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Why does Denon 3910 default to PCM for sacds?

I have been made aware of this by Alex Peychev. He states, "Anyway, the 3910 Source Direct ON/OFF mode is in the On-Screen menu in the Audio Settings. You need a monitor. When you select Source Direct ON you have true DSD. If it's OFF the DSD is converted to 176.4/24 PCM. Be aware that the Factory Default is Source Direct OFF, so the machine converts DSD to PCM. You need to go and change that." I have tried it both ways and it makes a substantial difference in the realism of the sound.

I suspect that Denon's indifference to sacd and the desire to hear sacds in dsd conversion is overridden by their expectation that most will be interested in only dvds and HT.
tbg
rex
245 posts
 
Rather than it being some big corporate conspiracy as you seem to suggest, it may be that Denon, a solidly mid-fi company, has figured out that most of its end-users want to hear their subwoofers go "boom." Source Direct bypasses bass management. Bass Management is absolutely MANDATORY for 99% of the HT-oriented surround-sound setups out there.
tbg OP
5,263 posts
 
Rex, I was not really implying a conspiracy and fully agree that Bass Management is the issue. I do think it is too bad, however, that this is not prominently discussed in the manual, as it has a big impact on the sacd sound.
meisterkleef
146 posts
 
I assume this is only the case if you are in MCH mode correct? In 2CH it's always DSD?
tbg OP
5,263 posts
 
No, Meisterkleef, in 2 channel also.
rudd
51 posts
 
What is the optimal setting on the denon to achieve the best 2 channel sound for redbook CD's?. I am using the Denon 2800 MKII as both DVD and CD transport (which by the way is connected on BEl Canto Dac). The 2 digital setting options are 1- LPCM Select:either ON or OFF, and option 2-DIGITAL OUT: Normal, PCM or OFF. For DVDs option 2 must be set to PCM orthe audio will simply not work, but for CD's(under option 2), I found there to be a audible difference in sound when set to "normal" as apposed to PCM. My personal preference for CD's isoption 2 - Normal, but what about option 1? should PCM be set ON or OFF?
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