Suggestions for CD/SACD transport

[shindostevesan]

My music server, an early model of the Sonore, will not read SACD's and has trouble with some Redbook CD's, maybe 1 in 10--not sure why. Otherwise very happy with it.

So I am looking to add a transport to feed my ARC DAC8. Looking for that special product in the $2000 range that offers great value and performance, if there is such a beast.

Thanks in advance for any tips...

[mbovaird]

Originally Posted by shindostevesan

My music server, an early model of the Sonore, will not read SACD's and has trouble with some Redbook CD's, maybe 1 in 10--not sure why. Otherwise very happy with it.

So I am looking to add a transport to feed my ARC DAC8. Looking for that special product in the $2000 range that offers great value and performance, if there is such a beast.

Thanks in advance for any tips...

I'm not sure you can get digital out from a transport for SACD. Help me guys here, am I wrong? I've tried to get SACD digital out from my Oppo 105 and 95 and had no luck.

For redbook into your DAC 8, I think the OPPO 105 is hard to beat in your budget range. Marantz is another option. Sony 777 is another option.

Mike

[doggiehowser]

You can only get the DSD data from SACDs out in one of the following:

- Firewire/iLink outputs from some older Sony or Pioneer SACD players (but there's no compatible FW DAC that can accept these signals (I think even the Mytek's FW interface won't work with them)
- proprietary interconnects
(Playlink or Optilink using ST Fibre or DenonLink using a Cat5E cable)
- proprietary protocols using "standard" looking connectors
(dCS uses FW or dual coax but these only work with their DACs)
- HDMI

Unfortunately, none of these will work with the ARC DAC.

You can get a workaround using one of the following:
- the EMM Labs XDS1 outputs DSD as 24/88 via the AES output but then if you had the XDS1, you'd want to use the XDS1's DAC

- use a universal BD/DVD/SACD player with HDMI output but get the player to convert DSD to 24/88 PCM first. Then use an HDMI splitter with optical output (I have an old Atlona one) that can send the 24/88 to your DAC

If you just want to play the CD layer of SACDs (and other CDs), I think a CDPro2M based transport would work well. I have a Bel Canto CD2 which I find pretty good bang for the buck. It also sounds quite good when it upsamples internally to 96kHz and outputs that over AES to the Bel Canto DAC3.5VB MkII

[shindostevesan]

Didn't know that exporting SACD data from a transport is a technical bottleneck. Looks like I'm barking up the wrong tree. Guess I'll go over to the ever expanding orchard of hi res downloads...

[doggiehowser]

I find SACD and DSD downloads to sound much better than HR PCM

[LordoftheRingsEE]

-- What, the Oppo BDP-105 wouldn't work in your system?

[doggiehowser]

Not if he wants to feed the ARC DAC.

[LordoftheRingsEE]

-----.----- 'O' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- = Oh.

[Kal Rubinson]

There are also modifications possible that will permit HD SPDIF outputs from SACD.

[mbovaird]

Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson

There are also modifications possible that will permit HD SPDIF outputs from SACD.

Do you have any details? Is this for the OPPO?