Post by Bobpaule February 15, 2009 (31 of 47)
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hiredfox said:
Look guys, when buying for SACD surround you have to be very very careful. As Telarc once used to advise,
"BEWARE of Home Theatre Receivers with DSP... Many multi-channel receiver/amplifiers provide multi-channel analogue inputs that are routed to analog-to-digital PCM converters for Digital Signal Processing control, often at 44.1 kHz. The signals are then passed on to a DAC for final output to speakers.
This 'feature' will cause ALL signals regardless of source to be no better quality than CD playback.... we recommend using a receiver or amplifier that passes multi-channel ANALOGUE signals through entirely in the analogue domain."
A lot of cheap kit will lead you in to this trap.
Are you sure you are listening to SACD surround and not just CD surround?
To avoid this my Onkyo PR-SC885P processor (integra 9.8 cousin) has a "Pure Direct" button that avoids all processing. This results in a true one step DSD conversion in the DAC. Very happy with the Oppo 980.
I have equidistant Belden 10AWG high-silver/gold-spades DYI cables to the speakers.
Sounds real sweet on my separates/(semi)balanced system with Class A front stage (solid state though, Marsh Audio Design).
No need to get stuck in the past, the future looks bright enough:)
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" StyleAndEntertainmen said:
Agree with Kal and so I'll recommend the Sony SCD-XA5400es. Brand new DSD DACs will provide MS via HDMI to your AV receiver and also afford the option of listening in stereo via a first class analog section."
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Can anyone here explain how this unit can be better than an Oppo 980 for the single purpose of an SACD DSD transport?
IMHO, for DSD you get an $130-160 Oppo 980 or Onkyo DV-SP506 a processor or receiver with quality DACs, one that can do one step D/A conversion without post-processing.
Another debate was also made for PCM out from the player, this also involves conversions, albeit in the digital domain, need i say i sold my PS3 20GB after 3 months mainly because of lackluster SACD and lack of DTS-HD MA?
Now, if you made an investment in expensive analog equipment than get the Marantz or Sony. IMHO, SonyES compared to Onkyo sound like xxxx. The Marantz referenced earlier is about the best for internal in-player conversion.
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Post by Bobpaule February 15, 2009 (32 of 47)
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duplicate
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Post by Cherubino February 15, 2009 (33 of 47)
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Kal Rubinson said:
[1]You choose MCH or stereo tracks. If you have a 3channel SACD, like the Living Stereo or Living Presence, you should choose the stereo if you are using the analog outputs. Choose the MCH, if you are using the HDMI. You must choose analog output or HDMI but you cannot have both.
[2]It has 6 DACs per channel.
[3]Agreed. You need a really good(and I mean really good) HDMI-equipped preamp processor, that's all.
Kal
Would you be kind enough to recommend a couple of "really good" HDMI-equipped preamp processors? For the highest quality SACD playback do you advise an audio only preamp processor (e.g. the Anthem Statement D1), or, can an audio/video processor (e.g. the Anthem Statement D2) be used without compromising SACD playback? Many thanks, Kal.
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Cherubino said:
Would you be kind enough to recommend a couple of "really good" HDMI-equipped preamp processors? For the highest quality SACD playback do you advise an audio only preamp processor (e.g. the Anthem Statement D1), or, can an audio/video processor (e.g. the Anthem Statement D2) be used without compromising SACD playback? Many thanks, Kal.
I have not used the D1 and, frankly, despite the statements we have both seen, I do not think that the elimination of video from a processor (and I mean complete elimination, including passthrough) will make a significant difference. Besides, one cannot eliminate it if one wants BluRay as well as DSD via HDMI.
For recommendations, see my column. I prefer not to make general recommendations 'out of school.'
Kal
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Post by Cherubino February 15, 2009 (35 of 47)
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Kal Rubinson said:
I have not used the D1 and, frankly, despite the statements we have both seen, I do not think that the elimination of video from a processor (and I mean complete elimination, including passthrough) will make a significant difference. Besides, one cannot eliminate it if one wants BluRay as well as DSD via HDMI.
For recommendations, see my column. I prefer not to make general recommendations 'out of school.'
Kal
Thanks. Your column is one of the reasons I read Stereophile. I have many back issues, can you direct me to one where you recommend preamp processors? I'm not really looking to spend the kind of money Anthem is asking, unless I have to. Again, thanks.
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Cherubino said:
Thanks. Your column is one of the reasons I read Stereophile. I have many back issues, can you direct me to one where you recommend preamp processors? I'm not really looking to spend the kind of money Anthem is asking, unless I have to. Again, thanks.
Touche! I rarely make specific comparative recommendations since I can only comment on the specific items I have reviewed. So far, only the Meridian 861, Cary C11 (discontinued), Integra 9.8 and the Anthem D2. More to come. (Have your looked at the prices for used D2s lately?)
BTW, the first step is to define, as precisely as possible, what features/functions are essential, which are useful and which are unnecessary for you.
Kal
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StyleAndEntertainmen said:
Agree with Kal and so I'll recommend the Sony SCD-XA5400es. Brand new DSD DACs will provide MS via HDMI to your AV receiver and also afford the option of listening in stereo via a first class analog section.
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Can anyone here explain how this unit can be better than an Oppo 980 for the single purpose of an SACD DSD transport?"
Agree that if all you want is a DSD transport go with the Oppo 980. The 5400es offers brand new high resolution DSD DACs and a lovely sounding analog stereo section with both RCA and XLR outputs. If the latter is not important to you, then go with the Oppo and a get a pre/pro/receiver with great DACs. This is exactly what I said a few posts latter.
Styln
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Post by Cherubino February 16, 2009 (38 of 47)
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Kal Rubinson said:
Touche! I rarely make specific comparative recommendations since I can only comment on the specific items I have reviewed. So far, only the Meridian 861, Cary C11 (discontinued), Integra 9.8 and the Anthem D2. More to come. (Have your looked at the prices for used D2s lately?)
BTW, the first step is to define, as precisely as possible, what features/functions are essential, which are useful and which are unnecessary for you.
Kal
I'm particularly interested in the highest resolution SACD data transfer and playback through the Sony SCD-XA5400es. I don't have much knowledge in this area, but the Anthem AVM50, while certainly not inexpensive, appears to do everything the D1 does in that respect (in your opinion, does it?) at a considerable cost reduction. I also want video cabability, which is why I'm not restricting myself to an audio only processor.
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Cherubino said:
I'm particularly interested in the highest resolution SACD data transfer and playback through the Sony SCD-XA5400es. I don't have much knowledge in this area, but the Anthem AVM50, while certainly not inexpensive, appears to do everything the D1 does in that respect (in your opinion, does it?) at a considerable cost reduction. I also want video cabability, which is why I'm not restricting myself to an audio only processor.
AFAIK, none of the Anthem processors will accept DSD, so you will be getting PCM from any HDMI-equipped SACD transport. Frankly, I do not see this as a major disadvantage because, imho, the DSP facilities of modern processors (which only run in PCM) are more significant than the potential degradation that some see in a DSD-PCM conversion. YMMV.
Kal
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Post by Cherubino February 16, 2009 (40 of 47)
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Kal Rubinson said:
AFAIK, none of the Anthem processors will accept DSD, so you will be getting PCM from any HDMI-equipped SACD transport. Frankly, I do not see this as a major disadvantage because, imho, the DSP facilities of modern processors (which only run in PCM) are more significant than the potential degradation that some see in a DSD-PCM conversion. YMMV.
Kal
Thanks. One question, what does YMMV stand for?
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