While I cannot comment on the multi-channel issues you are having, the two-channel DSD issues you are experiencing are not surprising. As others have mentioned, the only way to output DSD from a SACD source to a DAC is 1) if you use the same brand source and DAC (e.g. Sony for both) or 2) if you use the GeerFab D.BoB. Otherwise it is a violation of infringement as the DSD stream should not be able to be extracted.
T+A Dac 200 HDMI issues
I have a T+A DAC 200 and am having issues with the HDMI inputs which I am using for the first time. The first issue is when I attempt to play a two channel SACD from my Sony UDB-X700 Blu ray player I get sound, but there is a very significant background static noise (crackling and hissing) coming from the speakers. It is not a ground loop hum. I have removed all other source connections to the DAC 200 and still get the noise. I have tried multiple HDMI connectors and different power sources and I still get the noise. I have the Sony player configured to output a DSD signal and that is shown in DAC 200 display as DSD 64. If I configure the Sony player to output PCM, everything works fine with no static and the DAC 200 display shows PCM 176. I would prefer to have the DSD work as opposed to using PCM.
The next issue I have happens when playing a Blu Ray movie in two channel using the DAC 200 HDMI 1 or 2 (not using ARC) inputs. Regardless of whether I select PCM or DSD output on the Sony player the DAC 200 displays “PCM Multi CH” when playing the movie. It does not seem to get the two channel down mix from the Sony player even though I have selected stereo as the down mix option in the player settings. This results in me hearing only the front left and right front channels from the surround mix so I am not getting the center channel vocals in the mix. I have tried many combination of DSD and PCM settings on the Sony player without any success.
Any help would be appreciated on these issue. Maybe a bad HDMI card? Or maybe a bad player?
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What’s weird is that playing SACDs via DSD to the DAC 200 does work except for the static. Maybe that is an implementation error on T+A part and it simply should not have worked at all - which would have saved me some frustration. I did install a new Sony UDB-X800M2 to replace the X700 and have identical issues for both SACD and playing movies in two channel. Makes me wonder what the point is of having the HDMI inputs? Maybe T+A has some devices that work with it.
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@jrsub : did you hear back from T+A North America? I would also recommend contacting T+A directly. They come back pretty quick, and in English. Email address is e-service@ta-hifi.de I would also pay attention to what @blisshifi is saying. It is possible there is compatibility issue between your Sony SACD player and T+A DAC 200, when playing back two-channel super audio CD via HDMI connection. I looked at the T+A DAC 200 user manual, they only mention "connecting a blu-ray player" when talking about HDMI input. Also, there is this on page 59: Since the DAC 200 is designed for pure stereo playback, only 2-channel PCM or DSD64/DSD128 encoded material can be played back via the HDMI inputs of the DAC 200. For playback via the DAC 200, the configuration of the HDMI output at the source device may need to be changed. Set the HDMI output to PCM output and activate DSD playback via HDMI if available. Always select the stereo track in the menu of the inserted disc. |
I sent T+A support at e-service@ta-hifi.com Maybe that is the US support instead of the German team. The T+A R&D head often posts on Audiophile style site and has indicated that playback of SACD over HDMI does work on the DAC 200. And yes, I agree there still could be compatibility issues between Sony and T+A. I am concerned about the manual statement regarding "Always select the stereo track in the menu of the inserted disk". The issue here is that most of the new Blu Ray movies I have encountered don't have a 2 channel track, only a 2 channel descriptive audio track which is very annoying.
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I defer to the specialists on this. I had the impression you were trying to playback 2-channel SACDs (DSD) via HDMI input in your T+A 200, which is a 2-channel DAC / device. Sorry I could not help.
All my previous successful communications with T+A have been to the .de email address, not any .com address. Never tried .com email address. |
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