CD/ SACD advice needed


Hi have a McIntosh system with a Mc CD player that has a hard time reading disks.  I'm thinking of adding an SACD transport and leveraging the nice DAC DA2 in my Mc integrated amp.  Can I buy a less expensive CD player like the Arcam CDS50 and expect excellent sound because of the Mc DAC?  Or would upgrading to a new Mac SACD/ CD player just sound alot better.  It would be using the same DAC in my integrated amp.

Thanks!

128x128drayard1

I ripped the dozen or so SACD’s I have. I’m glad I have so few. At 1.2-1.4tb a disk, they eat up a lot of HD space! 
I wish I’d known about the d.bob, I probably would’ve bought more SACD’s and not ripped them.

MOST sacd/cd players digital output is for CD only.

SACD advanced DSD 64 output to external DAC is not possible.

Thus, to hear the SACD disc, you use the unit’s internal DAC, which means, transport is one thing, internal DAC and sacd/cd laser reliability is an issue. Some, like my Sony, have dual lasers, one for SACD, one for CD.

The more you get into it, the trickier it gets.

Next is the issue that many SACD players internal DACs convert the DSD to PCM prior to output, some info here

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/sacd-players-models-with-dsd-processor-used-and-new-not-dsd-conver

Here’s an article that came up (2021) about a gizmo that takes HDMI audio out, and somehow passes the SACD DSD 64 signal to your DAC

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/at-long-last-listen-to-your-physical-sacds-through-an-outboard-dac-r971/

Perhaps, since 2021 some other units have appeared that pass SACD DSD 64 out their digital jacks to your DAC

Anyone????

Been thinking about the Geerfab. Most reviews just say that it works. Not much about SQ. 
most posts on Audiogon have been removed so anybody that owns one would you consider it a audiophile component?

I sold an Oppo Modwright 105d and now just have a 103 around for Blu Rays. 

I may be interested at Uptown’s price. Any input would be appreciated. 
Thanks