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Question about SACD and DSD

Hello,

So I have a question about SACD and DSD because I am I guess a bit confused about something.

First of all let me say that the reason I ask this question is because I am thinking about getting a better SACD player.

Currently I have a Denon Blu-ray Player which I use for CD/SACD playback and I have the digital coax connected directly to my DAC.

CD/SACD's sound great, so I can't complain about that.

I know that SACD is basically DSD 2.8

I also realize that I should probably use the analog output of the Denon Blu-ray going directly to my Integrated Amp because the SACD is simply getting converted to PCM 44.1 from the DAC (it displays as such).

But...

What I am a bit confused on is: Say I have a SACD and I have also ripped the SACD layer to DSD Files.

Now if I listen to the SACD the recommended way through the Denon Player via Analog outputs, will it sound just as good as if I listen to the DSD File version going from my PC to my DAC to the Integrated?

When playing a SACD from a player, are you truly getting the full DSD experience or because it's going through the player, it's just slightly better then CD but not as good as full DSD?

I guess I started thinking about this when I discovered that PS Audio equipment with their I2S connections (according to them because I have not experienced it) stated that, that is the best way to listen to SACD because they are transferring over pure DSD without any conversion.

Well wouldn't that be the same as listening to DSD files from a computer then?

If my thinking is correct, then I don't see a point in upgrading to a better SACD Player, might as well just get my SACD's ripped to DSD files and only purchase DSD versions of new albums (if I think it's worth it, I know there are not many out there).

But if listening to SACD's from a SACD player provides the same experience as listening to the DSD version, then I would consider getting a better player and growing my SACD collection.

Hope what I am asking makes sense.

I guess ultimately, I should just do a test and get a SACD ripped to DSD and then compare.

But I wanted to ask because I always wondered: are we getting the full DSD experience from a SACD?

Thanks

Jay


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jay73's avatar
jay73 OP
219 posts
 
Thanks for the responses.

@kr4 , I have a Questyle CMA400i DAC which can handle up to DSD256 (They claim True DSD without any PCM Converting).

On the PC side, I use JRiver Software.

I've bought a few DSD albums but the album that really opened up my ears and eyes was, "Temptation" by Chantal Chamberland.

That album is really good on DSD.

melm
1,084 posts
 
If you can manage ripping the SACD into .dsf files you can easily play them from a computer into your separate DAC. If the DAC has a USB input that would be the easiest.  Otherwise you ca get a USB to spdif converter.  Bypassing the Denon and going straight to the DAC is the way to go.

Ultimately you may decide as so many of us have, that ripping all of your disks to a hard drive and playing them from a computer instead of from a disk player is the way to go for convenience and for SQ.  Since you have JRiver, you're all set.

Of course going from the computer straight to DAC can be improved upon with many devices in between.  I use a DLNR bridge, for ex. 
jay73's avatar
jay73 OP
219 posts
 
@melm , thanks for your response.

The DLNR Bridge, could you tell me what that is?

Thnx
melm
1,084 posts
 
Sorry here, a typo: DLNA = Digital Living Network Alliance

It is a device used so that your music files can bypass your computer while still using the computer to control the flow of music, as with JRiver.  Bypassing the computer is good since it usually has a lot of noise within.

Over a number of years I had ripped all my digital music (CDs and SACDs) to a NAS (a hard disk) for playing through a desktop directly to a DAC. I was completely bypassing an Oppo 105, still used for video. I was committed to the JRiver filing structure for all disks and some additional purchased files.

The JRiver program actually recognized the Oppo as a DLNA bridge. The music went from the hard disk to the Oppo bypassing the computer, though controlled by it, and straight out to the DAC. IIRC using the Oppo the .dsf files were converted to DoP files and sounded vey good.

Eventually I replaced the Oppo as the DNLA unit with a SOtM device and the .dsf files went straight through by USB with SQ for all files much enhanced.
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jazzman7
350 posts
 
There are multiple ways to skin the SACD/DSD cat.

The option I use is to rip SACD to .dsf files using a compatible vintage Sony Blu-Ray player as my SACD network server.  I use Sonore's ISO2DSD software to perform the ripping chore.  Can check out Hifihaven's website for more info, including both instructions and a list of compatible players.  Suitable vintage players can be had for $30 or so on ebay.  I then use Roon to play my .dsf files via DoP (DSD over PCM) with a suitable DSD DAC (in my case a Chord Qutest), but other software such as JRiver will also do the trick.

Another route I have considered, is the use of a Gearfab d.BOB (digital breakout box ... goes for ~$1000), which sits between a SACD player with HDMI out and a compatible DSD DoP capable DAC connect via spidf.

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