxial digital output. What protocols can I get from these?
The Sony also has a USB port, and I have some 5.1 DSD files; can I play them uncompressed? I currently play them from my computer.

 

[the skipper]

you can ONLY get SACD via the analog outputs or HDMI if fed to a device that can decode it.

forget coax and toslink for SACD

 

[MTVaughan]

Skipper, is that because SACD is copy-protected, or because it's DSD?

 

[dewdude]

is that because SACD is copy-protected, or because it's DSD?

Both. Most of your devices that accept any kind of S/PDIF input are going to expect PCM. In fact I'm not even sure if you can transport DSD in S/PDIF without modifying some headers in the bitstream, which may not be compatible on the other end.

Copy protection is another. The only DSD you'll get out over HDMI will be part of an HDCP stream. It *may* have changed now that you can get DSD data directly off the disc "using methods". HDMI also has spec for supporting DSD.

 

[BlackHole]

If looking to get discrete multi-channel digital output with SACD I don't believe it's possible with any player, BluRay or otherwise. It's very possible I'm mistaken, but none of my Sony decks have the option.

Ok, so here is what I found.

"SACD has never worked via digital optical or coaxial connections, and it never will. However, you can get multi channel output via a single HDMI connection. There are not a lot of players that still support the format, though. Sony's current and newly announced UHD disc players do support SACD via HDMI, as does the Oppo UHD player and all their older BD and DVD players. You also need to make sure your receiver supports DSD via its HDMI inputs -- most of the lower end models do not have this feature."

Hope this helps.

Thanks
Is there a setting on the Sony UBP-X700 Blu-ray player to set sacd output as multi channel pcm? I think this would be similar to setting bitstream or pcm on the ps4 correct?
Please confirm. I have an older anthem prepro that won’t do any dsd decoding. I am thinking of getting the Sony uhd bkuray to ply movies and sacd as well. Please advise how to connect bkuray to anthem prepro if hdmi output will work with multichannel pcm output from the Sony?