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How can you utilize EQ/DSP Room Correction w/ SACD

Today's AV receivers and Processors are, more than ever, including better Parametric EQ and DSP room corrective circuitry. I pressume most all of these (obviously, the later) function in the digital domaine. My question is, what is, or are, the best ways to handle SACD material from an outboar player, and still take advantage of the benefits of the EQ/DSP correction built into the processors, for maximum acoustical correction and sonic benefits, for balanced sound in your system.
At the moment, my first thought is that you most always will have to bypass the EQ and Room correction, because you will likely have to use the 5.1/7.1 multi-channel, analog inputs when using an SACD capable player.
I am intereted in all options for using these onboard EQ's, whether processing from the analog or digital domain and/or inputs. Obviously, the most pure path possible would be ideal. Still, short of using an outboard EQ, I want to know all options with what's built in onboard.
Am I missing something? Do some players offer the ability to pass SACD in the digital domain to the receiver/processor, say via HDMI or some other digital connection?
I seem to remember Denon-Link possibly offering this connection between complementing Denon products. In a case such as this, would you be able to take advantage of something like Audyssey room DSP for SACD 2 channel of multi-channel source material?
I hope i'm making my points and questions here clear. I basically want to know the best ways to cconnect up for SACD playback, while taking full advantage of the better EQ circuits available on today's receivers and AV-pre's on the market.
Any pertinent responses appreciated.
queefee
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,677 posts
 
HDMI, it is and I do it every day. There are several players that will convey SACD (as well as other formats) as digital by HDMI to prepros/AVRs that will accept/decode these formats and (via a PCM conversion) permit DSP/RoomEQ. And, yes, you can use Audyssey (or ARC or Trinnov or MCACC.....) for two channel as well as multichannel. (To do this with analog signals, superimposes additional A/D/A conversions but is doable, if one insists.)

All the options? Too many to list and I'd miss a few anyway but I have detailed the idea and discussed some of them in my column over the past year or two.
http://www.stereophile.com/musicintheround

Kal
queefee OP
107 posts
 
"(via a PCM conversion) permit DSP/RoomEQ. And, yes, you can use Audyssey (or ARC or Trinnov or MCACC.....) for two channel as well as multichannel. (To do this with analog signals, superimposes additional A/D/A conversions but is doable, if one insists.)" Kr4

Thank you kr4 for your response. Without the time, however, to go through your entire postings, I'm pressuming from your response above here that there has to be a "down-covnversion" or some sort of compression of the original SACD source material (transmitted via HDMI/Coax digital) to a lesser rez output, when processing these EQ circuits? And in the case of analog connections, as you said, a digital to analog to digital to analog conversion chain?
I do know that, if I'm going to be playing SACD's (or other hi rez digital or analog soucres, I'd like to keep the original signal as pure and uncompromised as possible, lack of compression, conversion, etc. So, is there only compromise available foing doing what I'm trying to do? - and thus can only run pure dirrect, without EQ for my SACD to get the purity here? Or am I mis understanding something here?
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,677 posts
 
I'm pressuming from your response above here that there has to be a "down-covnversion" or some sort of compression of the original SACD source material (transmitted via HDMI/Coax digital) to a lesser rez output, when processing these EQ circuits?
First, I was talking about HDMI in which case there is conversion to PCM but no compression or loss in the process.
Second, you cannot get SACD via coax/digital at all.

And in the case of analog connections, as you said, a digital to analog to digital to analog conversion chain?
Yes. Many believe that the advantages of room EQ entirely justify those additional conversion, if they are done well. This is something that can be easily tested with a bypass switch and only you can determine if a particular A/D-EQ-D/A device is transparent enough for you.

I think what you are missing is that there is no compromise (loss of purity) in converting SACD to PCM, imho, and that the advantages of room EQ are so significant that they would outweigh any compromise, if such existed. In fact, the conversion is done (and almost always necessary) even to effect bass management, interchannel level and interchannel delay setups.

You should go out and hear these things rather than prejudging them from the opinions of others (including mine) or from archaic presumptions.

Kal
queefee OP
107 posts
 
Kr4, again, thank you for your response.
Actually, I don't know if I'm prejudging anything. I'm first trying to gauge the be best approach to wiring up a HT/multi-ch music system in a smallish room, that will most definitely need to take full advanteage of Room DSP/EQ. That said, I'd like to use SACD in that system/room and, of couse, would like the best sound quality possible - and fully assuming that utilizing the EQ will be very beneficial. Basically, I'm just trying to weigh all the equipment choices, hook-up options, and potential compromises I might be forced to deal with, if any. Ya know, get a game plan, and a little "pre-education" refresher.
I will, most certainly be testing things out with what I end up with, to see what does what sonically. (yes, no substitute for hands-on experience) But again, a little forseight will help.
So, what you're suggesting is an HDMI connection between sacd source component to my receiver/pre choice, which will convert to PCM to be played/processed on the processor/amp end? Also, are there any AV pre's or receivers that process SACD internally (thus passing pure SACD signalfrom the source - unconverted - to the processor for processing) for me to simply pass the SACD signal through to be processed down the line for possible superior sound quality? Or are you insistent that there's no real degredation in sound when converting to PCM via HDMI?
Thank you.
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