SA-CD.net - Confused about connections

Post by Fitzcaraldo215 June 20, 2012 (11 of 13)

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.

It is hard to know in a specific system what will sound better than what else without actually hearing it. But, my impression of Mch via analog in all but the priciest setups, think Meitner or something along those lines, is that in more pedestrian consumer grade gear, HDMI is a simple and effective way to go that provides improved sound over equivalent analog. If you can try it at home with a return privilege, do so and decide for yourself.

I have no experience with current Sony Universal players, but I would not have excessive hopes about their sound quality. Incidentally, a friend has an older Sony 777ES player with only analog outs. It listed for something over $1,000, I believe. In any case, it was trounced by an Oppo 93 via HDMI. Oppo has a 30 day return privilege. No doubt it is a better player than current Sony Universals, but does it fit your budget?

Post by Yoropiko1 June 20, 2012 (12 of 13)

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Your Sony STR-DG920 whilst having plenty of HDMI inputs sadly doesnt accept DSD via HDMI, however this is not a serious problem because I suspect that your reciever is at least equiped with decent spec DACs given it is able to decode all of the newest HD sound formats. My guess is it will have 192Khz/24Bit DACs within.
Now if you do decide to go for one of Sonys own blu ray players which can also play SACD, then personally I would connect said player to your receiver via HDMI and allow the Blu ray player to convert internally the DSD to high bit PCM ( ideally 176.4Khz/24 Bit ) then send that out to your receiver which will accept this high rez conversion. You wont actually have a choice as such because the HDMI handshake between the player and receiver will force your player to output the DSD as converted PCM anyway. Most universal players convert DSD to 88.2Khz/24Bit PCM, so in this regard the Sony's are slightly better and " should " yield a better sound reproduction.
For the low price you can get second hand Sony players these days its got to be worth a try and you would also be able to use your receiver to do whatever room correction you need given the DSD will have already been converted to PCM at a higher rate than perhaps the receivers own internal DACs would have done.
Oh and lets not forget the convenience a single cable run will give too against your current 6 channel analog connection. Its also perhaps a benefit that you will keep your signal in the digital domain right up until the internal DACs in the receiver which could help improve the sound where your anaolog cables might have been susceptible to external interference for example.
Hope that helps ^ _ ^

Post by Fitzcaraldo215 June 20, 2012 (13 of 13)

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On paper, the idea that DSD converted to 176k PCM seems like a good idea. But, never having heard a shoot out vs. 88k, I do not know for sure. Some commentators lean one way, some the other. The Secrets of Home Theater/High Fidelity site, for example, published graphs showing much more ultrasonic noise between 88 and 176k, which they felt could be detrimental to the sound in the audible band. 88k conversion stops noise above that frequency dead in its tracks. But, they published no actual listening findings to back up their theory.

Yamaha also makes a player with 176k conversion, incidentally. But, I have heard no one rave about it vs. an Oppo at 88k. Kal reviewed it in Stereophile, and did not appear to hear huge sonic differences vs. his reference Oppo. He seemed to feel conversion bit rate was more of a mental thing than an actual sonic thing. He has heard quite a few players, unfortunately not including the cheap Sony Universals.

There are many more things that can affect the sound via HDMI of a player other than DSD-PCM conversion, jitter levels, for example. So, I think the thing to do is listen in a specific system. The specs do not necessarily tell the story.