Post by Confused June 17, 2012 (1 of 13)
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I have been playing my SACDs on an older Pioneer DVD player that has only analog outputs for the multi-channel layer. (My regular CDs are output from a convential CD player via an optical cable). Have I been cheating myself of the improved audio inherent in SACD (other than the additional channels)? If I buy a newer Sony blu-ray player which supports SACD playback and connect it via either coaxial or HDMI cables (both options exist on my amp), will I be likely to hear a difference? If so, which would be better? Coaxial or HDMI? Any advice would be appreciated.
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There are only two standard ways out of the player for SACD for Mch or stereo: HDMI or analog. Coax will not work for SACD, but it will for CD. I am happiest with HDMI.
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Post by steviev June 17, 2012 (3 of 13)
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Confused said:
I have been playing my SACDs on an older Pioneer DVD player that has only analog outputs for the multi-channel layer. (My regular CDs are output from a convential CD player via an optical cable). Have I been cheating myself of the improved audio inherent in SACD (other than the additional channels)? If I buy a newer Sony blu-ray player which supports SACD playback and connect it via either coaxial or HDMI cables (both options exist on my amp), will I be likely to hear a difference? If so, which would be better? Coaxial or HDMI? Any advice would be appreciated.
The answer to your first question is probably no. However, analog outputs don't allow for any EQ or distance correction by the amp, so you're stuck with whatever treble/bass biases your speakers have and the treble/bass balances inherent in the original recording. If you have a preference for warmer (treble-shy) sound or a brighter sound, et cetera, you can't achieve this with analog outputs. So that's one advantage of digital output.
As far as being able to hear a difference between the digital-coax or HDMI output from the Sony player, I didn't notice any, but I did no A/B testing in this regard -- an HDMI cable came with my Sony BX-38 and I figured that was good enough. Bits are bits, so it should make no nevermind whether those bits travel via coax or HDMI. Let your ears decide it for you, though, because an HDMI cable should come with the player.
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Bits may be bits but (like Fitzcaraldo states) SACD's bits aren't allowed to travel over coaxial cable, at least not in the density that would set them apart from RBCD, so HDMI is the only alternative to analog here.
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Post by teac4010 June 18, 2012 (5 of 13)
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My older Denon 1940 multichannel analog outputs, according to the manual someplace, have minimal stuff between the DSD bit stream and analog outputs. I wonder though, there is an option to select speakers, speaker placement etc. so there must be some filtering and phasing in the player. In fact Dolby DVD's are processed somewhere in the player. Regards.
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Post by Epsilon June 18, 2012 (6 of 13)
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As clarified above, the only alternative is the HDMI connection to your amp.
I, too, have a Pioneer universal player and I started out listening to SACDs through the MCH analogue output and I was blown away by the rich and detailed sound of this medium. However, later I upgraded my amp and I connected the player through HDMI and I was surprised to hear even more detail. That may be partly due to the fact that my MARANTZ amp has a very good processor and circuitry and is capable of pure DSD mode (that is converting the DSD stream to analogue without the middle step of PCM conversion). AFAIK the Pioneer player uses DSD to PCM conversion if you opt for the analogue output. What player and amp do you exactly have? In the Pioneer DV-600, which I have, there is the option of sending pure DSD stream to the amp through HDMI.
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Post by Confused June 19, 2012 (7 of 13)
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Thanks for all the replies.
My Pioneer universal player can ONLY output SA-CD sound through the analog outputs - there in no HDMI option. My Sony STR-DG920 receiver has more digital inputs than I know what to do with.
When I changed the connection from my regular CD player to the amp from analog RCA plugs to an optical cable a few years ago I was thunderstruck by the improvement in sound. What I'm hoping to find out is if, by replacing the Pioneer with a newer Sony model that has HDMI outputs (I understand from previous responses that coaxial cable won't work), I would experience something similar with my SA-CDs. Under my present set up, although I enjoy the surround capabilities of SA-CDs, I don't think they sound appreciably better than regular CDs. In fact, I'm not sure 2-channel stereo SA-CDs sound even as good as CDs with my present set-up.
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Post by teac4010 June 19, 2012 (8 of 13)
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I disliked my Denon 1940 SACD sound for some time until I was told by a forum member that I needed to setup the player with the tray open. Big difference, many audio setup menus appeared to match audio output to my specific speaker configuration.
Now, SACD, (SBCD, scarlet book) stereo, is superior to RBCD, IMHO. I think, the multichannel analog output is even better. Regards.
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Post by yakman June 19, 2012 (9 of 13)
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Confused said:
Thanks for all the replies.
My Pioneer universal player can ONLY output SA-CD sound through the analog outputs - there in no HDMI option. My Sony STR-DG920 receiver has more digital inputs than I know what to do with.
When I changed the connection from my regular CD player to the amp from analog RCA plugs to an optical cable a few years ago I was thunderstruck by the improvement in sound. What I'm hoping to find out is if, by replacing the Pioneer with a newer Sony model that has HDMI outputs (I understand from previous responses that coaxial cable won't work), I would experience something similar with my SA-CDs. Under my present set up, although I enjoy the surround capabilities of SA-CDs, I don't think they sound appreciably better than regular CDs. In fact, I'm not sure 2-channel stereo SA-CDs sound even as good as CDs with my present set-up.
You should give us more detail about your complete setup, from you room to the speakers.
The answer to your question is dependent on all the factors mentioned about. To certain degree, it is very much dependent on whether your player or receiver has a better DAC and pre amp section. I guess the receiver might be the better one (as you observed from the 2ch case). Thus using HDMI might be a better choice.
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Post by yakman June 19, 2012 (10 of 13)
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Epsilon said:
As clarified above, the only alternative is the HDMI connection to your amp.
I, too, have a Pioneer universal player and I started out listening to SACDs through the MCH analogue output and I was blown away by the rich and detailed sound of this medium. However, later I upgraded my amp and I connected the player through HDMI and I was surprised to hear even more detail. That may be partly due to the fact that my MARANTZ amp has a very good processor and circuitry and is capable of pure DSD mode (that is converting the DSD stream to analogue without the middle step of PCM conversion). AFAIK the Pioneer player uses DSD to PCM conversion if you opt for the analogue output. What player and amp do you exactly have? In the Pioneer DV-600, which I have, there is the option of sending pure DSD stream to the amp through HDMI.
The difference might not coming from pure DSD. It could be the DAC/pre amp section on your receiver better than that on your player.
I found pure DSD on certain material unlistenable in my current 15m2 room. The bass is overwhelming, masking the high frequency details without Room correction in PCM mode.
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