Is DEQX a game changer?

09-26-14: Bifwynne
Drewan ...can I use the transport in my CD-8 to play SACD discs? I don't know what the bit/FR is with SACD or other high resolution discs. This is new territory for me. I think redbook CD is 16 bit/44.1 KHz. What is SACD?

SACD, as you know, stands for Super Audio CD.
It uses 1-bit DSD (direct stream digital) that is sampled at 2.8224MHz which is 64*44.1KHz. I.E. SACD is 64X oversampled compared to redbook CD.
SACD technology utilizes noise-shaping quantization techniques to recover the 20Hz-20KHz audio while at the same time pushing the unwanted noise to a higher/inaudible ultrasonic (to a human ear) frequencies. SACD, thus, almost always used delta-sigma demodulators to convert the 1-bit DSD stream to a 16-bit/20-bit/24-bit/32-bit recovered audio. The delta-sigma demodulator is digital circuit hence there is digital signal processing (DSP) done on the 1-bit DSD stream to recover the audio. The claim of SACD is that is supposedly provides a 120dB dynamic range (while 16-bit redbook CD has an upper limit of 96dB & signal processing done with 20-bit redbook also has a dynamic range of 120dB-same as SACD).
As you already know, to play a SACD disk, you need a player that is SACD capable - a redbook CD player cannot play SACDs.

Bombaywalla or perhaps Drewan77 --- what is the DEQX's digital capabilities?? Can I use the CD-8 as a transport and the DEQX as a pure DAC to play SACD?

Btw, just updated my comments on the "Absolute Redbook DAC" thread. Too long to repeat here ... but I think the redbook DAC functionality of the CD-8 (with gain circuit) and running the analogue signal through my Ref 5 SE pre into the DEQX analogue input is a rough draw as compared to running the signal directly into the DEQX's digital input off the digital output of the CD-8 (san gain circuits of both the CD-8 and Ref 5 SE, and of course san CD-8 DAC).

Btw, still holding that the DEQX's time alignment and room EQ corrections are significant improvement. Just talking about the DEQX's digital DAC capabilities here.

Bif, SACD has a sample rate of 1 bit/2,8224Mhz vs 16 bit/44.1Khz for standard CD. It cannot be handled by a conventional DAC so processing is done by the SACD player and enters the DEQX via an analogue input

I believe the CD-8 will only play regular redbook CDs, SACD requires a dedicated player (inc some Bluray players)

There are also relatively few SACD disc being produced these days, most of mine were purchased when originally issued. As always in audio, mastering of the original recording has the greatest audio impact (IMO), so a really great CD or digital file sounds better than a so-so SACD or LP

I have a lot of FLAC files at CD quality, quite a few at 24/96 and some at up to 24/192. The same comment about mastering applies so I don't get too hung up about it. The 'best' vinyl beats everything else but then maybe I am a dinosaur?

"Bombaywalla or perhaps Drewan77 --- what is the DEQX's digital capabilities?? Can I use the CD-8 as a transport and the DEQX as a pure DAC to play SACD?"

No, you can only use the onboard DAC for up to 24/192 processing, not SACD. It is good for CD or streamed MP3, FLAC, ALAC, WAV etc. The CD-8 can be used as a CD transport but for SACD you need to input from a dedicated player via one of the analogue PreMate inputs

I was at the NY Audio Show today and the room with DEQX was high on my list. When I got there there was a tiny room with Alta Audio Three towers (likely the largest speakers of the day). I wanted to hear the DEQX toggled on/off and the presenter said they were using the DEQX in passive mode for some subs or something. His justification was to show what the speakers were capable of w/o help from EQ. Booo

I visited hotel rooms that were begging for DRC -- any flavor would due. I'm shocked that DRC is barely acknowledged, let alone showcased at a large trade show.

I was impressed to see that Vanatoo used DSP instead of crossovers to produce a flat response in their tiny $500 2way powered "computer speakers".